Leadership Built for Your Exit

Michael DeSiato, CPA, CExP, CEPA, CVGA

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with slicked-back dark hair, wearing a pinstripe suit and a striped tie.

As a CPA with advanced exit planning credentials, including the CExP, CEPA, and CVGA designations, Mike combines tax expertise, financial planning depth, and exit-specific training to guide owners through the complex intersection of business value, tax exposure, and personal financial security.

Exit outcomes are not driven by valuation alone. They are shaped by tax structure, cash flow durability, risk mitigation, and how well a business transition aligns with an owner’s long-term financial goals.

Mike has advised business owners for decades and has personally exited his own accounting practice. That firsthand experience informs how BTS anticipates both the financial and personal realities of exiting a business.

At the core of his work are five critical exit planning questions every owner must answer:

  • How much money is required to fully fund life after the business?

  • How much of that must come from the business itself?

  • What proven exit planning process will close the gap?

  • Who is qualified to lead that process?

  • And whether that advisor is truly focused on exit planning rather than selling unrelated products or services.

BTS is built around disciplined exit planning, value growth, and long-term readiness. The objective is not just a transaction, but a stronger, more transferable business and a financially secure life beyond ownership.

Career Highlights & Milestones

Mike’s approach to exit planning is shaped by decades of firsthand experience advising business owners through growth, transition, and exit.

  • Obtained his CPA credential and began his career in public accounting, gaining early exposure to business ownership and entrepreneurship.

  • Returned to FIU to complete a Master’s degree in Taxation, establishing a strong technical foundation in complex tax planning and advisory work.

  • Elected Managing Partner of his accounting firm, leading firm strategy, client advisory services, and operational growth.

  • Led the sale of his accounting practice to a national firm, gaining firsthand experience navigating valuation, deal structure, negotiations, and transition planning as a business owner.

  • Served as a trusted advisor to mid-sized business owners across industries, with a focus on tax strategy, financial planning, and long-term value creation.

  • Recognized a growing need among clients for structured exit planning and intentionally specialized in this discipline.

  • Completed rigorous training and earned the following designations:

    • Certified Exit Planner (CExP)

    • Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)

    • Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA)

    What These Designations Mean and Why They Matter

    Certified Exit Planner (CExP)

    The Certified Exit Planner (CExP) designation reflects formal training in the end-to-end process of exiting a business. It focuses on helping owners prepare years in advance so an exit is intentional, well-timed, and financially sound.

    Why it matters:
    Most business owners wait too long to think about an exit. A CExP helps identify risks early, align personal and financial goals, and avoid value-destroying decisions before a transaction is ever on the table.

    In short, this credential signals disciplined exit planning, not last-minute deal scrambling.

    Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)

    The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation, issued by the Exit Planning Institute, is widely regarded as the gold standard in exit planning education.

    It emphasizes a holistic approach that integrates:
    • Business value
    • Financial readiness
    • Personal readiness
    • Continuity and succession planning

    Why it matters:
    Exiting a business is not just a financial transaction. It affects income, identity, family, employees, and legacy. CEPA training ensures those elements are addressed together, not in isolation.

    This designation demonstrates the ability to coordinate strategy across legal, tax, financial, and personal dimensions, something most advisors are not trained to do.

    Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA)

    The Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA) designation focuses on increasing the value of a business before exit. It centers on identifying and improving the specific drivers buyers care about most.

    These include:
    • Sustainable cash flow
    • Profitability
    • Operational efficiency
    • Customer and revenue diversification
    • Risk reduction

    Why it matters:
    Owners do not get paid for effort. They get paid for value.

    A CVGA understands how buyers and investors evaluate businesses and helps owners close the gap between current performance and market-ready value. This often results in stronger offers, better deal terms, and more optionality at exit.

  • Shifted focus to working exclusively with business owners preparing for liquidity events, ownership transitions, and exits.

  • Helps owners increase enterprise value, reduce risk, improve cash flow, and exit their businesses on terms aligned with both financial objectives and personal goals.