THE MISSING LINK IN EXIT PLANNING: PROTECTING AND FUNDING THE BUSINESS THROUGH STRATEGIC INSURANCE SOLUTIONS
Many exit planners and advisors focus on valuation growth, succession, and deal structure—but overlook one of the most critical components of a complete exit plan: risk mitigation through proper insurance planning. Without foundational coverage, even the best exit strategy can collapse under the weight of an unexpected event such as death, disability, or long-term illness. In this session, Dianne Kelley, CEPA, founder of FreshVue Business Solutions and Sandbrook Group, explores the essential role of insurance in exit planning. You’ll learn how life insurance, key person policies, buy-sell funding, disability protection, and business overhead coverage safeguard enterprise value, protect ownership continuity, and ensure financial stability. Equip yourself to identify coverage gaps and collaborate effectively with insurance professionals to create resilient, value-driven exit plans for your clients.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize the most common insurance coverage gaps that threaten business continuity and exit success.
2. Understand how properly structured life, disability, and long-term care insurance protect enterprise value and ownership equity.
3. Identify opportunities to collaborate with licensed insurance professionals to enhance the client’s exit plan and minimize post-exit risk.
4. Apply real-world strategies for integrating insurance-based funding mechanisms into buy-sell agreements, key person protection, and retirement planning.
5. Evaluate the financial and operational consequences of neglecting insurance planning in an exit strategy.
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
-
Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
-
Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
-
Private Business Owners
-
Members of Family Business Boards
-
Professional Advisors
-
Business Consultants
-
Other Business Professionals
-
Business Owners
-
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
With nearly five decades of experience helping individuals and business owners protect and grow their wealth, Dianne Kelley has dedicated her career to bridging the critical gap between insurance planning and exit strategy. As the founder and CEO of Sandbrook Benefits Group, LLC and FreshVue Business Solutions, LLC, Dianne empowers business owners—particularly in the construction and technology sectors—to strategically prepare for the final season of their business: the exit. Dianne began her career in the life insurance industry in March 1978, representing several major insurance companies and quickly earning a reputation for integrity, compassion, and results.
In 2005, she established Sandbrook Benefits Group, LLC, offering tailored life, disability, and long-term care insurance solutions for individuals and companies. In 2023, she earned her Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential through the Exit Planning Institute (EPI), formalizing her commitment to helping business owners navigate the complex and emotional process of transitioning their business — whether by sale, succession, or unforeseen circumstances. Through her signature program, FreshVue Business Solutions, Dianne integrates the Value Builder System™, a proven methodology for increasing the value, stability, and attractiveness of a business. Her holistic approach ensures that exit planning is not a one-time event but an intentional process that aligns business, personal, and financial goals. Drawing on her deep expertise in insurance and financial planning, Dianne also emphasizes a vital yet often overlooked component of exit planning — risk protection. She educates business owners and their advisors on how to safeguard the business from catastrophic loss through key person life insurance, funded buy-sell agreements, disability coverage, business overhead expense insurance, and long-term care planning. These foundational protections not only preserve the business’s value but also provide stability during transitions caused by what Dianne calls the Five D’s: Death, Disability, Divorce, Disagreement, and Disaster. Dianne’s affiliation with Valoram Resources further enhances her clients’ access to advanced financial strategies designed to reduce debt, grow wealth, increase liquidity, and maximize tax efficiency—all essential to ensuring a successful and profitable exit. Having worked almost exclusively with business owners for most of her career, Dianne understands that many are consumed by the day-to-day demands of running their companies and often neglect critical areas like succession, contingency, and continuity planning. Her message to them is clear and urgent: “Someday you will exit your business—voluntarily or involuntarily. Either way, you need a plan.” Dianne’s mission is to help business owners protect what they’ve built, prepare for every possible outcome, and achieve a graceful, profitable, and purpose-driven exit that preserves their legacy for generations to come.