Exit Planning Institute

Name

Exit Planning Institute

Legal name

Exit Planning Institute

Website

https://exit-planning-institute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Continuing Education

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

Keywords

• Exit planning certification
• Business transition advisory
• Value acceleration methodology
• Professional advisor education
• Succession planning training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. CEPA Certification Program: Revenue from the Certified Exit Planning Advisor credentialing program, which includes course fees, exam fees, and membership. Refundable within three months of purchase prior to scheduled program date minus an $800 cancellation fee.
2. Exit Planning Summit: Annual conference revenue from ticket sales. Registration is non-refundable; if a registrant cannot attend, they receive EPI Credits equal to their registration fee for future purchases.
3. EPI Academy Courses: Online course revenue from the e-learning platform offering continuing education credits. Includes individual courses and bundled packages. All Academy courses are non-refundable.
4. Chapter Events and Workshops: Revenue from local chapter events and CEPA Immersion Events with hands-on training. Chapter event refunds available up to 48 hours prior to event.
5. Books and Publications: Revenue from the Walking to Destiny book and Annual Exit magazine. All books and publications are non-refundable.
6. EPI Credits System: Refund credits issued in the form of EPI Credits that can be used for future purchases including books, programs, events, memberships, and other products. This creates a recurring revenue loop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Exit Planning Institute (EPI) trains and certifies financial advisors, CPAs, business coaches, M&A advisors, and insurance professionals as Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA) through a multi-week credentialing program built on its proprietary Value Acceleration Methodology. EPI delivers this through the CEPA program, an on-demand e-learning platform (EPI Academy), an annual Exit Planning Summit, a 26+ chapter local network, advanced training programs (CEPA Mastery Series, Immersion Events), proprietary publications (Walking to Destiny, Annual Exit magazine), the DriveValue.com business-owner platform, and State of Owner Readiness research.

