Align Business, Personal, and Financial Goals for Exit
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential is the gold standard in exit planning education, awarded by the Exit Planning Institute. The program teaches the Value Acceleration Methodology—a framework that integrates business value growth, personal goals, and financial planning into one cohesive business exit strategy. As a CEPA, I help founder-CEOs build companies that are both highly valuable and exit-ready, working with leadership teams to scale while preparing for a successful transition. This credential directly supports my VALUE10X program and my book, Springboard.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
The Value Acceleration Methodology aligns the three critical dimensions of exit planning—business goals, personal goals, and financial goals. Rather than treating these as separate concerns, CEPA-trained advisors help owners build strategies where all three reinforce each other.
PROVEN NEED
Industry research shows 75% of business owners profoundly regret their exit, and only 32% have a documented exit plan. CEPA advisors address this gap with structured planning that maximizes value, minimizes risk, and ensures owners exit on their own terms.
COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK
The CEPA program covers 23 key areas including business valuation, transaction structures, tax strategies, estate planning, and wealth management. This breadth ensures advisors can quarterback the entire exit process and coordinate specialized professionals effectively.
CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR (CEPA)
Building Valuable, Exit-Ready Companies
OVERVIEW
The Exit Planning Institute established the CEPA credential in 2007 to address a critical gap: business owners making one of the most significant decisions of their lives without adequate planning or professional guidance. More than 8,000 advisors worldwide have now earned the CEPA designation.
The program is built around the Value Acceleration Methodology, which focuses on three integrated components: building transferable business value, aligning personal and lifestyle goals, and optimizing financial outcomes. This "Three Legs of the Stool" approach ensures that exit planning addresses the complete picture rather than treating business value, personal readiness, and financial planning as separate workstreams.
COMPONENTS
Exit planning is multifaceted, requiring expertise across business strategy, transaction management, tax optimization, wealth preservation, and personal transition. The CEPA program provides a comprehensive framework that addresses all dimensions of the exit process while enabling advisors to coordinate specialized professionals effectively.
Value Acceleration Methodology
The core framework integrates three critical areas: growing business value by building transferable human, structural, customer, and social capital; protecting value through risk management and operational resilience; and transferring value through transaction structures that optimize financial outcomes while honoring personal goals.
Business Readiness
Preparing a company for exit requires addressing the factors that drive valuation and buyer confidence—including leadership depth, customer concentration, recurring revenue, documented systems, and operational independence from the founder.
Personal Readiness
Exit planning extends beyond the transaction to address the founder's next chapter. This includes clarifying post-exit goals, managing identity transition, and building platforms for future ventures before the exit occurs.
Financial Optimization
The methodology incorporates tax strategies, estate planning, wealth management, and transaction structuring to ensure founders capture maximum after-tax value while protecting long-term financial security.
TARGET
The CEPA framework delivers the greatest value for founder-CEOs who are considering an exit within the next three to five years and want to maximize both business value and personal outcomes. This includes owners who want to build a more valuable, transferable company regardless of whether they ultimately sell, founders preparing for generational transition or management buyout rather than third-party sale, and business owners who recognize that exit planning should drive current business decisions rather than being addressed reactively when a transaction opportunity appears.
If you're building a company you may eventually exit—through sale, succession, or transition—exit planning methodology can help you make better decisions today.
CERTIFICATION
The Exit Planning Institute maintains rigorous standards for the CEPA credential. The certification program includes more than 20 hours of detailed content covering all facets of exit planning—from business valuation and transaction structures to wealth management strategies and estate planning.
The program culminates in a comprehensive 150-question, three-hour proctored exam. CEPAs must complete 40 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain the credential.
More than 8,000 advisors have earned the CEPA designation, and the program is endorsed by more than 40 organizations and institutions worldwide as the leading credential in exit planning education.
MY APPROACH
I pursued the CEPA credential because exit planning is central to my work with founder/CEOs and the program provides both the comprehensive methodology and the professional network to serve clients at the highest level.
My focus within exit planning is business strategy and exit strategy. I work directly with founders and leadership teams on scaling businesses that are both highly valuable and exit-ready. This is the work I do through my VALUE10X program and the approach I detail in my book, Springboard.
But exit planning requires more than business strategy. I partner with investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, wealth managers, and other specialized advisors to assemble comprehensive teams that address every dimension of the exit. The CEPA network connects me with professionals who bring expertise I don't have—ensuring clients receive robust, holistic guidance across all facets of their transition.
The CEPA program expanded my knowledge beyond business strategy into transaction structures, wealth management approaches, and an extensive library of tools and frameworks for exit readiness. This depth allows me to coordinate effectively across the full advisory team while maintaining my focus on what I do best: helping founders build valuable companies and plan their next chapter.
I work with founders not just on maximizing valuation, but on thinking through what comes after. Particularly for founders who want to start additional businesses or pursue new ventures, I help them build those platforms before exit so they hit the ground running rather than figuring things out after the transaction closes.
Featured Content
Your Company Needs an Exit Blueprint—Even If You Never Sell It: How thinking like a buyer of your own company creates better strategic decisions—even when you never plan to sell.
Selling Your Business? Use These 5 Strategies to Protect It: Selling your business involves hidden risks that can erode its value. Here’s how to protect your company during the transaction process.
8 Things That Boost the Value of Your Business: How to identify and enhance core capabilities that can significantly increase your business’s sale price.
If you're considering an exit in the next three to five years, I'm happy to discuss how exit planning methodology might apply to your situation. Whether you're focused on maximizing valuation, preparing for due diligence, or planning your next chapter, reach out to start the conversation.
Learn More About CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING (CEPA)
Client Testimonials
"Bruce possesses a rare ability to cut through the noise and identify the core issues that drive business valuation. Through thorough analysis and strategic guidance, he highlighted key areas we needed to address to maximize our value and prepare for a smooth transition. These insights were instrumental in developing our focused action plan."
Norman Rosenberg, CEO, Lutron Shades
"I've worked with Bruce as a strategic business coach for over six years—from early stage to over $1B valuation. His approach is highly practical, focusing on actionable steps and measurable outcomes. He possesses an uncanny ability to cut through complexity and identify the core drivers of success."
Sam Kassoumeh, COO & Co-founder, SecurityScorecard
"I highly recommend Bruce for any CEO looking to develop a robust scaling strategy, align leadership teams, or prepare for a business valuation or exit. His ability to customize solutions and provide expert advice tailored to each organization's needs sets him apart as a top-tier coach."
Nelson Tepfer, Founder & CEO, ProCFO Partners
"Any CEO of a growth company would be fortunate to have Bruce as a strategic partner. His guidance significantly accelerates the growth process while reducing the risk and complexity that inevitably accompany expansion. I wholeheartedly recommend him."
Gina Boedeker, Market Insights Expert & Startup CEO