What You Missed at the 2026 Exit Planning Summit, and What’s Next

The 2026 Exit Planning Summit brought together the Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) community for three days of learning, networking, and growth from April 19-21.

In Nashville, EPI debuted a revolutionary new membership model to better equip Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA®) with the knowledge and tools to serve their business-owner clients. We also introduced a new, exclusive community that allows CEPAs to stay connected no matter where they are around the globe.

To see what else you might have missed at the 2026 Exit Planning Summit, read on below.

What You Missed

A Focus on Personal Planning

The 2026 Exit Planning Summit put a magnifying glass on the most overlooked leg of the exit planning stool, personal planning, spearheaded by EPI President Scott Snider, who led a main stage panel discussion on how to communicate the importance of a personal plan to your exit-planning clients.

Our two keynote speakers, Ben Utecht and Tommy Breedlove, also shared personal planning insights that attendees could take home to implement in their practice. In Ben’s opening keynote, the former NFL tight end and Super Bowl Champion helped the CEPA community create its culture creed, which provides clarity and alignment on what it means to be a CEPA and how you impact business owners.

A New Way to Use Your CEPA

One of the most important announcements at the 2026 Exit Planning Summit was the debut of our new membership model. Designed using feedback from our CEPAs, this reimagining of our existing membership options gives you the chance to choose the membership tier that aligns with your goals, whether it's to grow your network, land more clients, or cement your status as a master-level CEPA.

To learn more about these new membership options, check out our announcement blog here or visit EPIMembership.com to check out your options and connect with an EPI Member Experience Team member today.

Introducing CEPA Connect

Also at the Exit Planning Summit, we launched CEPA Connect, a brand-new way for CEPAs to stay connected in a community all their own.

This new platform is purpose-built for CEPAs who want to stay connected year-round, beyond events like EPI Chapter meetings, Mastermind Groups and Webinars, and the Exit Planning Summit. Think of it as LinkedIn, but only for Certified Exit Planning Advisors, a place where you can ask questions, share success stories, and build a referral network.

This new CEPA-exclusive platform is only available to advisors in the CEPA Plus and CEPA Mastery membership tiers.

Heading Out West in 2027

Did you miss out on the 2026 Exit Planning Summit in Nashville? Act now to secure your spot next year!

In 2027, the Exit Planning Summit is headed out west, to Chula Vista, California, and the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center. Early-bird registration is open now for the next edition of the Exit Planning Summit, set for May 2-4.

Also, keep in mind that if you renewed your membership at the 2026 Summit under the new CEPA Plus membership tier, your ticket for the 2027 Exit Planning Summit is included.

If you are a new CEPA who gained access to the CEPA Plus tier after completing the CEPA course, you will not receive a ticket for the 2027 Summit as part of that tier. To learn more about our new membership tiers and secure your spot at the 2027 Exit Planning Summit, use the form below.

About the Exit Planning Summit 

The Exit Planning Summit is the premier exit planning event, spanning over the course of three days. It provides attendees the opportunity to experience hands-on education, make new connections with like-minded individuals, and spark innovation in the profession. It is the annual, global gathering for exit planning professionals committed to expanding their offerings to clients and becoming value-driven.  

Related Resources

• 15 Years of Elevating CEPAs at the Exit Planning Summit
• Where the Exit Planning Institute is Headed in 2026
• How You Can Prioritize Personal Planning in 2026