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. This collaboration brings together EPI's extensive network and educational resources with SkillStacked's innovative model of providing fractional specialist teams, potentially transforming how advisors deliver comprehensive exit planning services.
SkillStacked Strategies, founded by Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Skylar Dean, offers an on-demand team of specialists to help advisors deliver advanced planning without expanding internal staff. The firm's bespoke Fractional Family Offices include experts in finance, operations, marketing, artificial intelligence, estate planning, and personal planning. This range of expertise addresses the multifaceted needs of business owners preparing for exit, from financial structuring to personal wealth management.
Josh Koza, director of strategic relationships at EPI, emphasized the natural fit of the partnership: "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." Value Acceleration is a core methodology in exit planning that focuses on building transferable value in a business, and having a partner who understands this from an advisor's perspective is crucial.
Skylar Dean explained the motivation behind founding SkillStacked: "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 others 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 support network for CEPAs themselves.
The partnership falls under EPI's Strategic Alliances program, 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 joining this program, SkillStacked gains access to EPI's network and resources, while EPI members benefit from SkillStacked's specialized services.
This collaboration is significant because it addresses a critical gap in the exit planning industry: the need for advisors to offer holistic, multidisciplinary support to business owners. Many advisors lack in-house expertise in areas like artificial intelligence or estate planning, which are increasingly important for successful exits. By partnering with SkillStacked, advisors can access these skills on a flexible basis, enhancing their value proposition and improving client outcomes.
Furthermore, the partnership underscores the growing trend of fractional and specialized advisory services. As businesses become more complex, no single advisor can master all necessary domains. SkillStacked's model allows advisors to scale their services efficiently, tapping into a team of experts without the overhead of full-time hires. This can be particularly beneficial for smaller advisory firms looking to compete with larger institutions.
For EPI, this alliance reinforces its commitment to providing advisors with the tools and connections they need to succeed. The CEPA credential program is already the most widely endorsed professional exit planning program globally, and partnerships like this enhance its value by offering practical support beyond education. Advisors who are CEPAs can leverage SkillStacked's services to better serve their clients, potentially leading to more successful exits and stronger client relationships.
The announcement also highlights the importance of community and collaboration in the exit planning space. EPI's Strategic Alliances program fosters a network where members can share knowledge and resources, driving innovation and best practices. By welcoming SkillStacked, EPI continues to build an ecosystem that supports advisors at every stage of their practice.
For more information about EPI's Strategic Alliances, visit the EPI website. To learn more about EPI, visit exit-planning-institute.org or follow them on LinkedIn.
