After two choppy years for dealmakers, 2026 is starting with a very different tone, one that many business owners have been waiting for. While the past few years brought tariff swings, interest rate volatility and a cautious lending environment, the fundamentals are shifting in a way that increasingly favors sellers, especially those in the lower middle market (LMM).

Every January, business owners make big promises. Grow revenue. Cut costs. Expand markets. By March, most of those goals are gone, and with them, time and opportunity. Resolutions fail because they are wishes, not commitments. They lack a compelling why, a clear how, and the right tools. How about a plan? Not so fast. A plan is static, a snapshot...

AI has all the hallmarks of a bubble: breathtaking valuations, rapid capital inflows, and uncertain near-term economics. At the same time, the underlying technology is powerful and big tech has the resources to continue investing, even if payoffs take time.