Eric Yanovsky

Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics

Alumni Spotlight: Eric Yanovsky (MSFP ’23) VP, Assistant Branch Manager, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Boston, MA

Meet Eric Yanovsky, a 2023 graduate of the Online MS in Financial Planning program and a rising leader at Charles Schwab. Now serving as a Vice President and Assistant Branch Manager, Eric co-leads a team of financial consultants who each support approximately 300 affluent households. In his role, he focuses on developing advisors’ skills in delivering meaningful wealth management guidance—always with the goal of improving client outcomes and ensuring advice is delivered in the clients’ best interests.

Career Path and Professional Growth

Since completing the MSFP program, Eric has transitioned from consulting with prospective clients on advisory and planning services to taking on his first leadership position, co-managing three retail branches. Along the way, he achieved a major milestone: passing the CFP® exam in March 2024 and earning the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional.

He regularly draws from the program’s training as he coaches his team, noting that the blend of technical knowledge and human-centered financial planning has been invaluable.

How the MSFP Program Made a Difference

Eric chose UGA for its reputation as one of the most comprehensive financial planning programs in the country—and he says it delivered. The curriculum deepened his technical expertise while also sharpening his ability to account for the emotional and behavioral aspects of client decision-making.

He credits the Capstone course as especially impactful. It taught him that effective planning is not just about optimizing a budget, it is about understanding the client’s life, values, and emotional ties. Today, he applies those insights daily, whether he is coaching consultants, redesigning office spaces to encourage better conversations, or helping his team identify more meaningful, tax-efficient strategies for their clients.

Just as important, Eric says he met “great people” in the program—classmates who have become lasting friends and colleagues.

Advice for Current and Future Students

Eric encourages students to remember that every financial plan tells a story: the years spent building wealth, the major life events, and the choices that shaped a client’s financial picture. Balancing technical accuracy with the human element is key.

On the practical side, Eric recommends:

• Taking notes by hand or using non-traditional note-taking techniques
• Sticking closely to textbooks and lectures rather than relying on AI for mastery
• Creating visual flowcharts early to understand how topics connect

A Moment of Pride

Eric considers becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional one of his proudest accomplishments. After making more than 600 flashcards and listening to recorded lectures during his subway commutes, he faced a discouraging drop-in practice scores just a week before the exam. But he pushed through self-doubt, trusted his preparation, and walked into test day with confidence—a moment of resilience he still celebrates.

Beyond the Office

Outside of work, Eric is an avid national park explorer. He is working his way through the big ones—and Yosemite is next on the list.