THE EXIT PLANNING BLOG
Keep up-to-date with exit planning, succession planning, industry trends, unique specialty insights, and useful content for professional advisors and business owners.
Share this
EPI is Pleased to Welcome 189 New Advisors to the CEPA Community
by Exit Planning Institute on May 13, 2020
EPI Masterclass
April Class of 2020
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the newest Certified Exit Planning Advisors to join the growing exit planning community!
- Jeffery Acheson, CEPA, Advanced Strategies Group, Powell, OH
- Craig Ackermann, CEPA, Stewardship Advisory Group, Byron Center, MI
- Todd Ackermann, CEPA, Stewardship Advisory Group, Byron Center, MI
- Chad Adams, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Denver, CO
- Seth Adamson, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Columbus, OH
- John Alexander, CEPA, Bank of America, Piermont, NY
- Chris Alman, CEPA, Bank of America, Fairhope, AL
- Myles Anderson, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, San Diego, CA
- Mark Andresky, CEPA, Performance Business Advisors, LLC, Charlevoix, MI
- Andrew Arnold, CEPA, Centerline Wealth Advisors, Louisville, KY
- Heather Askham, CEPA, Askham Advisory, Inc., Calgary, AB
- Hans Auer, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Jamestown, NY
- Jennifer Baker, CEPA, Baker wealth Strategies, Cypress, TX
- Rebecca Baker, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Montgomery, AL
- Meryll Bangsil, CEPA, UBS Serrvices, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
- Scot Berryman, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
- Patrick Bonanno, CEPA, Bernstein Wealth Management, Tampa, FL
- Jesse Boulerice, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Raleigh, NC
- David Bourke, CEPA, FocusCFO
- Matthew Brehmer, CEPA, Neenah, WI
- Daniel Brown, CEPA, The Brown Wealth Management Group, Paducah, KY
- Jamey Brown, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Paducah, KY
- Brian Buetel, CEPA, UBS Financial Services
- Cameron Buetel, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
- Steven Burch, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., West Linn, OR
- Tom Byrnes, CEPA, RBC Wealth Management, Pennslyvania
- Matthew Cardella, CEPA, Hinesville, GA
- Bryan Cast, CEPA, Cast Financial
- John Castronuovo, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Travis Catania, CEPA, Business Succession Pros, Inc., Escondido, CA
- William Chaney, CEPA, Fort Pitt Capital Group, Pittsburgh, PA
- John Chapman, CEPA, Edward Jones, Azle, TX
- Victoria Conigliaro, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Maspeth, NY
- Mark Connell, CEPA, Mark R. Connell, Attorney At Law, LLC, Essex, CT
- Joe Covey, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Sammamish, WA
- Bradley Crockett, CEPA, Wilmington Trust, Baltimore, MD
- Shina Culberson, CEPA, Quist Valuation, Boulder, CO
- John Dawalt, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Chapin, SC
- Sheetal Desai, CEPA, The Trusted Lawyers, a Desai Law Group PC, Duluth, GA
- Douglas Domian, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Hartford, CT
- Mark Dorman, CEPA, Legacy Business Advisors, Medina, OH
- Peter Dougherty, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Ben Duenwald, CEPA, Seattle, WA
- Brent Engelbrekt, CEPA, Sunbelt Business Advisors, Saint Cloud, MN
- Erik Feldhaus, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Northbrook, IL
- Dwight Ferguson, CEPA, Ferguson Financial Group, Elkridge, MD
- Chris Figaro, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Fitchburg, WI
- David Ford, CEPA, Ford Law Firm LLC, Columbia, SC
- Adam Freeland, CEPA, Harford Financial Group
- William Gallagher, CEPA, RBC Wealth Management, Bryn Mawr, PA
- Derek Garland , CEPA, First Citizens Bank, Rock Hill, SC
- Joshua Garnier, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Spring, TX
- Laurie Gatten, CEPA, Barnes Wendling CPAs, Cleveland, OH
- John C. Gautreau II, CEPA, NextGen Consuting, LLC, Mirimar Beach, FL
- Richard Gibbs, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., UBS Financial Services, Inc., Leawood, KS
- James Gibson, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Baltimore, MD
- Jim Gilbride, CEPA, FocusCFO, Broadview Heights, OH
- Joseph Gitto, CEPA, Blue Sky Exit Planning & CFO Services, Winter Garden, FL
- Corey Goldstein, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Chesterfield, MO
- Matthew Gorgol, CEPA, Alex.Brown, Scottsdale, AZ
- Thomas Graham, CEPA, Bank of America Private Bank, W. Conshohocken, PA
- Sarah Greifenberger, CEPA, Arbor Valuation and Consulting, Ann Arbor, M
- Barry Gross, CEPA, 1792 Wealth Advisors, Morristown, NJ
- David Guadagnino, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Rochester, NY
- Andrew Halpern, CEPA, UBS, Syosset, NY
- Trent Hamans, CEPA, ATB Financial, Edmonton, AB
- James Harrington, CEPA, BOP Consulting, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Kyle Harris, CEPA, UBS, Lutherville, MD
- Bryce Harrison, CEPA, Harford Financial Group
- Mark Harter, CEPA, Golden Gate Growth Solutions, San Rafael, CA
- Richard Haskin, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Washington, D.C.
