Written by Tyson Ray, FORM Wealth Advisors | CFP®, CEPA®, CIMA®
A few years ago, I sat across from a business owner who said: “I know how to run this place… but I have no idea how to leave it.” I could feel the years of sacrifice, responsibility, and pride behind his words.
That conversation never left me.
I recently earned my Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) designation, and that moment is a big part of why I pursued it. It pushed me to keep learning and to find better ways to support the people who come to me when they’re navigating big decisions. Although I’ve held the Certified Exit Planner (CExP™) for years, this new designation builds on that with more modern tools for today’s succession planning needs.
But it’s not just business owners in our local community who face these questions. The financial services industry is heading into a massive wave of advisor retirements, and the transition ahead will impact clients, families, and firms across the country.
I’ve talked with advisors who’ve spent their lives helping others and still don’t know what their own exit looks like. I want to help change that. They deserve clarity and protection, too.
My life’s mission is to help as many people as I can. As I look toward 2026, that mission feels clearer than ever. I’m committed to showing up for my community, for the business owners who power it, and for the advisors who’ve spent their careers taking care of everyone else.
Part of living out that mission is making sure people know they don’t have to navigate these decisions alone.
If you’re a business owner and succession has been sitting in the back of your mind, whether it feels urgent or far off, I’d be honored to walk through it with you.
And for those who aren’t business owners, please know this: the tools and training behind the CEPA® designation strengthen every part of the planning work we do at FORM. I’m here for you, too. Wherever you are and whatever your next chapter looks like, you’ll have support.
The Exit Planning Institute (EPI) owns the certification mark CEPA®, a designation awarded to individuals who complete EPI’s required education and credentialing requirements in exit planning.
