We recently connected with Erin Cary and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, appreciate you joining us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your industry completely flip-flop or change course on something?

I found myself frustrated with the financial advice available to me, as every advisor I spoke with seemed to be more interested in selling me commission-based products, like life insurance I didn’t really need or requiring me to maintain a certain level of assets under management in order to get any advice about my financial situation or any significant financial issues I was facing. What really bothered me was that the advice was often generic and not based on my values, goals, and beliefs. I wanted guidance that would help me make strategic financial decisions and build a sustainable financial future that aligned with my long-term aspirations for my life and lifestyle.
As a result, I decided to take a different approach and help people with significant financial issues that weren’t being addressed by anyone else in the industry. Examples include short-term and long-term tax reduction strategies, business planning, an overarching lifetime financial strategy, debt reduction strategies, investment strategies, estate planning strategies, a strategy to integrate all of the strategies while building a sustainable financial future that aligns with their values and goals.
This experience taught me the importance of putting clients’ needs and values first, rather than adhering to conventional industry practices. I also take non-financial goals into consideration because we are not one dimensional financial beings. It’s not always easy to go against the norm, but I believe that by doing so, we can create positive change and help people achieve all of their goals in a more meaningful and exciting way.
I also don’t believe in suffering for 40 years so you can enjoy your retirement in a rocking chair. We help our clients start living into their Ideal Lives immediately!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Erin Cary, and I’m a financial strategist who specializes in helping people with significant financial issues. As someone who has been in my clients’ shoes, I understand the feeling of being unfulfilled despite appearing to have a successful and a seemingly comfortable life. In my previous career as an engineer, I was making a lot of money but was not happy. I went backpacking in Thailand and I realized I had a choice – I could continue living a life that wasn’t fulfilling just to keep up with what everyone else thought I should be doing…or I could actively pursue a career and life that truly inspired me.
That realization is what led me to my current calling, where I help clients who are in a similar situation. Many individuals have built an infrastructure in their lives that they thought would make them happy, but they find themselves feeling unfulfilled and even stressed out. Some of them have large mortgages, private school tuition, and expensive travel habits, but they’re just not happy. When they come to me, we have an hour-long conversation about the things that are deeply important to them. Through this conversation, many discover that more than just money, they desire a fulfilling vocation where they can feel relaxed and truly enjoy their lives.
My approach is to help clients take a step back and think about what their Ideal Life looks like. We look at the big picture of what they want in their lives and then design their finances to align with and support their mort deeply held values and their most important goals. Sometimes that means making tough choices, but ultimately the choices aren’t so tough because they lead to more peace of mind and enjoyment of life.
I’m proud of the work I do because I get to help people transform their relationship with money. It’s not just about solving immediate problems, but about setting a foundation for a more fulfilling life in the long run.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Earlier this year, I made a major pivot in my personal life by moving from San Diego to Denver, Colorado. My fiancé and I realized the lifestyle we want is not in San Diego and we knew that if we wanted to be happier personally, we needed to make a big shift. This meant leaving behind our clients, friends, and colleagues, which was a difficult decision. We recognized that by prioritizing our personal happiness, we would have more energy to put into our business and our relationships. Personally, I am energized by the work I do helping clients with significant financial issues, and by being happier in my personal life, I can bring even more enthusiasm and dedication to my work.
In the end, moving to Denver was the right choice for us and we have been thriving here. This experience taught me the importance of recognizing when something isn’t working and being willing to make a change even if it’s difficult.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective way for me to grow my clientele has been through referrals from well served clients. I take pride in treating my clients well and providing them with the clarity and confidence they need to navigate their significant financial issues. Seeing the relief and excitement on their faces after just one hour-long session is incredibly fulfilling. When my clients have a breakthrough of clarity like that, they often share their positive experience with their friends and family, which has led to many referrals over the years. I believe that exceptional service and delivering results is the key to building a strong reputation and growing my clientele through word-of-mouth referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TrulyAlignedInc.com
• Instagram: @erincaryy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinecary/