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Locate a member of the Exit Planning Institute. Access our simple search here.

Are You Ready?

Are you positioned to benefit from the single most significant financial and demographic trend of this century?
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Exit Planning Models & Samples

Access an extensive library of exit planning templates, reports, models, white papers and research. (Credentialed Members Only)
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Recent News

Visit the Exit Planning Institute Newsroom to see what EPI has been up to in the press and on a local and national level.
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Chapters

The Exit Planning Institute has regional chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Two new chapters have opened on the East Coast.
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Upcoming Events

The Exit Planning Institute is the premier provider of delivering innovative learning experiences, designed to advance the exit planning profession. Check the schedule for upcoming events.
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Speakers Bureau

Have one of EPI's distinguished speakers talk to your group about Exit Planning.
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Exit Planning Institute
2413 W. Algonquin Road, #504
Algonquin, IL 60102
P: 847.458.2124
F: 847.594.6114
Send us an Email

"Ask the Experts - Interviews With Veterans of the Exit Planning Process"

"Business Valuation as a Planning Tool"

Please join your colleagues on Thursday, September 9 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT; 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. MDT, and 9:00 a.m. - 10: a.m. PDT for "Business Valuation as a Planning Tool" You will have an opportunity to ask our featured speaker, Jim Bates questions on the air.

Key learning objectives for this webinar are:

• The kind of business valuation to use for exit planning
• How the valuation process for exit planning is different
• The valuation process to use for exit planning
• What credentials to look for in a business appraiser
• The upshot: Lots of Case Studies and Success Stories
• The benefits for the exit planner

This webinar is ideal for Certified Exit Planning Advisors and those wishing to become certified to enhance their professional knowledge. The is No Cost for this webinar!

This webinar qualifies for one hour of continuing education for CEPA re-certification.

Featured Speaker: Jim Bates, MBA, CEPA

Jim Bates is Vice President, Transaction Support, for the Christman Group, a middle-market investment banking firm based in Chicago, Illinois. He ran his own business valuations company after managing the business valuation division of a national consulting firm.

Jim’s responsibilities include providing the managing directors of Christman’s regional offices with complete transaction support, including but not limited to preparing business valuations, writing offering memoranda, doing industry research, identifying and contacting buyers, and helping with virtually every other aspect of serving clients. He has been involved in more than 30 sell-side engagements and has prepared more than 500 business valuations. Jim holds a BA in Economics and an MBA with a concentration in finance and marketing from Western Illinois University. Jim is the co-author of “Business Valuation for Dummies”, published by Wiley Publishing, co-authored with Lisa Holton, former business editor and reporter of the Chicago Sun Times.

Webinar Moderator: Joan Ridley, CFP, CEPA, CBI

Joan is the President of Business Wealth Solutions, Inc. and is a member of the Exit Planning Institute Board of Governors.

The CEPA Advantage

Why is it a wise decision to use the services of a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)? Working with a CEPA offers many advantages... Learn more...

CEPA Program Testimonials

"CEPA is the most content rich continuing ed program I've attended. The combination of quality speakers and experienced attending professionals provided a unique opportunity for networking and learning that has extended well beyond the week long program. I highly recommend the CEPA program for any professional looking to add Exit Planning as a core compentency to their business model."

Wendy Crawford-Schultz, CPA/ABV, CEPA, CVA -- Bluewater Consulting Group. LLC

"This has been the most valuable program I have attended in the last 10 years!"

Joan Ridley, CFP, CEPA -- Business Wealth Solutions

"The CEPA Program exceeded my expectations. The speakers were well prepared, knew their stuff, and went into just the right amount of detail. The time and money invested was well spent."

Richard Sheppard, CFP, CEPA -- Investors Group Financial Services

"The CEPA program is an ideal designation for CPAs working with business owners. Just access to the CEPA material and the people I met while in the program in Chicago made my investment of time and money well worth it. But, I also learned a process for helping business owners with succession and exit planning that I can use and apply in my everyday business life."

