Celebrating Independence Day and the Veterans in the Exit Planning Community

Happy Independence Day from Exit Planning Institute. As we spend this time with our families and loved ones, we would like to offer our deepest thank you to the many men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. 

Within the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) community, we have many incredible men and women who have served their country prior to transitioning to the business sector. We spoke with Ryan Casey, Taylor FitzGibbon, Dan Hamlet, Ben Hickman, David Jemison, Phil McNulty, Jon Mintle, Will Revels, and Garrett Sorensen about their experiences transitioning from the Military to the business and exit planning industry. 

Transitioning from Military Service to Financial Services 

The transition from military service to a civilian job varies from Veteran to Veteran. According to a study released by the United States Government Accountability Office in 2019, over 200,000 Veterans transition to civilian life and careers each year. Garrett Sorensen shares, “Transitioning from the Military to business is not a quick or easy process. It will take time, money, and a lot of planning to be prepared for that move. But, if you take the time to learn, grow, and prepare ahead of time, you will find more success than you could have ever imagined.”

Will Revels echoes this sentiment. He says, “Transitioning out of the military is an adjustment for everyone. In my case, what I did in the Army (flying helicopters) had very little to do with managing money, so I had to start back at square one. It took a lot of work, and I’ll admit that it felt humbling at times. But I would recommend being an advisor to anyone. It’s a very rewarding career.”

Several of the Veteran CEPAs shared the stark cultural differences between military service and civilian service. Phil McNulty highlights, “The structure of the military facilitates communication and expectations immediately upon meeting another service member no matter where you are in the world. In the civilian world, two businesses in the same industry across the street from one another might have wildly different cultures.”

Ryan Casey shares, “The transition was difficult. In the service, you gradually earn respect through your hard work, attention to detail, and fighting spirit. On the outside, it was like starting all over again. But I found that many of the business obstacles I faced were similar to ones I’d faced before. Most challenges melt away in the face of grit.”  

Incorporating Military Training In The Business World

The skills and experience gained through military service can be extremely valuable in civilian career paths. Determination, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities are some of the most transferable skills in civilian careers. David Jemison shares, “In my 3 years serving alongside the Joint Special Operations Command, I developed a profound respect for all that is sacrificed and given up by our service women and men. Having worked 365 consecutive days for 12-14 hours per day, I was well-trained for the demands of a career in the financial services industry. I learned the ruthless perseverance that it takes to build a book of business in good markets and bad.”

Taylor FitzGibbon highlights the immense opportunities for growth in the financial services industry after transitioning from the military. He shares, “I have taken the discipline and other things from the military and applied them to a workplace where I'm not capped on how much I can be rewarded for the hard work I put in. I have been able to financially and emotionally help the clients and friends in my community.”

Jon Mintle explains that the training and experience he gained in the military is applicable to all industries. He says, “The transition from the military will always be a cultural adjustment, but the skillset you develop while serving can be applied to any industry. In the military, you have a clear purpose and definition of service that is rooted in those that have served our country throughout our history. I would say to any veteran that they have the skillset and mental toughness to succeed in any industry they chose. Whether it's leadership, operational planning, or human resources, you have all the tools in the toolbox already. If I were to transition into the business world again, I would take some time and really think about what type of company I want to work for from a cultural and community impact standpoint. What company and position will connect you to your purpose, where you enjoy going to work because of the work you are doing.”

Dan Hamlet shares, “My careers have all been in service to the American Dream – either protecting it or helping people achieve it. Both careers require vision and planning. And they involve communicating that vision and those plans to everyone involved or affected. Both careers involve being at the edge of change and helping people see through the fog to possible future outcomes. The business planning process and the operational planning process are very similar. Confidently use what you know, and then surround yourself with people who have the knowledge you lack, just like infantry leaders need artillery and aviation and logistics advisors around them to achieve the mission. In the business world that usually includes having a financial/accounting advisor to lean on, a marketing advisor, a technology advisor, etc.”

A Focus on Philanthropy

The desire to serve extends beyond the military and financial services industry for the CEPA Veterans we interviewed. Whether they have created their own philanthropic organizations or have donated time or resources to charitable organizations, the Veteran CEPAs have made philanthropy a main focus in their lives after military service. 

Ryan Casey is the co-founder of the Veteran Business Collective, a non-profit with chapters in North Carolina and Tennessee aimed at creating a sense of purpose, belonging, and economic success for Veterans and their families. He shares, “We’re a networking and resource hub for transitioning veterans, business owners, and folks who’d like to become business owners.”

