Berkshire Money Management CEO Earns CEPA Designation

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management's CEO and chief investment officer Allen Harris has recently earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) certification.

Harris participated in the intensive, four-day, MBA-style program — offered by the Exit Planning Institute — in Chicago. The CEPA program is the most widely accepted in the world and was specifically designed for business advisors who work closely with private companies.

"Not only is new business creation important to the vitality of the community, but so is recognizing and maximizing the value of existing companies," Harris said. "We can accomplish this by helping businesses with strategic planning--de-risking, taking action on growth initiatives. Ultimately, baby boomer business owners will look to transition ownership as they enter into their hard-earned retirement."

BMM has been helping business owners transition from ownership for years and nearly 25 percent of Berkshire Money Management clients are business owners, many of whom have an eye toward retirement and transitioning within the next 10 years, or who have already sold their business with BMM's guidance and continued support.

"It's to their benefit, and to that of our whole community, that these business owners are able to pass the torch of a strong business to the next generation," Harris said. "It ensures continued vitality."

 


Tags: Berkshire Money Management,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Protecting Your Assets: How FDIC and DIF Protect Your Deposits

Submitted by Dana Robb
In this time of economic uncertainty, keeping your money secure should be a top priority. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF) play crucial roles in safeguarding your deposits.
 
FDIC Insurance: Your First Line of Defense
More than just a sticker on the door at your bank, the FDIC, an independent government agency, provides insurance coverage for deposits at member banks. As of 2025, the FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, and ownership category. This means if you have two different types of accounts (e.g. savings and a CD) at the same bank, you only receive $250,000 of insurance for these accounts even if you have more than this amount deposited. 
 
FDIC insurance is automatic for covered accounts at member banks for individual and business customers, meaning there's no cost to you for the protection. Covered accounts include:
  • Checking accounts
  • Savings accounts
  • Money market deposit accounts (MMDAs)
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs)
  • Certain retirement accounts, such as IRAs invested in CDs
In instances where an account has more than one owner, the $250,000 coverage per ownership still applies.
 
For example, a joint account with two owners could be insured up to $500,000 ($250,000 per owner). Similarly, a trust account with three beneficiaries could be insured up to $750,000. The only limitation is that the maximum insurance coverage for a trust owner with five or more beneficiaries is $1,250,000 per owner for all trust accounts held at the same bank. You can add more than five beneficiaries, but the coverage will not exceed $1,250,000.
 
Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF): Extra Protection for Massachusetts residents
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories