The McFarland Group, an Omaha-based advisory firm specializing in ownership transitions for closely held businesses, has appointed John Bruckner as managing partner, formalizing a role he has held in practice for several years. The announcement signals a deliberate commitment to continuity in a field where owners often face the most consequential financial decision of their lives. Bruckner has led the firm's M&A advisory practice for the past four years and has worked alongside founder Byron McFarland for more than a decade. In his expanded role, he will carry responsibility for the firm's operations and strategic direction in addition to his client-facing work.
Bruckner advises owners of closely held businesses through the process of selling, with an emphasis on preparation and positioning that begins well before any transaction is underway. He brings legal training and transactional experience to the structural questions that most directly affect what an owner walks away with: valuation, deal terms, and the architecture of the agreement itself. His practice is concentrated in the lower middle market, where owners are frequently navigating a sale for the first and only time. This focus matters because these owners often lack the institutional knowledge that larger corporations take for granted, making the guidance of a seasoned advisor particularly critical.
Byron McFarland, who founded the firm, described the appointment as a reflection of how the group already functions. "John has been carrying this weight for some time, and the title reflects the work rather than announces a change in it," said Byron McFarland, Founder of The McFarland Group. "My job has always been to help owners slow the moment down and think clearly. That continues, with a partner steering the firm who holds the same standard."
Bruckner described his priority as preserving the firm's approach as its reach expands. "Most owners sell a business once. The decisions they make in that window shape everything that follows, and they deserve advisors who are not in a hurry," said John Bruckner, Managing Partner of The McFarland Group. "The work that matters happens long before a closing. That is what this firm was built to do, and it is what I intend to protect. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity to build on the foundation Byron created and help guide the firm into its next chapter. I have great respect for what he built and am committed to carrying that legacy forward together."
As an Omaha M&A advisor, The McFarland Group works with owners of closely held businesses across three service tracks: M&A advisory for sales to outside buyers, management buyouts for owners transferring the company to their leadership team, and performance equity plans designed to build value a buyer will pay for. Client engagements remain senior-led, and the appointment does not alter who owners work with on a day-to-day basis.
The firm has guided over $3 billion in business value through more than 200 ownership transitions over two decades. Its guiding idea is simple: Go Boldly. For owners contemplating a sale or transition, the formalization of Bruckner's leadership provides assurance that the firm's dedication to careful, unhurried counsel will endure. Learn more at https://themcfarlandgroup.com.
