Host Nick Anderson welcomes Ed Cotney to The Value Factory Podcast to cut through confusion around taxes and exits. Ed delivers blunt truths: tax is a business expense to be actively managed, not merely a report filed by a CPA. The episode lays out practical thresholds for when planning matters most, explains why owners should never order their own appraisal, and shows how two years of focused preparation can materially change the outcome of a sale. Tactical guidance on advisor selection, timing, and simple moves that protect the value created over a lifetime.