- Will Hester III, CEPA, First Citizens Bank, Asheville, NC
- Cody Hilbun, CEPA, Bespoke Capital Advisors of Raymond James, Atlanta, GA
- Todd Hnatyszyn, CEPA, Great Lakes Consulting Group, Jamestown, NY
- Jonathan Hodge, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
- Jennifer Homman, CEPA, Cultivate Wealth, LLC, DeForest, WI
- Matthew Howard, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Bay Village, OH
- Brandon Hutchison, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Cincinnati, OH
- John Iannucci, CEPA, ILG Private Wealth, Oakdale, PA
- Robert Ibrahim, CEPA, Ibrahim Wealth Advisory Group, Somerville, NJ
- Daniel Imfeld, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Cleveland, OH
- Christopher Inglis, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Pacifica, CA
- Chad Irving, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Pittsburgh, PA
- Matthew Jack, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Montclair, NJ
- Nicole Johnson, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., East Weymouth, MA
- Kristine Kanno, CEPA, 1979, Bellevue, WA
- Jeffrey Karitis, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Newburgh, NY
- Brad Kingsley, CEPA, Maximize Your Money, Mount Pleasant, SC
- Douglas Kottke, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Wayzata, MN
- David Kuzma, CEPA, Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Bowie, MD
- Yong Kwon, CEPA, LEK Partners, San Diego, CA
- Michael Laliberte, CEPA, Coastal Retirement Advisors, Cape Coral, FL
- Victor Lam, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Portland, OR
- Ken Lee, CEPA, First Choice Business Brokers, Birmingham, MI
- Paul Lee, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Barrington, IL
- Robert Levin, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
- Shannon Lewandoski, CEPA, Synergy Wealth Solutions, Chesterfield, MO
- Andrew Licon, CEPA, Frost Bank, Antonio, TX
- Melissa Lilly, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., New Orleans, LA
- Ignatius Liu, CEPA, Wells Fargo, San Francisco, CA
- Alvina Lo, CEPA, Wilmington Trust, N.A., New York, NY
- Nicholas Lomaglio, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Chicago, IL
- Benjamin London, CEPA, Equity Insurance Brokerage Services, Boca Raton, FL
- David Long, CEPA, Corrigan Krause, Westlake, OH
- Edward Luecke, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Matthew Maker, CEPA, Barnes Wendling CPAs, Inc., Cleveland, OH
- Brandon Mather, CEPA, Dunham & Associates, Tubac, AZ
- Rich Mazzola, CEPA, Marcum, Cleveland, OH
- Matthew Mccoy, CEPA, Pilot Financial, Kernersville, NC
- Shanda McFadden, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Munster, IN
- Brittany McLaughlin, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Norwood, PA
- Jim Mead, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Bend, OR
- Roxanne Miles, CEPA, Edward Jones, Austin, TX
- Lechelle Moore, CEPA, UBS, Brentwood, TN
- Gerardo Moya, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Coral Gables, FL
- Ryan Murray, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Cincinnati, OH
- Scott Myatt, CEPA, Caber Hill Advisors, Loveland, CO
- James Neunuebel, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
- Robert Oliver, CEPA, Jim Falls, WI
- James Orr, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Menlo Park, CA
- David Paduch, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., TN
- David Palmer, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., New York, NY
- Samuel Parker, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., TX
- Brian Paulsen, CEPA, True Wealth & Company, Overland Park, KS
- Rebecca Pearson, CEPA, Dunham, Slidell, LA
- Donald Peterson, CEPA, UBS, Dallas, TX
- Paul Pintek, CEPA, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, La Jolla, CA
- Nickolas Prieto, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA
- Lee Przybyla, CEPA, Broadway Wealth Solutions, Inc., San Antonio, TX
- Douglas Quint, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Austin, TX
- Ken Rapp, CEPA, Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, Mechanicsburg, PA
- Dave Recchion, CEPA, Aprio, Greensboro, NC
- Mose Richardson Jr, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Miamisburg, OH
- Shaun Rowles, CEPA, SunTrust Private Wealth, Franklin, TN
- Nick Ruch, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Newport, KY
- Stephen Rudolph, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
- Linda Ruffenach, CEPA, Execuity, Crestwood, KY
- Giovanni Ruggiero, CEPA, Ruggiero Wealth Management, Cleveland, OH
- Modesto Ruggiero, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Cleveland, OH
- Anthony Rundella, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Millstone Township, NJ
- Brent Rupnow, CEPA, Ameriprise Financial, Arcadia, CA
- James Russo, CEPA, Gallgher & Co., Brentwood, TN
- John Ryan, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Rocky River, OH
- Brian Sanchez, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Coral Gables, FL
- Alexandre Santos, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
