Month: September 2025

Our recommended title: How to Exit Your Business on Your Terms with Paul Cronin (Ep. 184)

Our recommended title: How to Exit Your Business on Your Terms with Paul Cronin (Ep. 184)

You’ve built a business with care, grit, and vision. But what happens when the finish line is in sight and you realize you’re not ready to cross it? 

For business owners nearing retirement, the decision to sell is about far more than spreadsheets and valuations. It’s personal. It’s strategic. And it can be overwhelming.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller sits down with Paul Cronin, a seasoned entrepreneur and M&A advisor with Touchstone Advisors, to walk through how and when to start planning for your exit, on your terms.

What you can expect from this release:

  • The real (and often underestimated) timeline for selling a business
  • Why your business must be ready to sell before you are
  • The “Holy Trinity” of trusted advisors to involve early
  • Common mistakes that derail deals and how to avoid them
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Paul Cronin:

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About Our Guest:

Paul Cronin has over 30 years of professional experience in sales, management, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has owned three businesses, including a data analytics business, a golf training business, and an exit planning/consulting business. He has been part of the M&A world since 2009, initially in the exit planning field before moving to transactional work at several firms. Paul joined the M&A practice at Touchstone Advisors in 2025

Paul’s background includes being part of the team that grew Eden Toys, a small NY-based toy manufacturer, into a $100 million company serving thousands of US retailers, including TJX, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. Paul led a team of 16 salespeople (both field reps and inside sales reps,) generating $20 million/year and serving 6,000 customers.

As a speaker, Paul has presented at law firms, CPA societies, professional associations, and colleges such as Harvard Business School, Northeastern University, Babson College, Bentley University, Wheaton College (MA), Emerson College, Wellesley College, and Salem State University (MA).

Paul has a Bachelor of Science from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston. Paul is an avid golfer, splits his time between Boston and Cape Cod, and is married with two adult daughters.

SIMPLE IRA vs. 401(k): What’s Best for Your Business? (Ep. 183)

SIMPLE IRA vs. 401(k): What’s Best for Your Business? (Ep. 183)

What seems like a small business decision, choosing between a SIMPLE IRA and a 401(k), can quietly shape everything from your personal retirement strategy to your firm’s employee retention. 

The truth? It’s not just about cost. It’s about control, flexibility, and future-proofing your business and your finances.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a team, your retirement plan structure says a lot about your growth mindset.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explores the practical trade-offs business owners face when deciding how much control they want, how much complexity they can handle, and how much opportunity they may be unknowingly leaving on the table.

Here’s what you can expect from this release:

  • How contribution limits and tax credits differ between SIMPLE IRAs and 401(k)s
  • How Safe Harbor rules can protect owners from compliance headaches
  • Why profit sharing and vesting can impact employee loyalty
  • The often-overlooked role of plan design in talent retention
  • Why cost-saving now may cost you more later, financially and culturally
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Larry Heller: