After years at the forefront of corporate finance consulting with firms like Deloitte, Eunicia Peret made a life-altering decision. She left behind a successful career and the corporate comfort zone to launch her own business, a strategic wealth consulting firm, aimed at empowering high-net-worth clients to take control of their financial futures. Today, as the CEO and founder of Excelstra Wealth Strategy, Eunicia is a dedicated force helping business owners and executives craft long-term financial strategies that prioritize not just profit, but sustainable and meaningful wealth. Here’s how she got there.
Discovering the Need for a Different Approach
Eunicia’s experience in high-stakes consulting, advising large companies on finance strategies, was a significant career achievement. However, as time went on, she felt increasingly disconnected from her work’s impact on individuals. “I was great at what I did, but I wasn’t fully aligned with the company’s approach to personal finance,” she says. “I wanted to work with clients directly, helping them navigate the maze of taxes, investments, and legacy planning with a broader and more personalized approach.”
This urge to make a greater impact brought Eunicia to a crossroads. As she reflected on her career trajectory, she had a candid conversation with her business development director, who asked her, “Are you aligned with the direction you’re heading, or are you just selling the ‘Kool-Aid’ without full conviction?” That question hit home, leading Eunicia to realize that she could offer more by pursuing a path outside the rigid corporate structure. This conversation gave her the clarity she needed to transition from a well-paying job with “golden handcuffs” to building a business focused on authentic client empowerment.
The Birth of Excelstra Wealth Strategy
With Excelstra Wealth Strategy, Eunicia set out to create a financial consulting firm unlike any other. Her vision was to integrate wealth strategy with individualized financial guidance across three key areas: taxes, investment portfolios, and legacy planning. “Too many clients were left feeling frustrated, like pieces of their financial strategy weren’t working together,” she explains. “Our clients were asking, ‘What am I missing?’ or ‘What do the wealthy know that I don’t?’ They needed a cohesive plan that wasn’t just about one-off products, but rather a holistic wealth strategy.”
Excelstra’s approach goes beyond basic financial planning, addressing three primary concerns Eunicia saw among clients:
- Tax Strategy: Many of her clients were paying more than they needed to in taxes due to disjointed advice from various tax professionals.
- Investment Alignment: She noticed clients weren’t fully confident in their investments. “They had portfolios that didn’t resonate with them,” she says. “Our job is to demystify that and help them understand how to align their investments with their personal values and long-term goals.”
- Legacy Planning: For many high-net-worth clients, traditional legacy plans felt impersonal and fragmented. “Legacy planning isn’t just a will or a trust,” Eunicia says. “It’s about building a long-lasting impact that reflects what’s important to each client and their family.”
Eunicia’s background in corporate finance set her apart in her new role, giving her clients access to a highly refined strategy that considers financial intricacies many small firms might overlook. “We aren’t just another wealth management firm. We approach finance like a full-circle strategy, integrating every piece so it actually works for our clients,” she emphasizes.
Building the Foundation for Success
Eunicia admits that building Excelstra from the ground up wasn’t easy, particularly during her early days as an entrepreneur. “In the beginning, I had to learn how to trust myself financially. I was used to earning a stable income, and now I was taking a leap where I had to pay myself,” she recalls. Her husband, whom she humorously refers to as her “former sugar daddy,” provided crucial support, but Eunicia knew she needed more than just moral support—she needed experts who could guide her through unfamiliar territory.
“One of the smartest decisions I made was to hire coaches and consultants who helped me build my business,” she says. “The difference was that they offered unbiased advice and held me accountable in a way that was critical for my growth.” This approach helped Eunicia avoid some common pitfalls new entrepreneurs face and set Excelstra on a path to rapid growth and client success.
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Strategic Partnerships
Eunicia’s journey taught her the power of collaboration. “When you’re starting, it’s tempting to do everything yourself. But to scale effectively, you need support systems and partnerships with people who know what they’re doing,” she notes. “Looking back, I’ve learned that you have to be willing to invest in the right people to grow effectively.”
In her case, this included working with a skilled PR and social media team who helped her create engaging content on platforms like LinkedIn. Though she initially resisted the idea of putting herself on camera, Eunicia quickly saw the benefits. “I knew that if we only posted content as a brand, people wouldn’t connect with us on a personal level,” she says. “People want to see the human behind the brand.”
Today, Eunicia’s content has become a critical part of Excelstra’s strategy. Her team produces videos and podcasts, offering insights into the financial strategies she advocates, and helping to demystify wealth planning for a broader audience. “The return on investment has been clear. Our content is reaching people who can benefit from our services and recognize the value of a truly cohesive financial strategy.”
Overcoming Challenges and Planning for the Future
As her firm continues to expand, Eunicia remains strategic about her goals, but she acknowledges that the path ahead isn’t without challenges. “Right now, cash flow is a significant issue for many businesses, especially in our field,” she says. “But I also believe this is the time for businesses to invest in strategies that will set them apart in the long term.”
Eunicia also emphasizes the need to be selective about clients. “Our clients aren’t just numbers to us. They’re partners, and we build relationships that are as valuable to us as the services we provide,” she explains. “We don’t want to be working with clients just for the sake of it. We look for clients who inspire us, who want to understand and invest in their financial future, and who energize us every time we work together.”
Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Reflecting on her journey, Eunicia has simple yet powerful advice for other entrepreneurs. “Invest in yourself and surround yourself with people who are invested in your success,” she says. “There’s only so far you can go alone. By bringing in the right advisors and support early on, you can avoid costly mistakes and fast-track your growth.”
Eunicia is also a firm believer in the importance of resilience. “As an entrepreneur, you’ll be tested—your patience, your plans, and even your self-belief. But that’s where growth happens. Every setback is a lesson, and it prepares you for the bigger wins down the road.”
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Impact
As Eunicia continues to build Excelstra, she is more focused than ever on her mission to redefine wealth strategy for her clients. “We’re not here to follow a checklist; we’re here to redefine what wealth means for each individual,” she says. In the coming months, she plans to expand Excelstra’s reach by doubling down on partnerships and educating more business owners on the importance of proactive, integrated financial planning.
For Eunicia, the journey has been about far more than financial success; it’s about creating a legacy. “I want our clients to see that they can take control of their financial future,” she says. “In the end, it’s about building something that will last for generations.”
Connect with Eunicia Peret on LinkedIn
Connect with Excelstra on LinkedIn
