Exit Planning Institute - Find a CEPA

Our Cause.

We believe in a world where people have the courage not to accept their life but to lead their life; a world where people are driven by a belief that finding a way to improve the quality of the people, places, and things around them is the path to achieve a life that is fulfilling and significant.

Our Why.

The Discipline of Synthesis Company is a platform to serve that cause by sharing our passions and life experiences and inspiring others to do the same.

What We Do.

Through our passions and life experiences, we’re committed to helping business owners build attractive and ready businesses so they can extract the financial worth they need to live the wealthy lives they desire and ensure economic continuity.

We do this by helping business owners identify their personal, financial, and business goals, and understanding the interrelationships between them.

We guide owners down a clear path for value growth of their business that’s designed to strengthen its intangible capitals which contribute to approximately 80% of the company’s value, resulting in reduced costs and expenses, increased revenue, and net profit.

How We Do It.

We offer value growth services that include an assessment of an owner’s business and a strategy put into action, leading toward a successful and significant exit.

Our Promise.

We’re confident in our abilities to help business owners grow the strategic value of their business by at least 10x the cost to produce and deliver a business enterprise value assessment with a clear roadmap that decomposes strategy into actionable steps.

Reason To Believe.

Our background is broad, as it should be for this type of value advisor to demonstrate their worth. We have almost two decades of experience in the Department of Defense serving in military and civilian capacities.

We have led large multi-disciplinary groups of people and managed technically complex projects in support of acquiring and sustaining military weapons systems.

We have experience in sustainment planning, program and project management, process engineering, contract development, and training development. We also have additional education and training in investments and raising capital for private equity and real estate.

Proof Statement.

We have demonstrated success in the following: developing long-term sustainment strategies and business models for multi-billion dollar space systems; planning and activating maintenance capabilities; identification, acquisition, and delivery of intellectual property estimated over 10 million dollars; leading multi-disciplinary teams composed of over 30 members; invited by the defense acquisition university to participate as a subject matter expert and help build a multi-module training course available to a defense acquisition workforce of approximately 180,000 military and civilian personnel; implementing policies processes that ensure accountability and traceability of property with book value over $20 million; developed and proposed organizational training programs to develop, motivate, and retain talent; designed and proposed solutions to optimize organizational structures for a division comprise of over 20 people; collaborating with high-ranking military officers and corporate executives; customer contract development.

Tone and Matter.

Our philosophy is to listen, learn, help, and then lead. We care about you, not as a client, but as a partner and ally. We emphasize that “our” success (or failure) is dependent on each of our abilities to be accountable to each other. We never lose sight of the goal: generating value across those business, financial, and personal areas of your life. You can count on our enthusiasm for what we coach.

We don’t just talk about it; we strive to embody it. This isn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle. We believe that we all have a role and that it’s our responsibility to play it well, while not letting it go to our head. We’ll do what needs to be done while remembering to have fun along the way and carry a sense of humor.

Life’s too short. Let’s not accept where we are, but lead to where we want to go, by helping build the value industry.

{custom_meta_description=Ryan Mills - - The Discipline of Synthesis Company - Claremont, California, profile_url__new_2024_=https://6863690.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6863690/Member%20Images/HH%2334098947_Ryan_Mills%20(3).jpg, city=Claremont, profile_url=https://6863690.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6863690/Member%20Images/HH%2334098947_Ryan_Mills%20(3).jpg, display_country=United States, profile_description=

Our Cause.

Our Why.

The Discipline of Synthesis Company is a platform to serve that cause by sharing our passions and life experiences and inspiring others to do the same.

What We Do.

We do this by helping business owners identify their personal, financial, and business goals, and understanding the interrelationships between them.

How We Do It.

We offer value growth services that include an assessment of an owner’s business and a strategy put into action, leading toward a successful and significant exit.

Our Promise.

Reason To Believe.

We have led large multi-disciplinary groups of people and managed technically complex projects in support of acquiring and sustaining military weapons systems.

Proof Statement.

Tone and Matter.

Life’s too short. Let’s not accept where we are, but lead to where we want to go, by helping build the value industry.

, hs_object_source_label=AUTOMATION_PLATFORM, url_slug=ryan-mills, lname=Mills, hs_object_source_id=enrollmentId:903772024177;actionExecutionIndex:0, cepa_attendance_sheet_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/hubfs/Certificates%20of%20Attendance/CEPA%20JANUARY%202024/MILLS-RYAN-CERTIFICATE%20OF%20ATTENDANCE-CFP-NASBA-CEPAOnline-Jan%202024.pdf, hs_createdate=1706890195807, hs_was_imported=true, state=California, id=11996337411, advisor_type=Other, custom_page_title=Exit Planning Institute - Find a CEPA | Ryan Mills, email=ryan@success-ensues.com, associated_contact_record_id=29501501, website=https://www.success-ensues.com/, cepa_certificate_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/hubfs/CEPA%20Certificates/CEPA%20JANUARY%202024/6362_Mills_CEPA-Certificate-2024-January.pdf, is_editable=editable, url_slug_2=ryan-mills, impersonate_user_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/member-detail/ryan-mills?impersonation=true, full_name=Ryan Mills, hs_lastmodifieddate=1745439814741, phone=+17086917929, company_name=The Discipline of Synthesis Company, hs_object_id=11996337411, name=Ryan, associated_resources=0, hs_object_source=AUTOMATION_PLATFORM, postal_code=91711, hs_updated_by_user_id=24475105, status=Published}

Infographic

Securian Approved Content

UBS Approved Content

Merrill Approved Content

MassMutual Approved Content

The Value Acceleration Methodology

Download to utilize in your exit planning education or training with owners..

