“I need to take a few minutes to talk about the founding of InVestra, how we operate, and why our story may matter to you.
People ask, “How and why did you become a financial planner?” We are all products of the experiences we’ve been through. I got into the business almost two decades ago when I was 24 years old, and in doing so at such a tender age, I had to overcome a lot of obstacles. I was told that I was too young and too pretty to be successful. I almost needed to hear that, because it helped me want to overcome that stigma that was associated with it. Since all people saw was the outside, they didn’t know the real me. The real me was somebody who grew up pretty humble.
I grew up in a pillbox house in a great community on Amelia Island. We had five people in our family and shared one shower between us all, but I didn’t know that I was missing or wanting for anything. In hindsight, I didn’t know anything different. When we moved my grandmother in, I learned what it was like as a kid to live in a multigenerational household. My dad was an elected official, so we came from a prominent family, but we didn’t come from money, so we didn’t really understand money. So, sadly, some of the most common memories of my parents were of them arguing over money.
That made a very foundational impression on me in my life: that I never want to be in a situation like this. I never want to be in a situation where the basis of conversation is we don’t have enough money to do something or you spent too much money. There was so much friction. Now, maybe there were other factors, but that’s what I saw as a kid. Growing up, money was something that caused me to feel uncomfortable and insecure, so I did everything that I could as a young professional to make money. When I started making good money after college I started to save and invest.
The ‘aha moment to me was learning how investing was rather easy, and asking myself ‘Why doesn’t everyone know this?’ So, I took it upon myself to learn everything that I could. I ultimately ended up going into the business and here I am today.
I have built a very successful business. I’ve established my own financial planning business and have elevated into the high net worth space where I work with clients that have a million or greater in assets. At InVestra, we start with financial planning and we go through the why, the reason, and the personal motivation, so that we know who our clients are, what challenges they face, and have potential solutions before we make recommendations to them.
I’m incredibly passionate about this. I’ve earned every bit of where I’m at in life, through discipline and gratitude. I am a debt-free financial advisor – I believe in that. And I believe in investing for the long haul. When you’re working with a professional like me, you’re working with somebody who can sit alongside you at the table and say, I did not come from money, I paid my way through college, I own my home and office, having bought my first house when I was 21 years of age, so I have lots of experience. I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’ve owned lots of different businesses over the years. That allows me to connect well with business owners and understand the joys and pains that come along with that. That led me to obtain a designation as a CEPA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, giving me the knowledge and know-how to help business owners grow with an ultimate exit in mind. Owning a financial planning practice has also given me the experience to know what it’s like to have employees and what it’s like to run margins and expectations and run them successfully.
Our mission is to be the keepers and protectors of our client’s lifestyles as they define them. We can help you take steps now to protect your future and the future of your family from unforeseen circumstances that can negatively impact your ability to live the lifestyle that you want to live.
We look forward to working with you.”
-Erin D. Eiras, CPFA, CEPA
Founder | InVestra