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Supporting Veterans in the Exit Planning Community on Veterans Day
by Colleen Kowalski on November 10, 2023

As we celebrate Veterans Day, we would like to offer our deepest thank you to the many men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Within the Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) community, we have many incredible men and women who have served their country prior to transitioning to the business sector.
Explore some of our interviews with CEPA veterans over the years!
Transitioning from Military Service to Financial Services
The transition from military service to a civilian job varies from Veteran to Veteran. According to a study released by the United States Government Accountability Office in 2019, over 200,000 Veterans transition to civilian life and careers each year.
We spoke with Ryan Casey, Taylor FitzGibbon, Dan Hamlet, Ben Hickman, David Jemison, Phil McNulty, Jon Mintle, Will Revels, and Garrett Sorensen about their experiences transitioning from the Military to the business and exit planning industry.
Military Veterans Starting Their Own Businesses
We spoke with Mike Garrison, a US Army veteran and CEPA, about his transition from the military to business advisory services. He shares, “In many ways, business was easier than the military because the standards are often lower and the bar to success is easier to achieve. On the other hand, there is far less structure and true accountability in the business world (let alone college) and I felt lost the first few years.”
The Military Mindset
spotlight Kim “Mo” Mahoney, a CEPA and United States Marine. Mo has over 33 years of service as an F-18 Pilot. During his four deployments and three combat tours, he has made over 300 carrier landings. After years of active service, Mo has spent the past 17 years in the Reserves. Mo shares the military’s impact on his transition to working closely with family-owned businesses. “In the military, we make sacrifices daily. I can identify with the family business owners and have great respect for their sacrifices. I like working with family businesses because everything I do impacts multiple generations and I feel honored and privileged to serve them.”
Perseverance Through Challenges
We spoke with Ben VerWys, Founder and Senior Financial Advisor of Fiduciary Financial Advisors, about his path from the United States Navy to Financial Entrepreneur. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13.2% of all Veteran Majority-Owned Businesses are in the Finance and Insurance industry. He shares, “By far the most noticeable impact of my military background on my business was my ability to work through the tough situations, especially early in the business creation process.”
Thank you to all of the United States Armed Forces Veterans and those actively serving!
Are you a United States Military Veteran?
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