The Experts

Starting and successfully growing a small business is no small feat, but there may come a time when it’s in your best interest to exit the company you built. While covering everything you need to know about pulling off a successful exit could fill volumes, a few key takeaways will help ensure the process goes…

By AMY NARISHKIN, Ph.D. Across industries, exhaustion is often treated as an individual problem, a resilience issue, a time-management issue, or a personal leadership challenge. But what if leaders are diagnosing the symptom rather than the cause? Recently, I spoke with a colleague who is a leadership consultant like me. Near the end of our…

Spend your marketing budget where it makes a difference By CAROLYN GREEN Most businesses assume they need more leads. Sometimes they do, but sometimes nurturing relationships or converting existing prospects will generate a bigger return on investment. There are three things necessary for a business to grow. You must attract new leads, nurture prospects, and…

As the sun climbs higher and afternoon shadows fade, the temperature rises, making it the perfect time to review your business’s Heat Illness Prevention Program. In April 2026, OSHA introduced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Heat, broadening its scope to include more indoor and outdoor industries. This article outlines the industries, activities, and…

By SCOTT CRUZ Artificial intelligence (“AI”) notetaking and transcription tools have become increasingly common across organizations in all industries. Companies are using these tools to document virtual safety meetings, virtual employee relations discussions, virtual training sessions, and virtual operational reviews. While these technologies offer clear business advantages, they also introduce complex legal risks—particularly under the…

By ERIC KELLEY Executive VP, Chief Investment Officer UMB Private Wealth Management The conflict with Iran continues, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and 20 percent of the world’s energy supply has been constrained for more than 90 days. At the outset of this conflict, May 15 was often stated as the “pain point” when…

Pitching an angel investor can feel a bit like a catch-22. You need angel funding to grow your business. Yet, the angel investor wants to see, among many things, the growth and success you’ve already secured. If you’re like most business owners in pursuit of angel funding, you don’t have years of sales to demonstrate…

By AMY NARISHKIN, Ph.D. Leaders often say they want honest feedback. They want innovation, accountability, healthy debate, and people who speak up when something feels off. But then something interesting happens in meetings. People hesitate. They soften their opinions. They circle around difficult topics. Or they wait until after the meeting to say what they…

By ANA AKE, vice president Retirement client advisor, UMB Bank For many business owners, offering a 401(k) or 403(b) plan is part of the benefits package—a necessary tool to attract and retain talent. What often gets overlooked is that sponsoring a retirement plan comes with significant fiduciary and regulatory responsibility. In today’s environment, that responsibility…

Mid-year check-in is key to success By mid-year, most business owners have a clear sense of how the year is unfolding. The plans made in January have met the reality of day-to-day operations and it is time to adjust. For those focused on growing a small business, a mid-year check-in is one of the most…