Valuation, Risk, and the Truth About Seller Regret

Judy Park, Founder, Umpirical Advisors

What does it actually mean to be “ready” to sell your business?

In this episode of Ethical Exits, Hannah sits down with Judy Park, CMAA, a certified M&A advisor known for her meticulous attention to detail and deep transactional experience across 50+ successful closings and more than $100 million in deal volume.

But this conversation goes beyond spreadsheets.

Judy introduces one of the most important framing devices in M&A:

Buyers buy futures.

Sellers sell history.

Founders often value their companies based on sacrifice, identity, and years of effort. Buyers, meanwhile, are underwriting projected cash flows, risk, and uncertainty.

That gap, between emotional value and financial underwriting, is where seller regret is born.

Together, Hannah and Judy explore:

• The most common seller readiness gaps

• Why overly polished financials can actually erode trust

• How buyers assess risk beyond EBITDA

• The role of transparency in strengthening valuation

• Why earn-outs, seller notes, and transition periods matter

• How ethical deal design creates post-close confidence

This episode is a practical guide for founders who want to exit without losing what made their business matter in the first place.

Because a good deal doesn’t just close.

It lets both sides sleep six months later.

👉 To learn more about Judy’s work check out Umpirical Advisors, or connect with her, reach out on LinkedIn.
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At Ethical Exits, we champion profit-for-purpose capitalism—leveraging business as a force for scaling philanthropy and meaningful change.

In each episode, we ask guests to highlight a cause close to their heart. For Judy, she highlights Korean Community Service (KCS) — an organization supporting Korean and immigrant communities through economic empowerment, small business support, and access to critical social services.

🔗 Learn more or support their work: kcsny.org

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