Eric Rife

Eric Rife, CFP®, CPWA®, Wealth Advisor, came to financial planning through a detour. He joined Mason in 2015, straight out of Virginia Tech, and has been here ever since.

Eric arrived at Virginia Tech planning to study mechanical engineering. By his sophomore year, a chance introduction to the student-led Financial Planning Association changed his trajectory entirely. He left that first meeting convinced he had found his calling and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economic Management, with a focus in Personal Financial Planning and a minor in Actuarial Science and Mathematics. He joined Mason that same year and has since earned both his CFP® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor designations. Mason is the only firm he has called home.

His practice centers on equity-compensated individuals, families navigating wealth transfer, and executives planning for early retirement or a transition into consulting. His approach is built on total collaboration, with a close eye on the tax and cash flow implications of every decision. When financial life gets complex and choices start to stack up, his goal is to simplify — so clients can stay focused on what matters most. Outside of work, Eric volunteers with the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area and the Old Dominion Land Conservancy, and spends his free time exploring the vineyards and small towns of Northern Virginia with his wife.