CFO GROWTH ADVISORS

Executive Summary Surging Confidence: 77% of mid-market owners are bullish on their own growth, even as only 50% trust the broader national economy. The "Efficiency" Engine: 66% of CEOs say their optimism comes from breakthrough gains in internal efficiency—up from 51% last year. The M&A Window: With 67% of firms planning a deal by 2029, the race is on to clean up balance sheets for maximum valuation. AI where it counts: 51% of your peers are now using automation

Executive Summary Universal Adoption: 93% of middle-market leaders work for companies actively investing in AI. The ROI Leader: AI is expected to deliver the highest ROI ( 29% ) of any capital category this year. The Funding Confidence: 89% of leaders feel their AI funding is adequate to reach their targets. The Bay Area Edge: From the East Bay to Silicon Valley , private firms are using automated workflows to offset the region's rising talent and operational costs.

Executive Summary Sales Optimism: 56% of business economists anticipate sales will rise in the next three months—the highest level since mid-2024. AI Productivity: Nearly three out of four respondents ( 73% ) believe AI will boost their company’s productivity this year. Capital Spending: The share of firms reporting increased capital spending on AI and improvements rose to 33% , exceeding the 26% average from last year. Strategic Mandate: With recession worries fading,