Product overview

Exit Planning Institute (EPI) offers a comprehensive suite of exit planning education and professional development products organized around its core CEPA credentialing program. The CEPA Program serves as the foundational certification, while EPI Academy provides the online learning infrastructure delivering on-demand courses with continuing education credits. The Chapter Network extends reach locally through 27+ regional groups. Supporting products include the Annual Exit Planning Summit (flagship annual conference), the Annual Exit Magazine (publication), Walking to Destiny (foundational handbook), DriveValue.com (business owner education), State of Owner Readiness Reports (research), and the Exit is Now Podcast Network (thought leadership). Additional offerings include webinars, CEPA Mastery Series (advanced training), Growth and Impact Week and CEPA Mastery Winter Retreat (immersive events), Mastering the Market (content collections), CEPA Immersion Events (hands-on training), Content Library (case studies and white papers), and Find a CEPA (advisor directory). The portfolio uses a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the CEPA credential, with EPI Academy as the primary digital delivery platform and the Exit Planning Summit as the flagship in-person event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) Program Flagship credentialing program that trains financial advisors, accountants, business coaches, and other professionals to help business owners with exit planning. The CEPA designation is accepted by more than 18 major organizations and designations.
• EPI Academy Award-winning e-learning platform offering on-demand, interactive courses focused on the Value Acceleration Methodology, business value growth, and professional development. Features more than 21 courses approved for continuing education credits by NASBA, IWI, CFP Board, and other organizations.
• Exit Planning Summit The premier annual exit planning event bringing together over 1,000 advisors for networking, education, workshops, and the Excellence in Exit Planning Awards. Features keynote speakers, panel discussions, and continuing education opportunities.
• Chapter Network A nationwide network of 27+ local advisor chapters that foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community among exit planning professionals through local events, business owner roundtables, and networking.
• Walking to Destiny: The Value Acceleration Handbook The definitive guide for exit planning authored by Christopher Snider, outlining the 11 actions owners must take to grow value and unlock wealth. The second edition (2023) updates the playbook with new insights and refined strategies.
• Annual Exit Magazine A first-of-its-kind exit planning magazine featuring industry insights, articles from thought leaders, and profiles of successful exits for advisors and business owners.
• DriveValue.com A direct-to-business-owner education platform launched in 2025 that empowers owners with tools and mindset to build significant companies and sustainable legacies.
• State of Owner Readiness Reports Exclusive industry research reports providing critical insights into owner behaviors, attitudes, and planning patterns related to business transitions, including national and regional studies.
• CEPA Mastery Series An advanced online program for advisors looking to attract and retain business owner clients, led by industry experts with a CEPA mastery certificate upon passing an exam.
• Growth and Impact Week An in-person, two-day experience designed for advisors and business owners committed to growth and long-term value creation, held annually at various locations.
• CEPA Mastery Winter Retreat An exclusive winter retreat for CEPA Mastery members to connect, recharge, and deepen their mastery of exit planning.
• CEPA Immersion Events Hands-on training events designed to deepen advisor impact and strengthen business owner relationships through intensive, in-person sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 32% of business owners have a documented exit plan according to the 2023 National State of Owner Readiness Survey, highlighting the massive opportunity for CEPA advisors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Manulife John Hancock InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Manulife John Hancock Investments partnered with EPI to develop educational content and resources for retirement plan advisors seeking to serve business owner clients around exit planning and liquidity events. The partnership includes CEPA certification for nearly 60 associates and a suite of content modules for advisors.
• Legacy Motor ClubflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2025EPI launched DriveValue.com with Legacy Motor Club, combining NASCAR racing sponsorship with business owner education. The partnership features the DriveValue.com racecar at NASCAR Cup Series events including Nashville Superspeedway, creating brand awareness and connecting with business owner audiences through motorsports.
• UBScoreOthersUBS is one of the major institutions that recognizes the CEPA credential as the gold standard in exit planning education and practice, as of 2017.
• Merrill Lynch (Bank of America)coreOthersMerrill Lynch is one of the major institutions that recognizes the CEPA credential as the gold standard in exit planning education and practice, as of 2017.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreOthersThe Small Business Development Center recognizes the CEPA credential as the gold standard in exit planning education and practice, as of 2017.
• NASBA, IWI, CFP Board and Other OrganizationscoreOthersEPI Academy courses are approved for continuing education credits by NASBA, IWI, CFP Board, and other respected organizations, providing credibility and professional development value for CEPA credential holders.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Business Brokers Association (IBBA): IBBA is the leading trade association certifying business brokers and M&A advisors, including its Certified M&A Professional designation. It competes directly with EPI for the same advisor audience serving middle-market business owner transitions.
• M&A Source: M&A Source is a community and training organization for lower-middle-market M&A advisors and intermediaries. Its certification programs and conferences overlap directly with EPI's CEPA credential and Exit Planning Summit in serving business transition advisors.
• Business Enterprise Institute (BEI): BEI offers exit planning and business transition training programs targeting financial advisors and CPAs, including the Certified Exit Planning Professional (CEPP) designation. It is a direct competitor to EPI's CEPA credential with overlapping target customers.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA): NACVA is a long-standing credentialing body for business valuation, financial forensics, and litigation consulting professionals. Its Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) credential targets an adjacent advisor audience and recognized EPI's leadership, making it a broader-incumbent peer.
• Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA): AM&AA (now the M&A Leadership Council) is an established professional association for M&A advisors and intermediaries offering the CM&AA credential. It overlaps with EPI in serving middle-market transaction advisors and recognized EPI's founder with the Thought Leader of the Year award.
• American Institute of CPAs (AICPA): AICPA is the largest U.S. professional association for CPAs, providing continuing education, certifications (CPA, CGMA), and practice resources. EPI trains CPAs as a primary customer segment, making AICPA a broad incumbent with overlapping education infrastructure.
• College for Financial Planning (a Kaplan company): College for Financial Planning is a leading provider of financial advisor designations and continuing education (CFP, ChFC, CLU). It serves the same financial advisor buyer persona as EPI but with broader financial planning curricula rather than exit planning specialization.
• American College of Financial Services: The American College of Financial Services grants financial planning designations and graduate degrees and offers continuing education for advisors. It is a broader incumbent in the professional financial education space that intersects with EPI's CE credit and advisor development offerings.
• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is the global credentialing body for investment professionals, offering the CFA charter and continuing education. Although focused on investment analysis rather than exit planning, it represents the gold-standard advisor credential against which CEPA is positioned by major wirehouses.

Others

• Financial Planning Association (FPA): FPA is the largest U.S. membership organization for CFP professionals, providing practice resources, advocacy, and continuing education. It is an adjacent professional community rather than a direct competitor, but it shares EPI's target audience of financial advisors serving business owner clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_Eh7TfhJHKRa5uc5R0uRgA
• Facebookfacebook.com/exitplanninginstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exit-planning-institute
• Xx.com/beyondcepa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exit Planning Institute