News

Jane Panneton Earns Prestigious Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Designation

12/05/2025

Corcoran Consulting Group is proud to announce that Jane Panneton, Managing Director, Healthcare M & A, has officially earned the prestigious Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation, one of the most respected credentials in the exit planning and business transition profession.

Awarded by the Exit Planning Institute (EPI), the CEPA designation represents mastery of a rigorous, research-driven curriculum that prepares advisors to guide business owners through the complex process of scaling, exiting, or transitioning their companies. Only a few thousand professionals worldwide hold this certification, placing CEPA advisors among an elite group of strategic transition experts.

What Is a CEPA—and Why Does It Matter?

A CEPA is uniquely trained to evaluate a business and its owner through three interconnected lenses:

1. Business: value drivers, financial health, operational risks

2. Personal: lifestyle goals, personal readiness, long-term vision

3. Financial: wealth planning, tax strategy, and financial preparedness

This holistic perspective enables a CEPA to integrate an owner’s business, personal, and financial objectives, ensuring the business owner can exit on their terms, with clarity and confidence.

How a CEPA Differs from Traditional Exit Planners

While many professionals offer exit planning guidance, CEPAs are trained in a specialized, proven methodology that most advisors never receive.

A CEPA brings:

• The Value Acceleration Methodology™, a structured approach that increases business value before a transition
• Readiness assessment tools addressing both the business and the owner
• Cross-functional coordination among CPAs, attorneys, financial advisors, and M&A professionals
• Identification of value gaps, operational vulnerabilities, and growth opportunities
• Actionable roadmaps tailored to short- and long-term exit timelines
• Support for any exit type: sale, merger, internal transition, family succession, recapitalization, or phased exit

Traditional planners create documents. CEPAs create value, readiness, and strategic optionality.

What This Means for Our Home-Based Care Clients

With Jane’s CEPA credential, Corcoran Consulting Group expands its ability to support business owners with making informed, high-impact decisions in the years leading up to a transition.

Increasing Company Value: Uncovering value drivers to increase profits today and reduce risk, so the company becomes more attractive, and more valuable, to future buyers or successor

Aligning Financial and Personal Goals: Ensuring the business owner's financial requirements and personal aspirations are fully integrated into the transition plan.

Minimizing Taxes and Reducing Deal Friction: Engaging tax and legal experts early to preserve more net proceeds and streamline negotiations.

Creating a Clear, Actionable Exit Roadmap: Establishing a step-by-step plan that outlines priorities,  timelines, and milestones.

Expanding Exit Options: Prepared owners have more control: sell, transfer, recapitalize, stay involved, or step back on their own timeline.

Ensuring the Owner Exits on Their Terms

The CEPA framework helps owners achieve financial freedom, protect their legacy, and reduce the stress associated with business transitions.

This expertise strengthens our firm’s ability to help owners navigate some of the most important decisions of their professional lives, whether they plan to exit soon or simply want to enhance their company’s long-term value.

Interested in Learning More?

Business owners considering a transition, whether in 1, 3, or 10 years, can benefit tremendously from an early conversation. Reach out to Jane directly at jp@corcoranconsultants.com or click here, if you'd like to book a complimentary 30-minute confidential, no-obligation chat with her.