MacLean Financial Group

01/30/2026

Understanding Value Approaches with Michelle Salazar

In her latest insights, Michelle Salazar dives into the three primary value approaches used in business valuation:

1️⃣ Asset Approach
A solid foundation starts with a balance sheet. This approach focuses on assets and liabilities to determine the net value.

2️⃣ Income Approach
This method looks at the past 5 years of financial performance—gross revenue, net income, and cash flow—to estimate the future earning potential of the business.

3️⃣ Market Approach
This approach compares a company to others in the market by analyzing specific transactions within the same industry.

Each approach offers a unique lens to assess a company’s worth. Understanding these methods is key to making informed decisions for business owners and investors alike. 💼💡

01/28/2026

Master Planning: The Art of Exiting Your Business

Master Planning was written by Hawley MacLean and Dan Springer, two seasoned advisors with decades of experience helping business owners navigate growth, value creation, and transition strategies.

About the Authors:
🔹 Hawley MacLean — A financial advisor, exit planner, and bank co-founder with over 35 years of experience guiding entrepreneurs. He’s helped business owners accelerate value and plan successful transitions on their terms.

🔹 Dan Springer — An experienced advisor and strategist who specializes in helping business owners design exit strategies that honor their life’s work while strengthening their companies, families, and communities.

Together, they bring more than five decades of combined experience to the book, blending practical strategy with real-world perspectives. Master Planning offers business owners a clear, emotionally intelligent framework to build intentional plans for the future — whether that’s growth, succession, or exit.
Amazon

👉 Learn more or get your copy: https://bit.ly/49kGIxR

01/26/2026

Michelle Salazar on Common Questions When Finances Aren't in Order

When finances aren’t in order, these pressing questions can impact their bottom line. Michelle Salazar breaks down some of the most common questions—and why getting the answers is crucial for your business's success:

“How far out is my accounts receivable?”
Not knowing when you’ll collect outstanding payments can leave you guessing about your cash flow. Keeping track of accounts receivable and setting clear payment terms ensures you know exactly when to expect incoming funds.

“How do I know who owes me money?”
If you're not maintaining a clear record of who your clients are and what they owe, you could miss out on payments. Regularly reviewing outstanding invoices and client communications keeps you on top of who’s paid—and who hasn’t.

“How do I know what I owe?”
If you’re unclear on your outstanding debts or upcoming liabilities, you risk late fees or missed payments. Keeping an up-to-date record of accounts payable is crucial to staying organized and avoiding penalties.

“How do I know what my inventory is and when to reorder?”
If you don’t have a system to track inventory levels, you might end up with stock shortages—or excess stock that ties up valuable cash. Regular inventory checks and a solid reorder system help you maintain balance and keep operations running smoothly.

💼 Michelle’s advice: The key to financial clarity is having systems in place for tracking receivables, payables, and inventory. When you know exactly where your business stands financially, you can make smarter decisions and avoid unnecessary surprises.

01/23/2026

📘 If your business disappeared tomorrow, would your plan still hold up?

Written by Hawley and Dan, the Master Planning book helps business owners move from guesswork to clarity — with a step-by-step strategy built for real-world decisions.

Smart leaders plan ahead.
Great leaders master it.

🔗 Get the book: https://bit.ly/49kGIxR

01/21/2026

Michelle Salazar on the Biggest Pitfalls for Business Owners

As a business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle—but one area that can make or break your success is finances. Michelle Salazar highlights three major pitfalls every entrepreneur should avoid:

💸 Lack of Clear Financial Records: Not keeping detailed, up-to-date financial records is a recipe for disaster. Without clarity on your income, expenses, and cash flow, it’s hard to make informed decisions or even understand where your money is going!

🧾 Neglecting Reconciliation: Failing to regularly reconcile your financial records with your tax returns can lead to discrepancies, missed deductions, and bigger problems come tax time. Stay on top of it—accuracy is key!

📊 Inconsistent Financial Practices: A business’s financial health depends on consistent tracking, budgeting, and planning. Skipping these steps can result in unexpected costs or tax surprises that could’ve been avoided.

Michelle’s advice? Hire a qualified bookkeeper, stay organized, stay diligent, and keep your finances aligned. It might seem tedious, but your business will thank you in the long run!

01/17/2026

Most business owners work in their business every day — but never step back to create a map for where they’re going.

That’s exactly why Hawley and Dan wrote the Master Planning book — to give business owners a clear, practical roadmap for direction, decision-making, and long-term success.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Clarify your long-term vision
✔️ Align business and personal goals
✔️ Build a strategy that supports growth and exit readiness

📖 Start planning smarter: https://bit.ly/49kGIxR

01/15/2026

🚨 Common Business Owner Mistake: Comingling Personal & Business Finances 🚨

Michelle Salazar is here to break down a critical mistake many business owners make: comingling personal and business finances.

This seemingly small oversight can have huge consequences, not just for your tax situation, but for your business valuation down the road. Michelle emphasizes the importance of keeping clean, separate records—no mixing personal expenses with business funds!

💡 Why? Because clear, organized financials make it easier to:

Maximize your tax benefits.
Present a strong valuation when it’s time to sell or seek investment.

Stay tuned this month as Michelle continues to share more invaluable insights on how to keep your business finances in top shape!

01/12/2026

📘 Business growth without a plan isn’t strategy — it’s risk.

Written by Hawley and Dan, the Master Planning book lays out a proven framework to help business owners align vision, strategy, and ex*****on — all in one place.

If you’re serious about building long-term value (not just surviving the next quarter), this is required reading.

👉 Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/49kGIxR

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

Meet Michelle Salazar.

You’ve seen her name — now it’s time to hear directly from her.

Michelle Salazar is the President of Valuation & Litigation Consultants, a CPA, and a trusted expert with 25 years of deep experience in business valuation.

This month, we’re sitting down with Michelle for a one-on-one conversation as she breaks down what business owners really need to know about valuation — from understanding what drives value to making smarter decisions for the future.

Whether you’re considering selling, planning your next phase of growth, or simply want clarity around what your business is worth, you’ll want to follow along.

📊 Insightful. Practical. Essential.
Stay tuned — you’ll be learning from one of the best.

01/07/2026

📘 Build the Future You Envision — One Strategic Step at a Time.

Business owners know that growth without a roadmap leads to chaos — not results. That’s why Master Planning: The Art of Exiting Your Business is a must-read for any leader serious about intentional growth. This book breaks down a planning process to help you clarify your vision, align priorities, and create a strategic path forward that actually works.

Whether you’re setting direction for the year ahead, pivoting your business, or aiming for long-term sustainability, this guide offers a practical framework that’s been used by organizations around the world.

👉 Grab your copy here: https://bit.ly/49kGIxR

01/05/2026

2026 isn’t about resolutions.
It’s about results.

For business owners, a new year brings more than a fresh calendar — it brings critical questions:

Are you building a business that supports your life…
or one that depends entirely on you?

At MacLean Financial Group, we believe 2026 is the year to move beyond reacting and start intentionally planning.

✔️ Clarity around your long-term vision
✔️ Alignment between business, personal, and financial goals
✔️ A proactive strategy for growth, protection, and eventual exit

Whether you’re five years out or fifteen, the best time to plan is before you have to.

Here’s to a year of smarter decisions, stronger foundations, and building value that lasts — in your business and your life.

Welcome to 2026. Let’s plan it well.