EPI’s success in recent years is thanks in part to the individuals in our community who have served as thought leaders. — They have taken their expertise and innovation in specific areas of exit planning and sharing it with others to propel our collective knowledge forward. To recognize the importance of thought leaders to our industry, we are honoring an individual with our Thought Leader of the Year Award during the Exit Planning Summit later this month.
The Thought Leader of the Year Award is presented to a CEPA who has successfully trailblazed a first-of-its-kind project, initiative, or practice that has significantly contributed to the exit planning profession and the overall community.
Our three nominees are:
- Michael Sheppard, CFP, CPFA, CEPA, Thrivent
- Christian Muntean, CEPA, Vantage Consulting
- Joe Seetoo, CFA, CFP, CEPA, Morton Wealth
MICHAEL SHEPPARD , CFP, CPFA, CEPA, Thrivent
Michael’s nominator described him as a “driving force in our community.” He’s known for leading the charge in education, awareness, content creation, and programming—both in the local EPI community as well as at Thrivent where he works. “His proactive approach to highlighting important industry issues has sparked meaningful discussions and positive change,” says his nominator.
Most notably, his nominator says Michael’s passionate about sharing knowledge and empowering others: “His creative content and programming initiatives have not only benefited his colleagues but have also fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration.”
- Year achieved CEPA: 2021
- Summit excitement: “The Power Sessions—they are always so good. I also like to use the time to talk to advisors of different backgrounds. It helps me better articulate the segment I serve and ask my clients better questions to ensure they’re connecting to different advisors.”
- Student of the game: Michael is big on being a student of the game—something he honed in on during his football days. He takes the same approach with exit planning, which is why he sought his CEPA certification: “I wanted to accelerate how I help small businesses—the backbone of America—and improve upon how I serve them.”
- A dream fulfilled: “I remind myself I am working with someone who likely risked it all—has gone through all the pains and tribulations of building a business—and gotten to the point where they have created something of value, have something meaningful, and are now able to leave and hopefully let it sustain past them. That’s powerful.“
- Giving back: “When I think back at what I’ve accomplished over the past year, I’m probably most proud of my work in the community. I bring inner-city kids here to Thrivent and talk with them about financial literacy. I share my story, how I started and exited a business, and my goals. I hope to inspire them to think of finance as a career choice. Over the last year, I’ve hosted 400 kids.”
- Framing it up: “While I’ve always done this sort of work, earning my CEPA helped me better frame it. I work with an organization of minority business owners. I’ve taken them all through the Value Acceleration Methodology. Before getting my CEPA, I would have offered just my guidance—now it’s that plus a process that empowers them and clearly shows them the value of succession planning.”
- Art of storytelling: “From a marketing perspective, I’m focused on moving the industry forward. I use storytelling to share bite-size pieces of the value we offer as advisors. Very few people want to see the full game—or show or series—anymore, so advisors need a ‘movie trailer’ that gets them in the seats to help owners be more forward-thinking.”
CHRISTIAN MUNTEAN, CEPA, Vantage Consulting
Christian is dogged in his pursuit of establishing an exit planning base in his home state of Alaska. “He is the co-founder of the Exit Planning Advisors of Alaska and brings his wealth of knowledge to the group while also actively recruiting professional speakers and other thought leaders,” says his nominator. “When Alaskans think about Exit Planning, they immediately turn to Christian Muntean. He has built an ecosystem of advisors that has directly impacted the Alaskan economy.”
Since earning his CEPA, he has successfully led many small and medium-sized companies through an exit, expertly guiding the owners to increase the valuation of their businesses. Additionally, he has advocated for other professionals to do the same—increasing the number of credentials in Alaska.
“These efforts have had a profound effect on the economy in Anchorage and beyond,” says his nominator. “Ultimately, Christian has given the business owner community hope for a life well-lived beyond the sale of their business.”
- Year achieved CEPA: 2019
- Summit excitement: “My first couple of Summits, I was just trying to get arms around the exit planning world. This time around, I know where I fit and how to make the best use of my relationships. I’m also excited to participate in the Building the Exit Planning Dream Team panel and the Author Showcase [both on April 29].”