Infographic

The Value Acceleration Methodology Infographic

Download to utilize in your exit planning education or training with owners..

Whitepaper

Understanding Your Business Value Whitepaper

Utilizing the Five Stages of Value Maturity to Ready Businesses (and Busine..

Case Study

Understanding Your Business Value: Utilizing the Five Stages of Value Maturity to Ready Businesses (and Business Owners) for an Exit

To increase value and minimize risks in your business, you should follow th..

Infographic

Who Has a Seat at the Table Infographic

Understand the key members on your exit planning team and the roles they pl..

PDF/Download

120-Day CEPA Playbook: Download the Playbook

For a new CEPA, following the 120-day CEPA Playbook will be a critical piec..

Brochure

2022 Colorado State of Owner Readiness Quick Look Brochure

Review the most notable statistics and findings from the 2022 Colorado Stat..

PDF/Download

UBS Approved Content

2022 Colorado State of Owner Readiness Report

Download the 2022 Colorado State of Owner Readiness Report to see where Col..

PDF/Download

2023 National State of Owner Readiness Report

Download the 2023 National State of Owner Readiness Report to see where Uni..

Videos/Recordings

2024 State of The Institute

This special edition broadcast will feature a 2024 EPI State of the Institu..

Videos/Recordings

2024 Webinar Series

Join us as EPI interviews our 2024 speakers about their experiences.

Videos/Recordings

2025 Webinar Series

Join us as EPI interviews our 2025 speakers about their experiences.

5-4-3-2-1 Whitepaper

This whitepaper takes the Value Acceleration Methodology and breaks it into..

Whitepaper

5-4-3-2-1 Whitepaper

This whitepaper breaks the Value Acceleration Methodology into 5 easy conce..

Whitepaper

PDF/Download

A Look Inside The Unique World of - Value Creation Whitepaper

EPI interviewed 13 Value Advisors within the Exit Planning Community to lea..

Case Study

A Look Into Pressure Solutions Inc.: An Exit Planning Case Study

Download the sample case study to use with business owner clients or in wor..

Courses

Access My Courses

Navigate to your purchased EPI Academy content.

PDF/Download

Infographic

Best-In-Class Whitepaper

At Exit Planning Institute® (EPI), being best-in-class is a deliberate choi..

PDF/Download

Infographic

Beyond CEPA Roadmap

The Beyond CEPA Roadmap is designed to provide Certified Exit PlanningAdvis..

PDF/Download

Business Attractiveness Scorecard

See how ready an owner is and what steps they should take first when prepar..

Case Study

Case Study, CEPA and CPAs

Learn how CEPA, Stacy Kuxhausen is utilizing her exit planning expertise in..

Case Study

UBS Approved Content

Case Study: Value Acceleration

Learn more about value acceleration by downloading the case study which giv..

Case Study

CEPA Case Study: How To Utilize Your CEPA Credentials In A National Wealth Management Firm

Learn how a CEPA with a national wealth management firm is utilizing their ..

Infographic

PDF/Download

CEPA Development Scorecard

Track your progress and growth by completing the CEPA Development Scorecard..

View details and resources for your upcoming CEPA program.

Logos/Branding

Chapter Logos

Download your Chapter's logo to use in marketing or business development in..

Infographic

Decentralizing the Business Owner

Do you know the risks in with a business that is completely dependent on th..

Infographic

UBS Approved Content

Decentralizing the Business Owner

Do you know the risks in with a business that is completely dependent on th..

Template

Email Marketing Templates

Sample templated emails to begin to educate owners and advisors and build y..

PDF/Download

EPI Chapter President Circle Meeting Notes

Meeting minutes from previous Chapter President Circle Meetings can be foun..

Case Study

Exit as a Business Strategy: A Collection of Case Studies from Advisors and Owners

When deciding to exit their business, an owner has several internal and ext..

First Steps

The first steps after earning your CEPA designation.

Infographic

Five Stages of Value Maturity Infographic

An in-depth look at the Five Stages of Value Maturity

Infographic

Five Stages of Value Maturity Infographic

An in-depth look at the Five Stages of Value Maturity

Whitepaper

UBS Approved Content

From Successful to Significant

The framework for a high value business transition.

Whitepaper

From Successful to Significant Whitepaper

Business, Personal, Financial: A Holistic Approach to High-Value Transition..

Merrill Approved Content

From Successful to Significant Whitepaper

Business, Personal, Financial: A Holistic Approach to High-Value Transition..

Infographic

PDF/Download

Infographic: Beyond CEPA Path

The Beyond CEPA Roadmap is designed to provide Certified Exit Planning Advi..

Infographic

Infographic: Decentralizing the Business Owner

See the importance of decentralizing the owner and ensuring the business ru..

Infographic

Infographic: Five Stages of Value Maturity

The Five Stages of Value Maturity impact the growth and ultimate sale of a ..

Infographic

Merrill Approved Content

MassMutual Approved Content

Infographic: The 5 D's

Educate an owner on the ways they may be forced out of their business due t..

Infographic

Infographic: Who Has a Seat at the Table

Understand the key members on your exit planning team and the roles they pl..

Articles

Books/eBooks

PDF/Download

Whitepaper

Issue One: The Annual Exit Magazine

The Annual Exit is a valuable resource for professionals in the exit planni..

Infographic

Know Your Gaps

Three numbers every business owner should know and manage to meet their goa..

Stage 1: The Value Maturity Index - Identifying Value

Materials to use within the Value Maturity Index: Identifying Value portion..

Whitepaper

The Impact of Unplanned Consequences on Business Value Whitepaper

Learn how professional advisors help mitigate the risks associates with the..

Infographic

Securian Approved Content

UBS Approved Content

Merrill Approved Content

MassMutual Approved Content