THE OVERLOOKED LEG OF THE STOOL: WHY POST-EXIT SUCCESS IS THE KEY TO A COMPLETE EXIT PLAN
Exit planning is often framed around business value and financial preparedness, yet the third leg of the stool—personal readiness—is the most neglected and riskiest component. This session will explore the emotional and psychological challenges founders face after selling their business, a phenomenon known as the Founder’s Exit Paradox. You’ll learn how to guide clients beyond the liquidity event to build purpose, identity, and fulfillment in their next chapter. Attendees will leave with actionable frameworks, including the N.E.X.T. model, to help owners align their legacy and life after exit. Whether you’re a CEPA, advisor, or consultant, mastering this overlooked dimension will dramatically elevate the quality and completeness of your client outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Define the concept of the Founder’s Exit Paradox and explain why post-exit success is critical to a complete exit plan.
- Recognize the common emotional and psychological challenges founders face after a liquidity event.
- Apply the N.E.X.T. framework to help clients navigate purpose, identity, and fulfillment in their post-exit journey.
- Integrate personal readiness strategies into the traditional two-legged business and financial exit planning model.
- Enhance client engagement and outcomes by proactively addressing personal and legacy-building goals before the exit occurs.
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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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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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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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 & Their Trusted Advisors
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Business Owners
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
Jerome Myers is America’s leading exit authority and a recognized thought leader on the emotional and psychological side of business transitions—the often-overlooked third leg of the stool. After building and exiting a $20M division of a Fortune 550 company, he founded Exit to Excellence and created the Founder’s Exit Paradox and N.E.X.T. framework. As an author, white paper contributor, investor, and host of the Your NEXT podcast, Jerome helps advisors guide clients to clarity, purpose, and a fulfilling legacy beyond the business.