Will Revels dedicates his philanthropic efforts to assisting Veterans and military families as well. He currently serves on the board of The Strong Gray Line, and volunteers with the North Carolina Heroes Fund, and Bunker Labs, which helps veterans and military spouses start and grow businesses.  He shares, “I’m very involved with Veterans' support organizations. I serve on the board of directors of The Strong Gray Line, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen from West Point’s Class of 2004, supporting their families and classmates in need, and building a legacy of service. I also work with Bunker Labs, which helps veterans and military spouses start and grow businesses. And in the Raleigh community, I work with the North Carolina Heroes Fund which provides short-term relief for service members and veterans enduring financial hardship – as our state is home to six major military installations.”

Dan Hamlet, Phil McNulty, and David Jemison are all active volunteers in their local churches. David is currently a Deacon of “Soul Care” at his church in Chicago. He shares, “I find great purpose connecting with new faces to Chicago and serving in our local community. Our church has come alongside Breakthrough Ministries, which is ‘an organization of compassion that is led to minister to the homeless as well as people afflicted by extreme poverty,’ here in Chicago to help meet the overwhelming need in our city.” 

Garrett Sorenson incorporates his financial services background into his philanthropic work. He states, “I’ve been working with the Financial Planning Association of Middle Tennessee for the past 5 years, teaching a financial literacy course as a part of the reintegration program for the Davidson Co Prison System and the Nashville Women’s Clinic, helping displaced and abused women get back on their feet financially.”

The Drive Towards CEPA

The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential is the most widely endorsed and accepted exit planning credential. Through the CEPA program, advisors gain a holistic understanding of the personal, business, and financial aspects of exit planning to better serve their clients. Ben Hickman shares that he wanted to become a CEPA because, “I have several friends and clients who are business owners, and I realized that none of us think about our exit plan until we are ready to exit, and that is way too late!”

Jon Mintle shares, “I realized that it was actually very similar to the operational and strategic planning process I learned in the military just applied in a different capacity. What I appreciated about becoming a CEPA is that it provided a framework through the Value Acceleration Methodology to drive alignment between personal, financial, and business goals. It looks at a holistic view of a business owner and takes measurable steps to ensure a successful exit.”

Will Revels was eager to become a CEPA to help business owners. He shares, “I like doing work that is meaningful. For a business owner, the capstone event is selling the business, that’s when they need you the most. I wanted to be a part of that process.”

Dan Hamlet was inspired to earn his CEPA credential after witnessing many business owner’s lose their businesses due to a lack of planning. He explains, “I have watched too many of my business owner clients close their doors for lack of a buyer, without having captured any of the wealth their business has created over the years. Not only does this mean they retire much more modestly than they had hoped, it means that the employees' families that their business supported are now thrown back into the labor market, often negatively affecting their family's lives. If I can help business owners start exit planning earlier, with tools and a network of advisors and experts on call, I can help protect more American Dreams.”

Meet the CEPAs

Ryan Casey

United States Marine Corps, 2008-2017

CEPA Since 2023

Ryan is a zero-sales commission investment advisor, financial planner and co-owner of Tilia Fiduciary Partners, Inc. He primarily serves small business owners with maximizing their eventual business sale proceeds and tax-conscious retirees. In addition to serving on Tilia’s Investment Policy Committee, Ryan is responsible for cultivating a team culture committed to clients’ financial success.

Previously, Ryan worked for a healthcare investment bank analyzing healthcare and biotech companies before joining the Marine Corps. As a Captain with a “Light Attack” helicopter squadron, he flew combat missions overseas. He holds the Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Exit Planning Advisor® credentials and Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Ryan is active with a number of civic and nonprofit organizations and is a founding member of the Veteran Business Collective. 

Connect with Ryan. 

Taylor FitzGibbon

United States Army, 8 years

CEPA Since 2023

Taylor FitzGibbon is a financial advisor at Edward Jones. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he was in the 82^nd Airborne Division as an Infantryman, Jumpmaster, and Team Leader. After over 8 years in the military, he devoted my full attention to family and growing his business in the community. Taylor came to Edward Jones in 2018 because he wanted to help individual investors work toward achieving their long-term financial goals like retirement, traveling, vacation homes, and leaving a legacy. 

Family is the reason he began his wealth management practice. Taylor’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic, and he was inspired by his mom to pursue a career in financial services. Taylor’s desire to help people with their long-term goals stems from wanting to leave a legacy for his own family many decades down the road. 

In his free time, Taylor enjoys volunteering in the community through Meals on Wheels or helping to coach youth soccer players. Also, he enjoys motorcycles, playing soccer on a Fort Worth team, long runs on the Trinity Trail, and spending time with his family.

Connect with Taylor. 

Dan Hamlet

United States Marine Corps, 4 years

Army Reserve, 17 years (current)

CEPA Since 2023

Dan’s path has been a bit unusual. He ran a branch office with Edward Jones for over seven years in St. Louis, Missouri, before leaving the firm to put a uniform back on to serve our nation. Dan was blessed with the opportunity to return to Edward Jones in 2017 to resume his career there.

