In this episode of the M&A Mastermind podcast, host Nick Olsen sits down with Russell Cohen, the president of South Florida M&A Advisors, to explore his remarkable journey from business brokerage to mergers and acquisitions. Russell shares insights into the challenges and triumphs of rebranding, the importance of building a strong team, and the strategic shift to targeting larger deals. Discover how Russell's experience in the business brokerage world laid the foundation for his success in M&A and learn valuable lessons for anyone considering a similar transition. Tune in to hear about the pivotal moments that validated Russell's move and the skills essential for thriving in the lower middle market M&A space. Key Takeaways: Transition Challenges: Russell Cohen discusses the complexities of rebranding from a business brokerage to an M&A firm, emphasizing the importance of strategic marketing and building a strong team. Importance of Education: He highlights the value of continuous learning and obtaining certifications to succeed in the M&A industry. Building Relationships: The episode underscores the significance of developing relationships with centers of influence, such as attorneys and CPAs, to generate leads and build credibility. Patience and Perseverance: Russell shares that patience is crucial in M&A deals, which often involve multiple stakeholders and can take time to close. Strategic Partnerships: The conversation touches on the benefits of being part of a network like Cornerstone International Alliance, which provides support and collaboration opportunities. Keywords: Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic partnerships, relationships, lower middle market, transition to M&A, business brokerage, Russell Cohen, South Florida M&A About the show: The M&A Mastermind Podcast is your go-to source for the latest industry trends and strategies to level up your M&A practice. The show features thought leaders who specialize in the lower middle market space and share their experiences and expertise across key areas of execution, such as market analysis, lead generation, deal management, strategic partnerships, buyer access and much more. With host Nick Olsen, each episode's "mastermind" will share ways in which they have found success in navigating the M&A industry to best support the small-to-medium-sized private business owners they focus on serving.