- Rik Saylor, CEPA, Rik Saylor Financial Inc, Hamilton, OH
- Chris Schumacher, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Wyndmoor, PA
- Jason Sellnow, CEPA, Oak Hill Business Partners, Franklin, WI
- Neeli Shah, CEPA, The Law Offices of Neeli Shah, Atlanta, GA
- Jen Sherwood, CEPA, Bank of America, Cincinnati, OH
- Norman Shumate, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Charleston, WV
- Tom Singh, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Alpharetta, GA
- Rob Sligh, CEPA, Family Business Consulting Group, Grand Rapids, MI
- Gregory Sloan, CEPA, The Purpose Co., Dunwoody, GA
- Stuart Smith III, CEPA, Wilmington Trust, Baltimore, MD
- Mark Specker, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
- Gerry Spitzer, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Scotch Plains, NJ
- Thomas Stadum, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Fargo, ND
- Laurie Stegenga, CEPA, Foresight Capital Management Advisors, Inc., Saline, MI
- Michael Stemen, CEPA, SFC Consulting, LLC, Dublin, OH
- Scott Stevens, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Carlsbad, CA
- Brandon Sullivan, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Franklin, TN
- Robert Sullivan, CEPA, Sullivan Financial, LLC, Chester, MD
- Matthew Tackman, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Ridgefield, CT
- Jeff Terrill, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Portland, OR
- Quinton Tramontano, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, San Antonio, TX
- Amit Trivedi, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Sammamish, WA
- Mitchell Tuell, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., TN
- Sarah Van Aken, CEPA, Van Aken, LLC, Philadelphia, PA
- Amanda Vella, CEPA, ATB Financial, Edmonton, AB
- Daniel Vermeire, CEPA, CFA, Garland, TX
- Edward Villanyi, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Fishers, IN
- Therese Vita, CEPA, Bank of America Private Bank, Buffalo, NY
- Joseph Vogler, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Allendale, NJ
- David Walsh, CEPA, Harbinger Partners, LLC, Reading, MA
- Christopher Watson, CEPA, New Leaf Financial, Dublin, OH
- Larry Weiss, CEPA, Weiss Advisors LLC, St. Louis, OH
- Robert West, CEPA, 1945, Duluth, MN
- Jeremy Weston, CEPA, Edward Jones, Blaine, MN
- Sean Wieland, CEPA, Tannhauser Financial, North Wales, PA
- Zachary Wild, CEPA, Edward Jones Investments, Erie, PA
- Cyprus Williams, CEPA, Merrill Lynch, Aurora, CO
- Ryan Williams, CEPA, Waterfront Financial Group, Minneapolis, MN
- Jeremy Wynes, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Highland Park, IL
- Derek Yoder, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Dallas, TX
- Anastacia Young, CEPA, UBS Financial Services, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
- Lauren Zangardi Haynes, CEPA, Spark Financial Advisors, Henrico, VA
- Lulu Zappy, CEPA, UBS, Mt Laurel, NJ
- Jason Zukoski, CEPA, Integrated Tax and Wealth Group LLC, Rochester, NY
We look forward to supporting all of you, alongside the entire CEPA network, as you change outcomes for the middle market!
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation is awarded to those professionals who meet the experience and education requirements, attend the credentialing program, and pass the proctored exam. The CEPA designation is accepted by more than 18 major designations and organizations, making it the most widely endorsed and accepted exit planning designation in the marketplace today. To learn more, visit www.EarnCEPA.com.
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 over saturated 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 2020.
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.
Share this
- Blog (467)
- CEPA (319)
- exit planning (234)
- CEPA community (178)
- Business Owner (103)
- EPI Chapter Network (77)
- Exit Planning Summit (73)
- Exit Planning Partner Network (64)
- Content (48)
- EPI Announcement (48)
- Value Acceleration Methodology (42)
- Webinars (37)
- Marketing (30)
- Excellence in Exit Planning Awards (29)
- 2024 Exit Planning Summit (28)
- 5 Stages of Value Maturity (26)
- Books (24)
- Exit Planning Teams (22)
- EPI Team (21)
- 2023 Exit Planning Summit (20)
- women in business (19)
- family business (18)
- Exit Options (17)
- Leadership (17)
- Black Friday (16)
- EPI Academy (16)
- Intangible Capital (16)
- CPA (15)
- State of Owner Readiness (13)
- Chapters (12)
- Chris Snider (12)
- National Accounts (12)
- Small business (12)
- charitable intent (12)
- personal planning (12)
- Walking to Destiny (11)
- Financial Advisors (9)
- 5 Ds (8)
- About us (8)
- Podcast (8)
- Insiders Bash (7)
- Case Studies (6)
- Christmas (6)
- Exit Planning Content Library (6)
- Scott Snider (6)
- Owner Roundtables (5)
- Season of Deals (5)
- Value Advisors (5)
- financial planning (5)
- Awards (4)
- Five Ds (4)
- executive training (4)
- Owners Forum (3)
- forbes (3)
- EPI Thought Leadership Council (2)
- Exit & Succession (2)
- Exit Is Now Podcast (2)
- Peter Christman (2)
- Three Legs of the Stool (2)
- Veteran (2)
- Whitepapers (2)
- Business Owners Forum (1)
- author (1)
- business consultants (1)