5 Lessons Learned from 5 Years of Relentless Growth
How we went from a basement startup to industry disruptors (and proved our old boss wrong).
Last week marked a special milestone for us at Opulus – we celebrated our 5th anniversary!
As we sit here reflecting on our journey, we can't help but think about that day in 2019 when we decided to take the leap and start our own financial planning firm.
It's been 1,825 days of ups and downs, challenges and victories, and more lessons than we can count.
But you know what? It's been worth every single moment.
We want to share with you the top 5 lessons we've learned along the way.
Whether you're thinking about starting your own business or just looking to shake things up in your personal or professional life, we hope our experiences can offer some insight and inspiration.
Let’s dive in.
1. The Power of Just Getting Started
Back in 2019, we were working at a traditional financial firm. We had a vision of creating something different – a firm that truly aligned with our values and offered a fresh approach to financial planning and investing.
You know what the best thing we did was?
We didn't overthink it.
We didn't spend months crafting the perfect business plan or wait for all the stars to align.
We just...started.
We remember sitting in Ryan's living room, both of us anxious but excited. We looked at each other and said, "Let's just get after it."
And just like that, Opulus was born.
Here's the thing: if we had waited for the "perfect" moment, we might still be waiting. Sometimes, you just need to break free from the old ways of thinking and take that first step.
2. Navigating Unexpected Challenges
Man, we learned a hard lesson in the early days of Opulus.
Just a few months into our journey, the world threw us a curveball that nobody saw coming – COVID-19.
We'll never forget that day in March 2020. We were sitting on the floor of Ryan's basement (our makeshift office at the time), watching the market crash more than -33% in a month.
It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath our feet.
An old boss of ours – someone we still respect greatly – had told us we were "the biggest idiots he had ever met" for thinking our business would work.
In that moment, we wondered if he might be right.
But here's what we discovered: conventional wisdom doesn't always work.
Remember all those academic financial principles, fancy charts, and traditional client engagement methods we were told worked during a crisis?
They went out the window.
Instead, we found that sharing how we personally handled our finances was the best thing we could do. It was real, relatable, and exactly what our clients needed during those uncertain times.
3. Turning Criticism into Fuel
To be honest – starting a business isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
There were plenty of moments when doubt crept in, and we had our fair share of critics.
Remember that old boss we mentioned?
His words stung, but they also lit a fire under us.
We had a choice: let the criticism derail us, or use it as fuel to prove ourselves.
We chose the latter.
We didn't care what other people thought. We had an unwavering belief in ourselves, our work ethic, and our approach to client service.
"Brick by brick" became our mantra.
There's Warren Buffett quote that hangs in our office:
"We don't need to be smarter than the rest, only more disciplined."
It's a daily reminder that success isn't about being the smartest people in the room – it's about showing up, doing the work, and staying true to our vision.
4. The Strength in Being Ourselves
Here's a plot twist for you: the key to our success wasn't in following industry norms of the big Wall Street firms.
It was in breaking away from them.
We discovered that people don't want a 50-page polished presentations and jargon-filled advice.
They want real, relatable guidance from someone who's actually doing it.
So we started sharing our personal financial lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
And you know what happened?
Our engagement levels soared.
We built deeper trust with our clients.
People responded to our authenticity in a way we never expected.
This approach led to some pretty amazing recognition.
In 2023, we were named Top 100 Advisors by Investopedia.
And just this year, we were named 1 of 25 Founding Members of the Investopedia's Advisor Council to promote financial literacy alongside the brightest minds in finance.
But the real success? It's in the trust our clients place in us every day.
5. Embracing Continuous Growth
Five years in, and we're still learning and growing every day. We've come a long way from that basement office, but we're far from finished.
Today, Opulus has achieved:
5x growth since inception
133 households served across 21 states
A Digital Personal Finance Course with 350+ students
75 podcast episodes produced with just under 10,000 downloads
But are things exactly where we want them to be?
Absolutely not. And that's okay.
We're constantly chasing the next goal, looking to get better, and striving to do more for those we serve.
This journey has taught us that success isn't a destination – it's a continuous process of growth, adaptation, and staying true to your mission.
And it's not just our business that's grown – our personal lives have transformed, too.
Ryan's family has expanded with two more kids, and he's watched his oldest son, Hudson, grow from diapers to a lively 6-year-old.
Fran took the plunge and got married.
Life has been moving at lightning speed, both in and out of the office.
As we look back on these 1,825 days, we're filled with gratitude.
Gratitude for our supportive families, our amazing clients, our friends and business partners, and everyone who's been part of this journey.
We're sharing all of this because we believe you can experience the same sort of transformation in your own life or business.
It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it.
Here's to the next five years, to new challenges, and to the endless possibilities that come with daring to break free and chart your own course.
Onward & Upward!
Ryan Greiser & Fran Walsh
Founders of Opulus
Whenever you're ready, there are 2 other ways we can help you:
Opulus Method Digital Course: Join 350+ students inside the Opulus Method. In just 90 minutes, learn a proven system to secure your financial freedom without sacrificing your lifestyle.
Join Opulus as a Client: We'll join forces to create a personal financial plan and investment strategy to secure your financial future. Let us handle the complex details. Go ahead and enjoy your life.
Opulus, LLC (“Opulus”) is a registered investment advisor in Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or training.
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