John R. Ezell, CPA, CEPA -- ProHorizons Network, Inc.

This innovative program uses integrated case studies, group exercises, and discussion groups to teach exit planning concepts and how to apply them. Taught by a world class faculty, this executive MBA style program is held at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Management, a state-of-the-art executive education center, just steps off of Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.

You'll Learn How To:

• Help business owners articulate and align their personal, business and financial goals
• Identify key exit planning issues and propose appropriate solutions
• Deliver comprehensive exit planning services
• Build an exit planning referral network
• Incorporate exit planning into your existing practice
• Promote and sell your exit planning services
• Coach business owners on important exit planning topics
• Quarterback a multidisciplinary team to deliver exit planning services

The Exit Planning Institute's new EZPay Plan allows you to easily afford the Certified Exit Planning Advisor program, the only recognized exit planning certification program. With the EZPay Plan you can pay your CEPA program fees and annual dues in twelve easy-to-afford monthly installments.

Welcome to the
Exit Planning Institute^®

The Exit Planning Institute is the premier provider of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for exit planning professionals.

The Institute is a membership-based organization made up of business brokers, accountants, financial advisors, investment bankers, valuation advisors, commercial lenders, insurance advisors, and management consultants in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, and Viet Nam.  The common thread uniting these different professionals is their commitment to helping clients exit their companies successfully.

The Institute works hard to deliver innovative learning experiences, performance-enhancing resources, and strategic tools designed to help key advisors and advance the exit planning profession.

In The Spotlight

CHICAGO, IL - September 1, 2010 - The Exit Planning Institute is pleased to announce that the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards has accpeted the Institute's highly respected Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) program for continuing education for all CFP's. Effective September 1, 2010, any CFP who takes the CEPA program will receive 17 hours of CE credit.

CHICAGO, IL - August 25, 2010 - The Exit Planning Institute, the world’s premier association of exit plannig professionals, is pleased to announce its alliance partnership with AGN International, a worldwide association of separate and independent accounting and consulting firms. The new partnership with AGN International will give member firms discounted access to the EPI's highly respected Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) program.

ATLANTA, GA - July 9, 2010 - IGAF Worldwide, one of the world’s strongest associations of independent public accounting firms, is pleased to announce its alliance partnership with the Exit Planning Institute, an association of professional business advisors providing exit planning services for the owners of privately held businesses. As a benefit of membership, IGAF Worldwide offers its 140 member firms a number of services and discounted rates with alliance partner companies around the globe. The new partnership with The Exit Planning Institute will give IGAF Worldwide member firms discounted access to the association’s highly respected Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) program.

May 2010 - The Exit Planning Institute would like to welcome 19 new Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA) to EPI. These people have completed an extensive 5-day educational course, and must have passed the 3.5 hour proctored examination. All Certified Exit Planning Advisors must have a minimum of 5 years of experience working with business owners in a professional advisor capacity.

January 2010 - The Exit Planning Institute's Richard Jackim, CEPA will address hundreds of the nation's top life insurance producers and financial service professionals at the International Forum's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida on January 16-20 during the 2010 Annual Meeting. As co-author of the critically acclaimed book, "The $10 Trillion Opportunity: Designing Successful Exit Strategies for Middle Market Business Owners", Jackim will discuss how to leverage the exit planning process to attract high-level business owners to life insurance practices.

December 2009 - The Exit Planning Institute would like to welcome 18 new Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA) to EPI. These people have completed an extensive 5-day educational course, and must have passed the 3.5 hour proctored examination. All Certified Exit Planning Advisors must have a minimum of 5 years of experience working with business owners in a professional advisor capacity.

New Members

Adi Ringer, CFP®, ChFC, LUTCF
Bridgepoint Custom Strategies
Grover Beach, CA

Philip Dortch
Dortch Capital Management, LLC
Knoxville, TN

Michael Silverman
Cohen & Grigsby, PC
Pittsburgh, PA