The 2026 Exit Planning Summit brought together more than 1,200 exit planning professionals at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. Over three days, attendees had the opportunity to connect with peers, hear from inspiring speakers, and gain practical insights to better serve business owners through the Value Acceleration Methodology™ (VAM).
The 2026 Exit Planning Summit reinforced what makes the exit planning community so special: a shared commitment to helping business owners build value, prepare for transition, and achieve better outcomes.
Couldn’t make it to Nashville this year? Read on below to see what you missed and learn more about what you can expect from the Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) throughout the rest of 2026 and beyond.
The New CEPA Member Model
To kick off the 2026 Exit Planning Summit, EPI President Scott Snider debuted our new Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) member model. This revolution of our previous membership tiers is designed to allow advisors to choose what is right for them.
From the CEPA tier to our brand-new CEPA Plus and CEPA Mastery options, there is a membership to fit every advisor.
For advisors looking to make connections before the Exit Planning Summit, EPI also debuted CEPA Connect. This new platform helps members stay connected to the broader community in a more meaningful way. This benefit is only accessible to CEPA Plus and Mastery members.
To learn more about the new membership tiers, visit EPIMembership.com to book a meeting with an EPI Member Experience rep.
The CEPA Culture Creed
During his opening keynote at the 2026 Exit Planning Summit, Ben Utecht, Super Bowl champion and author of The Champions Creed, introduced the CEPA Culture Creed.
The CEPA Culture Creed outlines the shared values and commitments that define what it means to be a CEPA. The Culture Creed centers on themes such as collaboration, stewardship, lifelong learning, courage, and service. This document serves as a reminder that exit planning is about more than transactions.
To see the full CEPA Culture Creed, visit CEPACreed.com to download the document outlining the commitments that define the CEPA culture.
Don’t Miss Out on the 2027 Exit Planning Summit
If you missed the 2026 Exit Planning Summit in Nashville, you can register early for the 2027 event, which will be held on the West Coast. Registration is now open for the 2027 Exit Planning Summit, set for May 2-4, 2027, at the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista, California.
Join us as we celebrate another year of excellence in exit planning, featuring our 2026 Exit Planner of the Year, Renee Russo, and dozens of other speakers from the exit planning community. Stay tuned to the EPI blog for more on what to expect at the 2027 Exit Planning Summit, including themes, workshops, and attendees.
If you are a CEPA Plus member, you will also receive access to the 2027 Exit Planning Summit as part of your membership. However, if you are a new CEPA who gained access to CEPA Plus after completing your exam, you will not receive registration for the Exit Planning Summit with your membership.
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.
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