Financial Advisor Brandon Blackford of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Bluffton has received the Certified Exit Planning Advisor®, or CEPA®, designation through the Exit Planning Institute(TM).

This designation provides specific education on how to help business owners have a successful exit by discussing business readiness, strengthening personal financial strategies and aligning them to personal goals. The course of CEPA® study expands a financial advisor's knowledge base in the following business-focused areas:

• Exit planning considerations for business owners
• The importance of business valuation
• Personal financial management
• Estate and charitable intent strategies
• Estate considerations

Brandon Blackford's office is located at 107 S Main Street, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm's nearly 19,000 financial advisors serve more than 8 million clients with a total of $1.6 trillion in client assets under care in 2022. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's 50,000 associates and our branch presence in 68 percent of U.S. counties, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is at edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.