WHAT YOUR CLIENTS ARE ALREADY DOING WITH AI — AND WHY THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU
Your clients are already using generative AI to research your firm, prepare for meetings, pressure-test your deliverables, and evaluate your recommendations — whether you know it or not. This is collapsing the information asymmetry that exit planning advisors have historically relied on, and it's reshaping every stage of the client engagement. In this session, the speakers will walk through what's actually changing in the advisor-client dynamic, drawing from real-world conversations and live demonstrations of what these tools can do with your work product. You'll leave with a practical framework for evolving your engagement model to build deeper trust with a more informed — and more skeptical — client.
Whether you're navigating a client's AI-generated objections or rethinking how your own deliverables hold up under scrutiny, this session will equip you to lead confidently in a landscape that's shifting under everyone's feet.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the modern relationship: how generative AI is shifting the exit planning client from passive recipient to active evaluator, and why that changes your positioning, pricing, and deliverable strategy.
2. Recognize the moments that matter: Recognize the specific moments in the client journey — from discovery call through deal execution — where AI-informed clients will challenge your process, and how to prepare for those conversations.
Evolve your work product: Learn how to evolve your work product from conclusions-first to reasoning-visible, so that your deliverables strengthen credibility rather than invite AI-generated second-guessing.
3. Develop a practical approach: develop a practical approach to engaging clients who arrive with AI-generated insights — distinguishing between productive informed dialogue and confidently wrong misinformation, without being dismissive of either.
About the Presenter:
Hear from industry experts Mike Zawitkowski and Greg Johnson.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Wealth Managers
You’re a skilled relationship person. Being entangled into your clients’ professional lives matters as you build a strategy to manage their wealth upon them harvesting it from their business. Exit planning allows you to build a deeper relationship with your client, expands your COI network, while giving you an early seat at table well before the liquidity event.
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
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Valuation Analysts
Valuation is both a billable engagement AND an opportunity to provide owners some perspective on how to accelerate value drivers (and deal with value killers). Use exit planning to make that valuation into a longer term value acceleration engagement.
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Investment Bankers
Only 2 of every 10 businesses that come to market actually sell. Learn how exit planning can bring attractive AND ready business to your purview.
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Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
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Strategic Consultants
One of the most critical roles in exit planning is building transferable value. Strategic consultants have the ability to expand options and drive rapid business value that affect performance today.
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Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Commercial Lenders
One of the best relationships a business owner makes is with their banker. How can you help your corporate clients think about the future and ensure financial continuity? Answer: exit planning.
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Family Business Advisors
More than 50% of lower middle market business owners would prefer to transition to the next generation. Help them succeed with exit planning strategies.
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Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
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Private Business Owners
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Members of Family Business Boards
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Professional Advisors
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Business Consultants
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Other Business Professionals
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Business Owners
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Business Owners & Their Trusted Advisors
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Mike Zawitkowski, Managing Partner, Acorn Analytics, Inc.
Mike Zawitkowski retired from being an international pop star when he found his passion for startups and technology. After serving on the founding teams of a dozen startups, Mike started Acorn Analytics in 2016, where he and his team help others use AI to create custom software products that unlock new revenue and profit. He currently lives in the Denver Colorado area with his partner, dog, and an amazing and ever-growing community of neighbors and friends.
Greg Johnson, Head of Delivery, Acorn Analytics, Inc
Greg Johnson is Head of Delivery at Acorn Analytics, leading product development and strategy for B2B and B2C clients. He works closely with executive teams to deliver next-generation products and experiences, helping organizations become culturally competitive and strategically clear. Greg sits at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and transformation, turning consumer and market insights into breakthrough opportunities—now in the age of AI agents and intelligent experiences. He recently led Panasonic’s shift from hardware to AI-powered services through Panasonic Well, debuted at CES 2025.


