The phrase "in advance of" is typically used to indicate that something is happening or being done before a certain event or deadline. However, there are many synonyms that can be used interchangeably with this phrase, including "ahead of," "prior to," "beforehand," "previously," "preceding," and "anticipating." Depending on the context in which the phrase is being used, different synonyms may be more appropriate and convey a slightly different meaning. It is important to choose the appropriate synonym based on the intended meaning in order to accurately convey ideas and expectations to others.