Exit Planning Moving Forward: AI and the Modern Exit Advisor

Conference Agenda

Monday, April 28, 2026  ·  10:00 AM – 4:25 PM ET  ·  Online via Zoom

10:00 – 10:15

AM ET

15 min

Opening Remarks

IEPA Founder, John Leonetti, will share his transformation in thinking as it relates to AI and the exit planning work that we perform in the marketplace. Routine tasks are now obviated, business KPIs are changing, and how rapidly a business owner (or an exit planning advisor) chooses to incorporate AI into their business may turn out to be one of the most consequential decisions that can be made. This conference will actively evaluate the role and importance of AI, including a business owner use case and testimonials from exit consultants as to how they are using AI to improve efficiencies in delivering solutions to owners. 

10:15 – 11:05 AM ET

50 min

The Evolution of AI – 41 Months of Development to Rapid Adoption

ChatGPT was first introduced on November 30, 2022, when OpenAI launched it as a free “research preview” chatbot. It gained over one million users within five days and sparked widespread interest in generative AI. Dave Wilson, the IEPA’s Chief Growth Officer, will walk our audience through the 41 months since ChatGPT was released and how and where AI has rapidly grown not only in importance, but in adoption because of the user-friendly versions that became available, largely in the 2nd half of 2025. In addition to reviewing the brief history and development of AI tools, Dave will also break down the significance of Generative AI, Large Language Models, Agentic AI and more complex forms of Artificial Intelligence available today. Dave will leave our audience considering their own adoption and use of AI as well as what implications AI is likely to have for all of our practices, as well as our owner’s companies, in the near future. This session will set the stage for the next presentation, where today’s transaction data strongly suggests that AI is currently appearing in closed M&A deals, particularly in smaller companies.  The implications of the data and this theory could have profound, short-term impacts on most exit planning prospects and clients that we are currently working with.

11:05 – 11:55 AM ET

50 min

11:55 AM – 12:05 PM ET

10 min

M&A Market Data Indicates that AI May Already be a Major Driver of Business Value and Exit Considerations

Building upon Dave Wilson’s presentation, Bill McCaplin, joined by John Leonetti, will share the recent M&A survey data from 2025 and pending transactions for Q1 of 2026. The data shows a clear trend towards substantially improved EBITDA margins for transactions less than $50mm that closed in the 2^nd half of 2025. Most notably, a spike in EBITDA and trading multiples has occurred for businesses with less than $1mm in EBITDA.  The data supports a theory that the higher margins and trading multiples are the result of early adopters of AI. Because the upward trends are so material, the theory that AI is pervasive in today’s transactions gains support. Moreover, the dispersion of high margin, high multiple transactions across all sectors further supports the idea that AI is truly pervasive across all industries and not relegated to technology-oriented businesses. John and Bill will discuss the findings in the white paper that they co-authored, which will also be available to all attendees.

Break

12:05 – 12:55 PM ET

50 min

12:55 – 1:25

PM ET

30 min

1:25 – 2:15

PM ET

50 min

Feature Presentation: How One AI Consultant Transformed the Research Capabilities of a Business that Had Just Completed a Private Equity Group Recapitalization Transaction

In this case-study presentation a business owner who recently went through a private equity group recapitalization transaction shares his experience with installing AI into his operating business. John Misak, our Owners’ AI Consultant, not only led the design and implementation of AI into this Lower-middle-market company, but John also is the Author of AI for Everyone: A Practical Guide to Using Artificial Intelligence. John will lead the conversation with this owner to explain how the application of AI – the concepts in his book – apply to business process. The adoption of AI is becoming more than just a ‘nice to have’. Rather, lower middle market businesses are receiving demands from customers that AI be incorporated into their work product. The reasons behind this demand relate to both quality and cost of the service or product. And, if our business owners’ customers are demanding AI, then the buyers of middle market businesses will also be demanding that owners be able to articulate a strategy for AI adoption, prior to investors purchasing certain businesses.

Lunch Break – Sponsor Presentation

How The IEPA is Integrating AI Into Our Education, Certification, Membership, and Exit Planning Support Programs

Learn how the IEPA is applying AI within its own education, certification, and advisor development efforts. This session will highlight how training is evolving to better prepare advisors for the realities of a changing market and a more technology-driven future. Tommy Delello and Dave Wilson

2:15 – 3:55

PM ET

100 min

Panel Discussion: How Three (3) IEPA Members Are Thinking About and Using AI in Their Exit Planning Practices

In this extended panel discussion, we will hear from three (3) IEPA members that are all at different levels of adoption of AI into their exit planning practices. From early exploration to deep integration of AI, these advisors will discuss how Practitioners like you are evaluating and incorporating different AI-related tools into their practice and engagement with owners. This panel is facilitated by IEPA Leadership Council Member, Rob Falvey.  This session will also include a question-and-answer session that has the flexibility to continue beyond the stated time for the end of the conference.  This closing session allows attendees to have questions answered before leaving the event.

3:55 PM – 4:25         Closing Remarks and Extended Q+A

PM ET