What if the greatest threat to a successful business isn’t competition or the economy—but the risks an owner never stops long enough to recognize?

In this episode of the Finance Leaders Podcast, Daniel Hanzelka sits down with Jerry Mainardi, co-creator of Business Killers, to explore the story behind an educational platform built to change how financial professionals engage business owners.

Jerry shares how he and his brother Michael approached the financial industry as business owners themselves—and quickly recognized the limitations of product-first conversations. That frustration led them to spend 18 months researching the challenges business owners face and developing a more consultative, education-driven approach.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why business owners often overlook significant risks

• How education can create better conversations than traditional selling

• Why self-discovery is more powerful than simply telling someone they have a problem

• The unique challenges of family-business succession

• Why trusted advisors should lead with questions, not solutions

• What Jerry learned from 30 years of working with business owners and financial professionals

👤 About Jerry Mainardi

Jerry Mainardi is the co-creator of Business Killers, Family Matters, and Business of Medicine. His work has focused on helping financial professionals create meaningful, consultative conversations around business risk, succession, and long-term planning.

Connect With Jerry Mainardi

📍 Location: Vero Beach, Florida

🌐 Website: www.businesskillers.com