Finish Big – The Podcast with Mark Dorman from Legacy Business Advisors.
Finish Big - The Podcast with Mark Dorman from Legacy Business Advisors.
Podcast Description
If you’re an entrepreneur – you know what it means to take personal and financial risks, create jobs that support your community, and devote most of your time to your business. But do you know how to plan for a successful exit from your business? Do you know who should be involved in creating your succession or transition plan – and the steps along the way? Welcome to Finish Big – The Podcast with Mark Dorman from Legacy Business Advisors. The podcast theme is inspired by critically acclaimed business Author Bo Burlingham, author of Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top. In this podcast, you’ll hear success stories of exit plans done right – and pick up practical tips based on years of Legacy Business Advisors’ expertise and knowledge about the largest and most important financial transaction of your life.
Podcast Insights
If you’re an entrepreneur – you know what it means to take personal and financial risks, create jobs that support your community, and devote most of your time to your business. But do you know how to plan for a successful exit from your business? Do you know who should be involved in creating your succession or transition plan – and the steps along the way? Welcome to Finish Big – The Podcast with Mark Dorman from Legacy Business Advisors. The podcast theme is inspired by critically acclaimed business Author Bo Burlingham, author of Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top. In this podcast, you’ll hear success stories of exit plans done right – and pick up practical tips based on years of Legacy Business Advisors’ expertise and knowledge about the largest and most important financial transaction of your life.
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes back Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), for Part 2 of their conversation on alternative ownership structures—specifically, the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Following their earlier discussion on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Mark and Corey explore how EOTs differ, their origins, and why some business owners may choose them over ESOPs. They cover the practical, cultural, and philosophical factors driving this emerging succession strategy in the U.S.
Mark and Corey discuss:
EOT Origins & Growth: How the model evolved in the UK (inspired by the John Lewis Partnership) and its rapid adoption overseas.
Key Differences from ESOPs: Costs, complexity, tax implications, and the flexibility to set custom rules for ownership and profit distribution.
Ideal Candidates: Why smaller companies (often under 50 employees) and owners committed to long-term independence may benefit most.
Purpose Trusts: How some companies, like Patagonia, use ownership trusts for social and environmental missions.
Succession Planning Considerations: When an EOT makes sense versus a management buyout, phantom stock, or other equity models.
NCEO’s Role: Resources, research, and networking opportunities for companies exploring employee ownership.
Connect with Mark Dorman:
(330)-416-9271
About the Guest:
Corey Rosen is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). A former Capitol Hill staffer and political science professor, Corey helped draft early ESOP legislation in the 1970s and has since authored numerous books and research papers on employee ownership. Today, he leads NCEO’s mission to educate and support businesses considering employee ownership as a sustainable, wealth-building alternative to traditional exits.
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