Dan Hamlet is a former Marine and a Major in the Army Reserve. He spent eight years as a college professor for the Army, teaching leadership and military science, and guiding cadets to successful careers as Army Officers. He also has significant entrepreneurial business experience which allowed him to serve as the director of an entrepreneurship development center in Northeast Missouri, helping business owners and entrepreneurs start and grow and eventually sell their businesses. Dan is a husband and father of seven children, with a passion for feeding people and building genuine community in his church and neighborhood.

Connect with Dan.

Ben Hickman 

United States Navy, 5 years

Texas Army National Guard, 17 years

CEPA Since 2023

Ben is a retired service member and father of three wonderful young men. In the military, he served as a US Naval Aircrew Rescue Swimmer and Anti-Sub Warfare systems operator, and in the Army where he served as a CAV Scout and later commissioned and flew AH-64 Apache helicopters.

Ben always had a love for investing and Edward Jones became the perfect fit for him to continue to serve others and help them accomplish their dreams.

Connect with Ben. 

David Jemison

Civilian Contractor with the Department of Defense, 3 years

CEPA Since 2023

David’s path to wealth management began in Iraq. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies (with a minor in Music) from Davidson College, David spent three years in Iraq as a Department of Defense Contractor (2007 through 2010) – translating Arabic for a Counter-Terrorism Joint Special Operations Task Force.

While in the Mideast, David became a student of the markets and saw the opportunity to capitalize on the market volatility of 2008. Despite never having taken a financial course in college, he began to invest and recognize the need for trusted financial guidance, as well as the knowledge gap between financial professionals and the investing public.

After returning from Iraq, David embarked on a new mission – to help people receive the guidance and attention they deserved. In 2011, David joined a small boutique wealth management firm in Santa Monica, California. Believing that clients could benefit from a more holistic approach to goals-based wealth management, he joined Merrill in 2013 and moved to Chicago – so that he and his wife, Caitlin, could be closer to her family in Indiana.

Still a “translator at heart,” David takes pride in understanding complex wealth and liability management strategies as a financial advisor at a local Bank of America Financial Center. David is passionate about developing meaningful, long-term client relationships and providing an exceptional level of insight and care. Utilizing the specialists and resources that span Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, David can customize strategies that help clients build, manage, and preserve wealth for generations.

David is a Senior Vice President and equity partner of The Allen Wealth Management Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. David holds the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor®, SE-AWMA™, designation from the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp, and he is a newly minted Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Connect with David. 

Phil McNulty

United States Marine Corps, 8 years

CEPA Since 2023

Originally licensed in 2010, Phil earned his CFP in 2015. In 2018, he earned a Master’s Degree in Personal Financial Planning and the Master Planner Advanced Studies designation.  

Born and raised on the east coast, Phil served 8 years in the Marine Corps in both the Infantry and Intelligence fields, followed by another 7 years supporting the U.S. military domestically and overseas.  

Phil married his wife, Carrie, in 2022. His interests include church, ice hockey, and hiking.  

Connect with Phil. 

Jon Mintle

United States Marine Corps, 6 years

CEPA Since 2023

Jon grew up in Colorado Springs and graduated from Colorado State University. After graduation, Jon had the privilege to serve in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry Captain and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Upon his transition from the military, he held operation management positions while earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Colorado State University. He joined Edward Jones in 2015 in Colorado. Like many Coloradans, he is a passionate lifelong skier and mountain enthusiast exploring the Rocky Mountains which add a seldom paralleled level of grandeur and magnificence to the land. Without fail, he is drawn back to the sweet smell of the Ponderosa Pine and endless peaks.

At Edward Jones, he is focused on serving the financial needs of individual investors and treating our clients as we would want to be treated, a simple idea that still makes sense in today’s complex marketplace.

Connect with Jon. 

Will Revels 

United States Army, 7 years

CEPA Since 2022

Will Revels, CFA, CFP®️, CEPA®️ is a Senior Relationship Manager in Balentine’s Raleigh office. In this role, he manages a team that oversees all aspects of each client’s financial well-being by creating custom financial plans and investment portfolios that best allow them to meet their objectives.

Will has worked in the investment industry for more than a decade. Before joining Balentine in 2020, he was a portfolio manager for high-net-worth clients at BB&T.

Prior to starting his investment career, Will served in the Army as an Airborne Ranger—qualified aviation officer and helicopter pilot. While serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and 7th Special Forces Group, Will deployed twice to Afghanistan, receiving several medals for his service.

Will earned a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Financial Planner®, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor®.

Will lives with his wife and three children in Raleigh, where he currently serves as Past President and board member of the Strong Gray Line, a non-profit established to honor the charitable passions of fallen members of the West Point Class of 2004.

Connect with Will. 

Celebrating the Veterans in the CEPA Community