- Nexus of career: Christian’s background is extensive—business strategist, organizational leader, facilitator, merger and acquisitions consultant, mediator, and master coach—and all vital to his business today: “Exit planning has been the nexus for all of my skill sets and specialty areas. I get to bring them all together and use them simultaneously as I help business owners through the exit planning process. It’s exciting to see this culmination of my career.“
- The content machine: He is the author of two books: The Successful New CEO and Conflict and Leadership—one of which is being used as a study guide for a college course. Christian has also made notable contributions to Forbes.com, and his thought leadership is not just limited to print. His insights are frequently sought after in the podcast world.
- Gym to boardroom: In his third book, Train to Lead—out in May 2024—Christian takes proven athletic training principles and applies them to leadership. “As someone who has trained athletes and tactical professionals, I’ve seen firsthand how focused, structured training can lead to extraordinary results. I think we can bring the same approach to building a management team or training an incoming CEO.”
- The suite life: Christian understands that no one advisor can meet all of a client’s needs, so he’s an advocate for CEPAs developing a suite of professionals they can tap into to address all that a client requires.
JOE SEETOO, CFA, CFP, CEPA, Morton Wealth
“As a testament to his unwavering commitment to fostering knowledge dissemination and strategic partnerships, Mr. Seetoo has demonstrated remarkable prowess in spearheading initiatives that have significantly enriched the business landscape,” says his nominator.
In addition to launching exit planning initiatives at his firm, Joe has been instrumental in establishing exit planning as a vital part of the local business community. He founded the local EPI chapter, pioneering educational programming that truly fosters a culture of continuous learning.
“His visionary leadership, strategic acumen, and tireless efforts in promoting knowledge dissemination have left an indelible mark on the business landscape, inspiring professionals and fostering innovation,” says his nominator.
- Year achieved CEPA: 2018
- Summit excitement: “I’m excited to go to Marco Island—never been there—but I’m really looking forward to speaking on a panel [Building the Exit Planning Dream Team on April 29] and reconnecting with people I’ve gotten to know over the years. I always leave the Summit feeling inspired to take my practice to the next level.”
- SOOR takes on LA: Joe played a pivotal role in leading the local Los Angeles State of Owner Readiness Report, particularly the partnership between EPI and the Los Angeles Business Journal to issue the survey and publish the results. “The partnership enabled us to get these insights in front of even more business owners and CEOs. We shared the results at an event in early 2024 that was attended by 200 local business professionals.”
- Raising the chapter bar: Under Joe’s leadership, the LA chapter converted to a fee-based model. “It galvanized the chapter, raising the bar of who was involved, establishing the go-to advisors in the area.”
- Void in the market: As he went through his own experience of buying a company, Joe had a newfound appreciation for how overwhelming the process is for other owners. “I have a financial background and I felt overwhelmed by all the legal, tax, financial, and valuation intricacies. It made me realize there’s a huge void in the market. Business owners may be experts at their business but not well versed in all the complexities of a business exit.”
- Working as a translator: For Joe, one of the most critical aspects of being an exit advisor is developing strong communication skills—or rather translation skills. “You have to be able to take all the technical, complex ideas of exit options and patiently help the owner understand them.”
- Ripcord moments: Joe hosts The Ripcord Moment, a podcast focused on learning from those entrepreneurs and their team of advisors, so you can execute and hit your perfect landing. “By leveraging the power of digital platforms, Mr. Seetoo has effectively disseminated valuable insights and fostered meaningful discourse within the business community,” says his nominator.
Thought Leader of the Year Announcement
We will announce the winner of the Thought Leader of the Year Award at the 2024 Exit Planning Summit on Monday, April 29, in Marco Island, FL.
The Exit Planning Summit is the coming together of the Exit Planning Community. Top advisors collaborate with partners and colleagues to empower business owners in building significant companies. Attendees will forge new connections, glean best practices, and elevate their advisory skills, leaving the Summit equipped and inspired to accelerate their practices.
Learn more about the Exit Planning Summit and register to reserve your spot today!
