The Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) is proud to introduce the EPI Thought Leadership Council, a distinguished group of industry experts dedicated to advancing the practice of exit planning and elevating outcomes for business owners and advisors alike. This initiative reinforces EPI’s commitment to thought leadership, practical education, and excellence in the field.
The EPI Thought Leadership Council is a select assembly of highly respected Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA®) whose work consistently demonstrates deep mastery of the Value Acceleration Methodology™, the foundational framework that defines effective exit planning. These professionals are leaders in their own practices and serve as trusted voices in the broader exit planning ecosystem, shaping how advisors help business owners build significant value and achieve meaningful transitions.
Council members are outstanding practitioners, educators, innovators, and communicators. They represent EPI in the media, share insights through speaking engagements and publications, and act as go-to resources for trends, strategies, and real-world application of exit planning principles.
The Thought Leadership Council amplifies EPI’s mission by:
Council Members act as extensions of EPI in the broader market, helping define standards of excellence and inspiring growth both for exit planning as a discipline and for advisors looking to deepen their impact.
The Thought Leadership Council is active year-round and integrated within EPI’s ongoing programming, from the Exit Planning Summit and EPI Academy courses to EPI’s media outreach and content initiatives. Through articles, interviews, webinars, and events, Council members bring their expertise to the forefront of every major discussion affecting the profession today.
Whether it’s providing commentary for industry publications or sharing practical tools with fellow advisors, the Council’s presence helps ensure that thoughtful, evidence-based perspectives are available whenever and wherever they’re needed.
The formation of the Thought Leadership Council reflects EPI’s strategic vision to strengthen the exit planning profession by elevating its collective voice. Exit planning is inherently complex, requiring strategic foresight, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and deep empathy for business owners navigating major transitions. The Council supports this by:
The Thought Leadership Council includes a diverse group of seasoned CEPAs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, real-world success, and a passion for educating others. The EPI Thought Leadership Council consists of:
Read their bios and learn more about each member on our Thought Leadership page here.
As exit planning continues to grow and evolve, the Thought Leadership Council will serve as a catalyst for thoughtful discussion, elevated practice, and community leadership. EPI is proud to support this group of innovators and looks forward to seeing how their insight shapes the profession in the years to come.
For advisors, media, and industry partners, the Council serves as a trusted source of expertise, reinforcing the value of strategic planning, owner-centric advising, and meaningful business transitions.
The Value Acceleration Methodology™ is the strategic framework for executing exit planning, creating value for the business owner’s company while aligning their business, personal, and financial goals. The Value Acceleration Methodology guides the Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Business Owner through three gates (Discover, Prepare, and Decide) with the ultimate goal to move to advanced value creation or to exit the business.