The Exit Planning Institute (EPI), a leading authority on exit planning for advisors, business consultants, and business owners, has announced a strategic partnership with SkillStacked Strategies. The collaboration aims to enhance the resources available to advisors within EPI's community by integrating SkillStacked's specialized services into EPI's Alliance Partners program.
Josh Koza, director of strategic relationships at EPI, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are excited to welcome CEPA-founded SkillStacked as a member of our Alliance Partners. Skylar's background as a CEPA gives him a firsthand understanding of what advisors need to deliver Value Acceleration well, and that shared foundation makes this partnership a natural fit for our community." The reference to Value Acceleration highlights EPI's focus on helping business owners increase the value of their companies before exiting, a process that requires advisors to have a broad range of expertise.
SkillStacked Strategies addresses a common challenge for advisors: the need to offer advanced planning services without the overhead of expanding internal staff. The firm provides an on-demand team of specialists through its bespoke Fractional Family Offices, covering areas such as finance, operations, marketing, artificial intelligence, estate planning, and personal planning. This model allows advisors to tap into high-level expertise as needed, potentially improving the quality and scope of services they can deliver to main street business owners.
Skylar Dean, founder of SkillStacked and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and financial planner, explained the motivation behind the company: "As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and financial planner, I founded SkillStacked to serve as a fractional advisory 'bench' of specialists for financial professionals working with main street business owners. Our goal is to work with CEPAs on both sides of our business—some as the specialists that we connect with financial advisors and other as advisors, who are looking for a team of experts to support their clients." This dual approach means SkillStacked can both supply specialists to advisors and act as a resource for CEPAs seeking to bolster their own client offerings.
The partnership falls under EPI's Strategic Alliances program, which comprises a group of trusted collaborators that work closely with EPI to support advisor development, member engagement, and the broader EPI community. Through educational content, programming, events, and collaboration, alliance members provide valuable resources and expertise that help advisors and business owners navigate the exit planning process. By adding SkillStacked to this network, EPI aims to further equip its members with the tools they need to succeed in a complex and evolving field.
For advisors and business owners, this alliance could mean greater access to specialized knowledge that is often critical during exit planning. Business owners contemplating a sale or transition often face intricate financial, legal, and personal decisions. Having a team of experts available through their advisor can streamline the process and potentially lead to better outcomes. For advisors, the partnership offers a way to expand their service capabilities without significant investment in hiring or training, which can be particularly beneficial for smaller practices or those looking to scale efficiently.
The exit planning industry continues to grow as more baby boomer business owners approach retirement age and seek to transition their companies. EPI's CEPA credential program is described as the most widely endorsed professional exit planning program in the world, providing advisors with the content, tools, and training needed to engage business owners and become their most valued advisors. This partnership with SkillStacked aligns with EPI's mission to elevate the standards and resources available to those advisors. More information about EPI's Strategic Alliances can be found by visiting the EPI website. Additionally, EPI can be followed on LinkedIn for updates and industry insights.
