CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR

Become your client's most trusted advisor through our proven Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation. By building value, advisors differentiate themselves, have deeper engagement with business owners, and can grow their network to enhance their exit planning knowledge.

WHAT IS CEPA?

The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential is for professional advisors who want to effectively engage more business owners. Through the process of Exit Planning (the Value Acceleration Methodology™), owners can build more valuable companies, have stronger personal financial plans, and align their personal goals. Earning CEPA doesn't change your expertise; it enhances your ability to engage business owners and have value-added conversations around growth and exit.

Earning CEPA is for those who want to:

WHY CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISORS ARE SO IMPORTANT...

Business owners make up a wide share of the market, and as they grow older, more and more will need to thoughtfully consider their exit as it approaches. Without the framework provided by a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and the Value Acceleration Methodology™, owners may not be equipped to create and reap the most value out of their business. In fact, industry data collected by the Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) demonstrates that around 75% of business owners “profoundly regretted” their exit. According to the 2023 National State of Owner Readiness Survey, only 32% of owners have a documented exit plan, and just 22% have aligned their business, personal, and financial goals, the Three Legs of the Stool. This significant chunk of owners deserves to have their dreams fulfilled, solidifying their legacy and creating the life they desire. A CEPA can help get them there.

TOP REASONS FOR EARNING CEPA

33.3 %

Expanded Their Expertise

29.3 %

Enhancing Client Engagements

29.3 %

Professional Growth

CEPA REGISTRATION INCLUDES

Continuing Education Credits: The CEPA program is approved for up to 18 CPE hours and 14 CFP® hours.

BeyondCEPA

Beyond CEPA:

The program provides CEPAs with a professional development growth path within the Exit Planning Institute community. This pathway empowers CEPAs through key milestones, including role definition, strategy formulation, and more. 

CEPA Program

CEPA Program:

This five-day online training program walks you through the Value Acceleration Methodology taught by industry experts and Exit Planning Institute Faculty. Everyday ends with live faculty meet-ups to discuss the modules, get to know fellow advisors, and prepare for the free CEPA exam.

CredPLus

One Year of Credentialed Plus:

Register for CEPA and receive one full year of Credentialed Plus Membership. This includes access to various marketing and information tools like professional development opportunities, a content portal, CEPA Think Tanks and networking groups, and more. 

PreCEPA

Pre-CEPA Onboarding Session:

Join a member of Exit Planning Institute's Member Experience Team for a call before your first CEPA course to walk through your Member Center, preparation items, week-of logistics, exam prep, and more to empower you for a successful CEPA week program.

VAM-Value-Acceleration-Methodology-1

THE VALUE ACCELERATION METHODOLOGY™ (VAM)

The Value Acceleration Methodology™ was introduced by EPI CEO, Christopher Snider and is the process taught in the CEPA credentialing program. Christopher, a CEPA himself, created the methodology to integrate a business owner’s business, personal, and financial goals into one strategy, which is executed by a team of advisors, including financial advisors, CPA, consultants, and others. This process enables advisors to be more valuable to the owner, stay engaged, and become indispensable.
quotes
"I am fully embracing the CEPA credential into my practice. It has opened up new connections all over the United States."
Linda-Ruffenach-Headshot-2
Linda Ruffenach

CEPA®, Founder, Chief Strategist, and Business Coach at Execuity LLC

quotes
“For any CPA considering this, my comment to them would be that above all of the things that CPA’s do for their clients, nothing is more important than exit planning. A successful exit is the ultimate service a CPA can help provide to their clients..”
Bill_Kenedy_160
Bill Kenedy

CPA/ABV, CFF, CEPA®
Partner at Lutz & Company PC

quotes
"If you want to work with business owners, the CEPA credential is essential."
The CEPA credential is one of the most valuable and useful designations I have in working with business owners. It gave me a knowledge base, vocabulary and process to speak with any Business Owner with confidence. If you want to work with business owners, the CEPA credential is essential.”
Charles M. Jarrett
Charles M. Jarrett

