Planning Your Exit: Building Business Value for the Future

Feb 5, 2026

In this episode of Cutting Through the Clutter, host Cyndee Woolley welcomes Joseph Curry, owner and financial planner at Matthews + Associates in Peterborough, Ontario. As a certified financial planner and certified exit planning advisor, Joe specializes in guiding business owners through one of their most critical transitions: planning their exit while maximizing the value they’ve built. 


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The conversation reveals a common problem—many business owners approach retirement with no clear understanding of their business’s worth, transition strategy, or post-tax proceeds. Joe explains his holistic three-part approach: business planning to maximize value, personal financial planning to ensure financial independence, and identity planning to help owners navigate life beyond work. 

Using the Value Builder System, Joe helps clients identify gaps and strengths in their businesses while addressing two critical metrics: the profit gap (comparing current margins to industry best-in-class) and the value gap (measuring current business value against potential). He emphasizes that normalizing financial statements and removing personal expenses can immediately impact business valuation—saving $10,000 in taxes today might cost $60,000 in sale value at a 6x multiple. 

Joe’s key advice: focus on your core business rather than chasing “shiny things,” and work toward separating yourself from daily operations. Investors don’t want to buy a job—they want a business that runs without the owner. While most clients arrive ready to sell immediately, Joe recommends a three-year runway for maximum value optimization. 

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