Robert DePalo Jr., JD, CExP®, AEP®, is the Director of Business Planning at National Financial Network, where he leads advanced planning for business owners approaching an exit or succession event.
Robert's work centers on a question most owners have never been asked: not what your business is worth, but what your family will actually keep.
His personal practice, The Strategic Business Planner, focuses on advanced exit planning, tax strategy, and estate architecture for owners of privately held businesses valued between $10 million and $150 million. He is the creator of the Legacy Alpha™ framework, a planning methodology that identifies the tax friction, structural inefficiencies, and overlooked snares that erode wealth in a transition, and closes them before the transaction happens.
Robert earned his JD from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and his BBA in Finance from Hofstra University. He holds the Certified Exit Planner (CExP®) and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) designations and has been recognized as a Forbes 2026 Financial Security Professional Best-In-State honoree.
His first book, Maximizing Legacy Alpha: Avoiding the Often-Overlooked Snares, publishes in fall 2026.
The Forbes FSP Best-In-State award is not issued by Guardian or its subsidiaries.
The annual Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Financial Security Professional 2026 is based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC. No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. Not practicing law for Guardian or any subsidiaries or affiliates. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation.
