Cornerstone Business Services named title sponsor of EPI’s 2027 Exit Planning Summit

The Exit Planning Institute has named Cornerstone Business Services the title sponsor of its 2027 Exit Planning Summit, expanding a partnership focused on helping business owners plan exits earlier and more effectively. The deal strengthens Cornerstone’s role inside EPI’s advisor network and will put its M&A expertise front and center at the San Diego event.

Why it matters: - The sponsorship deepens a strategic partnership between Exit Planning Institute and Cornerstone Business Services around exit planning, value creation and business transition. - The move gives EPI members and CEPA® advisors more access to transaction-market insight as they work with business owners before a sale. - Cornerstone’s role highlights the growing overlap between exit planning and M&A advisory for founder- and family-led businesses.

What happened: - Exit Planning Institute announced that Cornerstone Business Services signed on as the title sponsor of the 2027 Exit Planning Summit. - The sponsorship expands Cornerstone’s partnership with EPI and reinforces Cornerstone’s position as an Enterprise Growth Partner in the EPI ecosystem. - The 2027 Exit Planning Summit will take place in San Diego.

The details: - Cornerstone is a lower-middle-market investment bank focused on founder- and family-led businesses. - The firm works with companies generating about $5 million to $250 million in annual revenue across North America. - Cornerstone’s services include sell-side transactions, acquisition searches and Real Market Analysis. - EPI said effective exit planning starts well before a business goes to market and includes aligning business, personal and financial goals. - Cornerstone already contributes to EPI’s education platform through Scott Bushkie’s course, Sell Your Business on Your Terms, on EPI Academy. - Cornerstone also provides resources for EPI members aimed at helping advisors start conversations about exit, legacy, financial security and personal goals. - Scott Bushkie, Cornerstone’s managing partner and founder, said the title sponsorship was a “no-brainer” and pointed to the gap between owners who list exit planning as a priority and businesses that actually sell. - Bushkie said 69% of business owners have an exit strategy on their priorities list, while only 20% to 30% of businesses that go to market actually sell.

Between the lines: - The partnership suggests EPI wants more direct exposure to current M&A realities, not just planning frameworks. - Cornerstone gains visibility with a network of advisors who influence when and how business owners prepare for a transition. - The emphasis on proactive conversations signals a push to move exit planning earlier in the business lifecycle.

What’s next: - Cornerstone will have a prominent role at the 2027 Exit Planning Summit and contribute its M&A perspective to the event. - The Summit is expected to bring together CEPAs and other professionals for education, collaboration and networking across the exit-planning field. - EPI says the partnership will help connect attendees with transaction-market insights and reinforce the need for advance planning.

The bottom line: - Cornerstone’s title sponsorship turns a partnership into a larger platform for shaping how advisors prepare business owners for exit decisions.