CEPA Spotlight: Mark Kravietz

It takes a community to get an owner ready to exit.

Mark Kravietz, CEPA, CFP®, CIMA®, Managing Director and Partner of MK Wealth Management at HighTower, EPI Greater New York President, 2014 Volunteer of the Year, and 2016 Leader of the Year, wants to be the first person that comes to mind when an owner hears the word “exit.”

When his father came to the United States, he had nothing. He worked as a runner in the garment business, which was a major industry in New York City. Over time, his father became a small business owner. It was a classic small business and he had about 15 people employees. But, with no one to analyze the industry and advise him, his dad wound up liquidating his company.

Kravietz saw his dad achieve the American dream and then be forced to give it up. Due to lack of guidance, he became a victim of statistics and market conditions. Kravietz uses this as the driving force in his practice.

Having helped over 200 owners, families, and others exit their businesses, Kravietz’ attitude toward community aligns with the CEPA core belief of collaboration. Kravietz’ desire to educate and assist owners led to his piloting of the first Business Owner’s Forum.

The New York City Business Owners Forum is an educational event for business owners and their key partners to hear from star-studded keynote speakers in the fields of business strategy, exit planning, succession planning, and marketplace trends. Each year, this event attracts more than 100 entrepreneurs and established owners to learn and grow their understanding of how to create an attractive and ready business so that they can exit when they want and on their own terms.

Educating owners is an industry trend, not a fluke.

This past October, Kravietz hosted his fifth annual business owner’s forum, creating a buzz around the importance of educating owners in the exit planning industry. Because of Kravietz’ leadership, other owner’s forums have catapulted from coast-to-coast.

Top takeaways from this previous Owner’s Forum:

• “Your staff and the culture you create is #1 and the customer is #2. Customer service is not a department, it’s an attitude.” -Larry Siedlick, Serial entrepreneur and founder of Sunrise Medical Laboratories
• “During the Great Depression, he spent money upgrading the staff quarters before the rest of the hotels. He felt that if he can treat the staff well, they will be loyal.” -Mitzi Perdue on her father, the owner of Sheraton Hotel
• “Frank would invite his employees to his house where he would serve them dinner.” -Mitzi Perdue on her husband Frank Perdue, the owner of Perdue Chicken
• “The major theme is to treat your employees like your best clients and they will run through walls for you.” -Mark Kravietz on the 5th Annual Greater New York Owner’s Forum

Mark Kravietz has been a CEPA since the 2013 Chicago program. He exemplifies the role of Advisor of the Future through his commitment to educating and facilitating successful outcomes for business owners.

Be sure to check out Mark Kravietz’ podcast: Find Your Exit.

CEPA Spotlight

CEPA spotlight features the accomplishments of exceptional thought leaders in the advisory community. Acquire a deeper understanding and knowledge base by reading the stories of some of the industry’s most perceptive experts. We want to hear from CEPAs all over the world about how they are changing the marketplace.

Do you know someone who exhibits unique and remarkable qualities as an advisor? Contact Jordyn Austin at jaustin@exit-planning-institute.org to nominate them for the next CEPA spotlight.

More than a credentialing company.

“This Methodology is Going to Supercharge My Practice!” -Justin Goodbread, CEPA, CFP®

Official ‘Exit Planning’ Definition: Exit planning combines the plan, concept, effort, and process into a clear, simple strategy to build a business that is transferable through strong human, structural, customer, and social capital. The future of the business owner, his/her family, and the business itself are addressed by exit planning through creating value today.

Exit planning is not just a plan (or a keyed-in report to print out for an owner). It is a strategy rooted in execution that grows value while expanding options so that an owner can transition the business on his/her terms when they are ready. It aligns the business, personal, and financial needs of the owner. Good exit planning utilizes the Value Acceleration Methodology™ to move clients through discovery, prepare, and decide gates. Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA) educate the owner on all of the exit options and enters an engagement with an exit-option-agnostic perspective as to truly serve the business owner’s diverse needs. CEPAs collaborate with a seasoned, multi-disciplinary team of professionals to support the success of the business owner and use each other’s specialties and expertise to the benefit of the project. [view the award-winning methodology]

“Why did I earn CEPA when I already had an exit planning designation? Simple, the network. The quality of the EPI advisor network is unmatched.” -Paul Meyer, CEPA, CBEC

Do you consider your COIs or your referral network as the #1 source for new business? Look no further for your next membership affiliation. Formed in 2005 to serve educational and resource needs of financial planners and wealth managers, CPA/accountants, attorneys, commercial lenders, M&A advisors and business brokers, management consultants and other business advisors, the Exit Planning Institute is considered the standard trendsetter in the field of exit planning across the globe. It is the only organization that offers the Certified Exit Planning Advisor Program (CEPA) and qualifies for continuing education credits with twelve major professional associations, making it the most widely accepted and endorsed professional exit planning program in the world. [find a CEPA in your area]

“As a CPA, nothing is more important than exit planning.” -Bill Kenedy, CPA/ABV, CFF, CEPA

Our founders paved the way for the organization we are today. In the past three years alone, EPI has grown by more than ten times. We support and enable thousands of professional advisors who are leading the way in their local marketplaces across the globe. We invite you to join the community and experience the EPI difference.

We are powered by a dedicated staff, industry experts, and market leaders, that are passionate about providing top professional advisors the best industry content, ongoing practice support, and owner education resources. From humble beginnings, EPI has grown to become the exit planning market leader while staying focused and true to our mission. We are an education company that certifies and supports more than 900 CEPAs (and counting) as well as thousands of advisors worldwide through national, regional, chapter, and virtual education. Explore our history and make plans to play a part in our future. [explore the EPI history timeline snapshot]

“You want to have the best credential in the industry. So my advice is that you have to go with Exit Planning Institute.” -Vincent Mastrovito, CEPA, CBEC

Do you want help in an increasingly commoditized or oversaturated marketplace? Do you want just another designation for your business card or do you want the credentialing education that helps you adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing industry? You’ve come to the right place.

The Exit Planning Institute creates an exit planning “ecosystem,” and due to the diverse nature of exit planning, EPI has fostered a hyper-engaged exit planning community. This community includes CEPAs, other collaborative advisors, strategic alliance partners, academicians, the media, and business owners from across the globe made up of 15 countries, 44 U.S. States and representing over a dozen different professional disciplines. To serve this elite and cross-functional community on one major platform, EPI produces the best content as it relates to exit planning, succession planning, and value acceleration, provides ongoing advisor support and practice development, and creates connectivity to transitioning business owners. [connect with us today]

Explore the unmatched professional development experience and gain your next competitive edge in 2019.

The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Program is the most widely endorsed and accepted exit planning designation in the marketplace today. Experience the EPI difference and determine if earning the CEPA designation is the next strategic move for you to reinvent yourself in a changing marketplace. Visit www.EarnCEPA.com today.