The community of Certified Exit Planning Advisors® (CEPA) continues to grow. Over 4,000 CEPAs are now active in the exit planning industry, providing the necessary expertise and resources for business owners looking to build business value, exit their business, and have a fulfilling next act. The CEPA® community comprises advisors from diverse backgrounds, including accountants, financial advisors, attorneys, wealth managers, and more.
Today we spotlight Excellence In Exit Planning Award nominee, Charles Jarrett. Charles was nominated for Member of the Year as a result of his exceptional commitment to advancing the exit planning community. A CEPA since 2019, Charles has since grown his own advisory practice at Merrill Lynch and is a known thought leader in the exit planning space.
We spoke to Charles to learn more about how his CEPA credential has helped improve his business!
Meet Charles Jarrett
Charles Jarrett works closely with business owners, corporate executives, and multi-generational families, helping them address complex wealth-management needs and life transitions to pursue what is most important to them, personally and professionally. A veteran Private Wealth Advisor, he offers refined problem-solving skills, an intimate knowledge of best practices, and decades of practical experience.
Charles is adept in supporting business owners with their unique needs, including multiple phases of the life cycle of their businesses. He works closely with a team of specialists to help owners align their business, personal and financial goals to increase the transferable value of their businesses. In this way, the owner is better prepared to capitalize on a possible transition, whether it is planned or unplanned.
Charles also works extensively with senior executives, helping them manage concentrated or restricted stock positions while uncovering possible efficiencies across their balance sheets. Thorough and analytical, he helps clients implement plans tailored to their distinctive circumstances. He believes that communicating and coordinating strategies with a client’s other advisors fosters better outcomes.
Since joining Merrill in 1994, Charles has earned numerous professional designations including the Certified Financial Planner™(CFP® certification), Chartered Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®), Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™(CRPC®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®).
He has been active in several philanthropic organizations including Nationwide Children’s Hospital Development Board, the Board for Action for Children, and The Wellington School.
What about Exit Planning interests you the most?
Charles: I am most intrigued by the ability to help business owners grow and protect their most valuable asset and be transition ready. By doing this, they are in the best position to capitalize on the right opportunity and achieve the best outcome for themselves, their family, and employees.
How has your practice changed since earning your CEPA Credential?
Charles: Obtaining the Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential was one of the most significant and game-changing experiences for me in my 30 years as a Financial Advisor. It’s also the most valuable credential I have. It gave me the skills, framework, language, and confidence to work with Business Owners. In addition, EPI has provided continuing education, research, marketing material, conferences, and a network of like-minded professionals to collaborate with. EPI provides more support and value than any other professional organization I have a credential for.
What characteristics make for a successful exit planning advisor?
Charles: There are several characteristics that I feel make a successful exit planning advisor. First, the ability to listen and understand what is important to the owner. An advisor must also exhibit empathy and emotional intelligence in your responses. Lastly, exit planning advisors also must be able to work well within a multidisciplinary team and have the courage and confidence to solve problems and take action.
How has the CEPA Community changed since you earned your credential?
Charles: The Exit Planning Institute has done an amazing job of growing the CEPA community with more advisors to provide the education, advice, and guidance to empower business owners to achieve a better outcome.
Specifically, EPI has increased the number of CEPAs while keeping staff-level support high and providing marketing material, research, podcasts, and networking opportunities. The EPI Community is stronger than ever and I’m very grateful and proud to be a part of it. I feel a deep sense of obligation to help others in the EPI community. I received lots of support and encouragement from the team at EPI as well as my instructors from the CEPA credentialing program.
How do you share your exit planning expertise with the advisor community?
Charles: My goal is to continually build my brand and be known as the “go-to expert” on Business Owner Transition Planning in your community. I do this in several ways. I continue to grow my extensive advisor network of Commercial and Investment Bankers, Business and Estate Attorneys, CPAs, Insurance professionals, PE firms, Real Estate Attorneys and Commercial brokers, and Value Growth Advisors. I also send regular emails to advisors educating them about some aspects of Value Acceleration and Readiness.
I am very active on LinkedIn and connect with other professional advisors in the industry. By hosting regular events for advisors and joining an EPI Chapter, I have connected with advisors on a regular basis. Sometimes I simply meet at their office for a brief update for breakfast, grab lunch, or attend a social networking event in the area.
I have continued to expand my knowledge by reading, completing continuing education, and sharing information with my advisor network.
What would you suggest to a CEPA looking to be more involved in the CEPA Community?
Charles: There are many opportunities if one is willing to look and take advantage:
- Be an advocate in your community and market to educate business owners and professional advisors about the statistics of Business Owner Readiness and how the Value Acceleration Methodology can help change the outcome.
- Join or start a local EPI chapter
- Be aware of and take advantage of all the resources the Exit Planning Institute has to offer: whitepapers, podcasts, presentations, and conferences. EPI Team members can help you.
- Promote the CEPA and Value Acceleration Methodology in your firm and encourage others to join.
- Create business owner events in your community – partner with like-minded professionals like Business Attorneys and CPAs who work with owners.
- Post about Exit Planning on social media
- Build your brand: seek to be known as the “go-to expert” on Business Owner Transition Planning in your community.
- Talk and learn from other successful CEPAs on what they are doing. Share information to help each other.
Become a Certified Exit Planning Advisor
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) credential is for professional advisors who want to effectively engage more business owners, build value within their business, and exit on their own terms. Through the process of Exit Planning, utilizing the Value Acceleration Methodology, owners can build more valuable companies, have stronger personal financial plans, and align their personal goals. Earning the CEPA credential expands your expertise and enhances your ability to engage business owners and conduct value-added conversations around growth and exit.
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential is for those advisors who want to expand their expertise and differentiate themselves from the competition.
- Differentiate yourself from the competition
- Gain better access to business owners
- Become more engaged on a business owner's advisory team
- Have deeper and more holistic conversations with business owners
- Grow your referral network of professional advisors
- Access hundreds of marketing and business development tools tailored for owners
Learn more about the CEPA program and become your client’s Most Valued Advisor today!
www.EarnCEPA.com