CFP®, CPWATM, CEPA®, CIMA®, ChFC, CLU, CRPC®
Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch Private Bank & Investment Group Senior Vice President

quotes
"I have worked to integrate different CEPA principles into my own company that have helped to move the needle internally. I have also worked to expand my network of professionals to team up with and refer with in the future. The CEPA is a differentiator for me in my area of practice, which has already opened up some new opportunities."
Matt_Barrette_160
Matthew R. Barrette

Senior Financial Consultant at Market Square Advisors

quotes
"An instrumental tool I use when working with business owners."
The CEPA program continues to be an instrumental tool I use when working with business owners. It has been an honor to educate as a faculty member and meet the new CEPA graduates. Our advisors continue to integrate the foundation of the Exit Planning Institute into our conversations with clients.
Justin Goodbread
Justin Goodbread

CFP®, CEPA®, CVGA®
CSO of WealthSource Partners, LLC.

quotes
"Intuitive, concise, and helpful."
As a former institutional investor and equity research analyst, I found the Value Acceleration Methodology intuitive, concise, and helpful. It is a great distillation of value enhancers for almost any business. What I took the most out of though, was the team nature of providing services and how to best help on the personal side.
Erin Niehause
Erin Niehause

CEPA®, CFP®
Vice President, Private Banking JPMorgan

quotes
"Useful and engaging"
The CEPA credentialing program is by far the most useful and engaging content I’ve studied of any credential.
Michael Sheppard
Michael Sheppard

CFP®, CPFA, CEPA®
Group Vice President at Thrivent

quotes
"The best exit planning credential out there"
This is the best exit planning credential out there. You get a great education through the class and you get continued support from the staff and the network that you get to know through the program.
Brett Spencer
Brett Spencer

MS, CFP, CEPA®
Financial Advisor at Impact Financial

quotes
"CEPA gave me a better vocabulary to use with business owners"
I have been doing exit planning since 2006 but did not call it Exit Planning at the time. CEPA gave me a better vocabulary to use with Business Owners to have more in-depth conversations. It also gave me a framework and process to talk through with Owners. My conversations went from messy to more succinct by going through the CEPA program.
Andrew McLaughlin
Andrew "Drew" McLaughlin

Financial Advisor at UBS Private Wealth Management

quotes
"I went through the CEPA program to better educate myself on how to better invest in my company. In doing so, I've been able to not only increase the value of my company, but spread the wealth of knowledge to other small business owners in starting a new practice. This program helps owners uncover so many blind spots they don't even realize they have!"
Kiley-Peters-Headshot-EPAP-2
Kiley Peters

CEPA®, Founder & CEO of Braindchild Studios and Founder of RAYNE IX

quotes
"I am fully embracing the CEPA credential into my practice. It has opened up new connections all over the United States."
Linda-Ruffenach-Headshot-2
Linda Ruffenach

CEPA®, Founder, Chief Strategist, and Business Coach at Execuity LLC

quotes
“For any CPA considering this, my comment to them would be that above all of the things that CPA’s do for their clients, nothing is more important than exit planning. A successful exit is the ultimate service a CPA can help provide to their clients..”
Bill_Kenedy_160
Bill Kenedy

CPA/ABV, CFF, CEPA®
Partner at Lutz & Company PC

quotes
"If you want to work with business owners, the CEPA credential is essential."
The CEPA credential is one of the most valuable and useful designations I have in working with business owners. It gave me a knowledge base, vocabulary and process to speak with any Business Owner with confidence. If you want to work with business owners, the CEPA credential is essential.”
Charles M. Jarrett
Charles M. Jarrett

CFP®, CPWATM, CEPA®, CIMA®, ChFC, CLU, CRPC®
Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch Private Bank & Investment Group Senior Vice President

quotes
"I have worked to integrate different CEPA principles into my own company that have helped to move the needle internally. I have also worked to expand my network of professionals to team up with and refer with in the future. The CEPA is a differentiator for me in my area of practice, which has already opened up some new opportunities."
Matt_Barrette_160
Matthew R. Barrette

Senior Financial Consultant at Market Square Advisors

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