---
title: "Exiting to, Not From: Why Personal Planning Matters in Exit Planning"
description: Explore how shifting an owner’s mindset from “exiting from” to “exiting to” can make the difference between a successful exit and a truly meaningful one.
---

[Top Exit & Succession Planning Blog for Professional Advisors ](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org)

# [Exiting to, Not From: Why Personal Planning Matters in Exit Planning](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/exiting-to-not-from-jerome-myers)

 Written by [Rob DiFranco](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/author/rob-difranco) | Mar 9, 2026 3:00:00 PM

In 2026, the [Exit Planning Institute® (EPI)](https://exit-planning-institute.org/) launched the second edition of the [*Annual Exit* magazine](https://exit-planning-institute.org/the-annual-exit), featuring personal planning insights from top names in the exit planning community.

In this year’s issue, we challenge owners and advisors to move beyond “someday” ideas about life after exit and toward a clear, intentional personal plan. Before you download your copy, get a glimpse into one of the features with [Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®)](https://exit-planning-institute.org/program/certified-exit-planning-advisor) and personal planning advocate Jerome Myers.

## Exiting To, Not From

Jerome is the founder of [Exit to Excellence](https://exittoexcellence.com/) and an active member of the EPI community. As part of our 2026 *Annual Exit*, we spoke with Jerome to uncover why, despite it being the most overlooked leg of the exit planning stool, personal planning is so important to a successful and fulfilling exit.

“From my perspective, personal planning informs every other leg of the stool,” he says. “The personal plan becomes the compass that directs what life will look like as the founder moves through the exit portal.” 

In his full *Annual Exit* feature, Jerome unpacks how shifting from the owner’s mindset from “exiting the business” to “exiting to what’s next” can change every conversation you have with owners approaching a transition.

### Shifting the Mindset

Prioritizing the personal leg of the exit-planning stool requires a mindset shift. While advisors don’t need to be therapists for their clients, they do need to be open to listening and working with them through this change. This is also a great place to bring a personal-planning expert onto your exit planning team to have these kinds of conversations with business owners.

In the *Annual Exit*, Jerome speaks directly to business owners, stressing the importance of having honest conversations ahead of an exit.

“You need self-awareness. You need compassion. You need people in your life where you can share unapologetically, without filter,” he says. “And you need a mission, which means discovering your people and the problem that calls to you. Passion is the result of showing up for both.”

In his article, he offers practical prompts and questions owners can use to start this work long before an actual deal is on the table, content you will only find in the full issue.

### Get More Personal Planning Insights

In addition to his contributions to the *Annual Exit*, Jerome will appear at the 2026 [Exit Planning Summit](https://exitplanningsummit.com/) in a main-stage session with EPI President Scott Snider. In this panel discussion, Jerome, Cara Gray, Marianne Oesher, and Susan Latremoille will discuss why exits fail when the personal leg of the stool is overlooked.

To read the full piece featuring Jerome, download the magazine, where you’ll find more personal planning insights from exit planning experts, including [2025 Exit Planner of the Year Joe Seetoo](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/meet-joe-seetoo-exit-planner-2025), Kep Kepner, Judi Cunningham, and others.

If you are looking for a simple way to start richer, more human conversations with owners this year, make sure you have the 2026 *Annual Exit* in your toolkit. Use the form below to get your copy and share it with your team and business owner clients.

### Related Resources

- [Introducing EPI’s Second *Annual Exit* Magazine](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/introducing-annual-exit-2026)
- [The Importance of the Personal Leg of the Stool with Jerome Myers](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/personal-leg-importance-jerome-myers)
- [How You Can Prioritize Personal Planning in 2026](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/how-you-can-prioritize-personal-planning-in-2026)

[View full post](https://blog.exit-planning-institute.org/exiting-to-not-from-jerome-myers)

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