Congratulations on earning your Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) certification! After completing the CEPA® course and passing the exam, you’ve joined an elite group of professionals dedicated to helping business owners navigate the complex process of exit planning. Now that you have your certification, you might be wondering what comes next. Here’s a guide to help you take the next steps and make the most of your new credential with tips from one of our Account Managers, John Weishar.
One of the best initial steps is to attend a New CEPA Next Steps Call. This call will provide you with a roadmap for leveraging your certification and integrating it into your professional practice.
Book a personal call with your account manager to learn about best practices, staying connected, and where to find essential materials. As John says, "Reach out to your AM if you need connections or have questions".
It’s essential to add CEPA to all your contact information. Update your email signatures, business cards, LinkedIn profile, and any other professional profiles to reflect your new designation. This not only enhances your credibility but also signals to potential clients and partners your expertise in exit planning.
EPI has outlined a clear set of actions to ensure you maximize your CEPA certification:
The 120-Day Playbook is designed to guide you through the initial stages of implementing your new knowledge. It includes actionable steps to integrate CEPA principles into your practice.
Regularly attending Webinars and Think Tanks will keep you updated on industry trends and provide opportunities to learn from other experts in the field.
Being part of your local EPI chapter allows you to network with other CEPAs and professionals in your area. This is a valuable resource for support and collaboration.
The Exit Planning Summit is an excellent opportunity for continuing education and networking. It’s a chance to deepen your knowledge and connect with other exit planning advisors.
Take the time to go through the member center materials thoroughly. Resources such as presentation templates, webinar recordings, and assessment tools are invaluable for your practice.
These courses offer advanced training and further enhance your skills to connect with business owners. They also count towards your Continuing Education (CE) credits.
Knowing the tools and software available through EPI’s partner network will streamline your processes and provide additional value to your practice.
EPI is committed to supporting its CEPAs. Our team of account managers check in with CEPAs multiple times per year via phone or email to ensure they are getting the most out of their designation. "We support our CEPAs by checking in multiple times per year via phone call check- in or email check- in," says John. "As Account Managers, we help them collaborate and get connected with other CEPAs inside the community. In a sense we are the 'quarterback' for them to make sure they get the most out of the designation."
While we don't directly connect CEPAs with clients, John says that new CEPAs “should be utilizing materials within their Member Center including press releases, email marketing templates, introductory letter templates, social media sharing kits, presentations and templates, and the 2023 National State of Owner Readiness.” Using these tools can help CEPAs connect to business owners and support them in this new career path.
Make sure your profile in the Find A CEPA directory is up-to-date. This directory is a valuable tool for potential clients searching for certified advisors. "One of the most overlooked things that they need to do is notify us if they need any contact information updated or if they change firms," John advises, "so that we can make sure we have the most up-to-date contact information for them so that when people are searching on Find A CEPA, the contact info is correct."
Keep track of your continuing education requirements and membership obligations to maintain your certification.
Earning your CEPA certification is a significant achievement, but it’s just the beginning. By following these steps, you can maximize the value of your certification, connect with business owners, and effectively build a team for successful exit planning. Remember, your account manager is there to support you, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Embrace these next steps, and you’ll be well on your way to making a substantial impact as an exit planning advisor. Welcome to the CEPA community!