THE TEAM
Erin Little, CFP®
Principal, Director of Financial Planning Operations, Lafayette Square Financial Advisors
Erin Little is a Certified Financial Planner® and Principal at Lafayette Square, specializing in retirement and long-term investment planning for individuals and families across the Bay Area.
From a young age, I’ve been obsessed with planning, forecasting, and figuring out how to turn big dreams into reality. As the oldest of four siblings, I naturally stepped into the role of mentor and problem-solver, helping my younger brothers and sisters navigate their allowances, part-time earnings, and early savings goals. It was never about being a smart saver; it was about gaining control through understanding — crunching the numbers and framing a strategy so you could make a good investment, or splurge on a family trip, without derailing the long-term picture.
My first decade in the workforce, as a project manager for tech startups, sharpened those instincts. I thrived on dissecting complex timelines, allocating resources, and forecasting outcomes to keep chaotic ventures on track — and along the way, I came to understand the particular challenges people face as they build their careers and navigate toward their life goals.
The real turning point came shortly after I married my husband. We shared a wild dream: uprooting our lives and moving to Berlin for a grand adventure. For most people it might have felt like a whim, but not for me. I dove into the planning with eyes wide open — spreadsheets analyzing costs, job prospects, visas, and contingencies. The excitement wasn’t just in the destination; it was in the puzzle of making it feasible without unnecessary risk. We pulled it off, and that experience crystallized something for me: big dreams don’t have to be reckless. They’re achievable when you map out the implications, weigh the outcomes, and build a responsible path forward.
Today, I get to do what I love every day: help clients see their own big dreams clearly and build the roadmap to make them happen.
Whether it’s funding more travel now, buying the house they’ve always pictured, or building lasting security, I love guiding people through the numbers so they can spend confidently and live boldly — without second-guessing or sacrificing the future. That’s what drives me: turning forecasts into freedom, one smart, eyes-wide-open plan at a time.
How I help
Who I work with
Individuals, families, and business owners across the Bay Area and California — with particular focus on professionals building careers and raising families.
Focus area
Retirement planning, long-term investment planning, tax-aware planning, cash-flow and goal planning, and planning around major life transitions.
Credentials & background
- Designations
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Registration
- Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)
- Education
- University of California, Davis · Steinbeis University, Berlin
The CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) designation is a professional certification granted by the CFP Board, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To earn the CFP® designation, candidates must meet rigorous education, examination, experience and ethics requirements.
The minimum qualifications to become a CFP® certificant include:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university
- Completion of a CFP Board-registered education program covering 72 financial planning topics across 8 core curriculum categories
- 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process, or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements
- Passing score on the 6-hour CFP® Certification Examination, testing the ability to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations
- Pass CFP Board’s Candidate Fitness Standards and background check
- Agreeing to adhere to the high standards of ethics and practice outlined in CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and Fitness Standards on an ongoing basis
While the CFP® designation signifies that an individual has met thorough requirements to become a competent, ethical financial planning professional, certification alone does not guarantee any specific client results or investment outcomes. Financial advice is highly personalized to each client’s needs, goals and circumstances. All investing and financial planning strategies involve risks, including potential loss of principal invested.
More information on the CFP® certification program and its requirements is available at https://www.cfp.net. You may verify an individual’s CFP® certification and background through the CFP Board’s website: https://www.cfp.net/verify-a-cfp-professional.