Thrivent: 2026 CEPA Advancement Program

This multifaceted educational experience is delivered in two phases and includes virtual self-paced learning, and a series of live virtual workshops focused on real-world application and accountability. Each component is led by experienced professionals and thought leaders in exit planning and business owner engagement. Advisors who completed the 2025 CEPA Advancement Program will be invited to participate in the Phase 2: Application & Accountability Workshops portion of the 2026 program.

Program Structure

Phase 1: Foundational Education (Virtual, Self-Paced)

Participants will complete foundational coursework to establish core knowledge prior to the live workshop. 

• Implementing Value Acceleration as a Financial Advisor  
  Instructor: Justin Goodbread, Founder & CEO, Relentless Value Coaching

As a financial advisor, you may be asking yourself how you can begin to incorporate the Value Acceleration Methodology^TM into what you do as a fiduciary for your clients, and your own practice. This course provides you the knowledge on how to do just that.

• Demystifying the Role of the Exit Planning Quarterback  
  Instructor: Sean Hutchinson, Partner, Strategic Development, RFN Global 
  At the center of every successful business transition is the Exit Planning Quarterback, the advisor who leads, coordinates, and drives the process forward. Demystifying the Role of the Exit Planning Quarterback dives into this pivotal role, helping you understand what it truly takes to quarterback complex exit planning projects with skill and confidence.
• The Triggering Event Workshop: Determining Enterprise Value  
  Instructor: Chris Snider, CEO, Exit Planning Institute 
  What’s your business worth in the open market? In The Triggering Event Workshop: Determining Enterprise Value, Exit Planning Institute CEO, Chris Snider, will take you through the business valuation process. Chris will break down the language, terminology, and numbers involved so that even those who are not certified professionals in the subject can understand what makes a business valuable.
• Tax Planning for Business Transitions   
  Instructors: Brad Barros, President & CEO, Specialty Wealth Advisory; Jess Bahs, Attorney Partner, FisherBroyles, LLP; Gal Kaufman, Partner, FisherBroyles, LLP
  As an advisor to high-net-worth clients, it's critical to begin tax preparations for a sale as early as possible, supporting owners all the way from the letter of intent, to post-sale planning. In Tax Planning for Business Transitions, our expert panel of three industry veterans will take you through the different tax aspects that both owners and advisors should be considering when it comes time for the owner to sell their company. This course provides you with a better understanding of both the tax side of M&A deals, as well as the gift and estate tax planning side, with the ultimate goal of mitigating tax costs at the time of exit. 

Phase 2: Application & Accountability Workshops (Virtual, Live) 

A four-part live workshop series focused on real-time implementation and peer accountability. Each session will provide practical strategies for integrating exit planning into the daily advisory process. 

• Practical Tactics for Implementing Value Acceleration

Instructor: Justin Goodbread, CEPA, Founder & CEO, Relentless Value Coaching

• Building Effective Relationships with Value Advisors 
  Instructor: Jeff Armstrong, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Cultivate Advisors 
• How to Build a Strong, Consistent Pipeline of Referrals  
  Instructor: Mike Garrison, CEPA, Founder, Strategic Referral Team 
• Tax Planning Deep Dive 
  Instructors: Joe Strazzeri, Esq, CEPA, Principal, Strazzeri Mancini LLP

• Leveraging the Capabilities of an M&A Firm 
  Instructor: Scott Bushkie, Founder & Managing Partner, Cornerstone Business Services