#434: Q1 Economic & M&A Update with ITR Economics, ButcherJosheph, & Joe Brown

The economy is shifting fast, and if you’re a middle-market business owner, the moves you make today will define your future—whether that’s navigating capital markets, securing financing, or making critical reinvestment decisions. 

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In this Quarterly Economic & M&A Update, I bring together three powerhouse guests to give you real-time insights you won’t find in mainstream media. 

Alan Beaulieu from ITR Economics shares the latest economic data and leading indicators to help you anticipate what’s coming next. 

Jeff Buettner from ButcherJoseph breaks down the current state of M&A—who’s buying, what’s happening with valuations, and how financing trends are shifting. 

Joe Brown from Heresy Financial takes us deeper into the macroeconomic landscape—government debt, money supply growth, and how it all ties back to your business decisions.  

If you’re a business owner looking to understand how these economic forces impact your company’s valuation, financing options, and long-term strategy, this episode is packed with timely and practical insights. 
 
Alan Beaulieu is a Consulting Principal at ITR Economics, has 30 years of experience delivering economic analysis seminars and workshops to business executives worldwide. Known for his straightforward and accurate economic forecasting, Alan has co-authored influential books including "Prosperity in the Age of Decline" and "Make Your Move," which provides practical guidance on increasing profits through business cycle changes. His insights and forecasting expertise have earned him recognition in major publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Business Week.  
 

Jeff Buettner is a Managing Director at ButcherJoseph with over 20 years of valuation and financial opinion services experience. He specializes in ESOP transactions, business valuations, fairness opinions, and financial restructuring across diverse industries. Previously, Jeff spent nearly a decade at Stout Risius Ross as Managing Director in ESOP Advisory Services and began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. A former board member of the National Center of Employee Ownership, Jeff serves on The ESOP Association's Valuation Advisory Committee and regularly presents at industry conferences. He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. 
 
Joe Brown is the CEO and Founder of Heresy Financial, a company he established in July 2019 after nearly five years at Charles Schwab as an Investment Consultant. With a mission to help people control and protect their wealth, Joe created Heresy Financial to combat excessive fees and poor investment advice. He holds a BS in Christian Studies from Arizona Christian University, where he participated in the Servant-Leader Scholar Program. Joe shares financial insights through the company's YouTube channel. 

Chapters:  

• (00:00) Introduction - Q1 2025 economic and M&A update with three expert segments 

• (02:46) Alan Beaulieu on economic outlook and ITR's business cycle phases 

• (08:00) Analysis of M2 money supply growth and its correlation to economic performance 

• (14:00