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, revealed on September 18, 2026, positions SkillStacked as an Alliance Partner within EPI's Strategic Alliances program, a network of trusted collaborators that support advisor development and member engagement.
SkillStacked Strategies, founded by Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and financial planner Skylar Dean, offers advisors access to an on-demand team of specialists across finance, operations, marketing, artificial intelligence, estate planning, and personal planning. These bespoke Fractional Family Offices are designed to help advisors deliver advanced planning services without the need to expand their internal staff. The partnership is expected to enhance the resources available to EPI's community of advisors, enabling them to provide more comprehensive support to main street business owners.
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," Koza said. "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."
Dean echoed this sentiment, highlighting the dual role SkillStacked aims to play. "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," Dean said. "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."
The implications of this partnership extend beyond a simple alliance. For EPI, it reinforces its commitment to equipping advisors with the tools and expertise needed to navigate the complex exit planning landscape. By integrating SkillStacked's specialized services, EPI members can offer a wider range of solutions to business owners, potentially increasing the value and success of exit strategies. For SkillStacked, the partnership provides access to EPI's extensive network of CEPAs and advisors, accelerating its reach and credibility in the exit planning market.
Strategic Alliances at EPI are designed to support advisor development through educational content, programming, events, and collaboration. Alliance members like SkillStacked contribute valuable resources and expertise that help advisors and business owners through the exit planning process. This partnership underscores the growing demand for specialized, fractional expertise as business owners seek to maximize value and ensure smooth transitions.
Advisors interested in learning more about EPI's Strategic Alliances can visit the EPI website. EPI was formed in 2005 to serve the educational and resource needs of professional business advisors, and its CEPA credential program is the most widely endorsed professional exit planning program in the world. For more information, visit exit-planning-institute.org or follow EPI on LinkedIn.
