Why We Left Traditional Finance Behind

Hi—I'm Ryan Greiser. I help millennials plan and invest to secure their financial freedom.

[An open letter on my story]

I used to be that guy — grinding 70-hour weeks for a corporation, missing my son's bedtime stories, and following the same wealth-building playbook that worked for my dad's generation.

But something felt off.

While my colleagues chased high-net-worth retirees, I watched talented millennials get brushed aside by an industry stuck in the past.

These weren't trust fund kids. They were engineers, entrepreneurs, and soon to-be executives building serious wealth — but struggling to find guidance that actually fit their lives.

Here's the crazy part: Wall Street kept telling them to wait their turn. To follow the 40-year plan. To play by rules designed for a different era.

I knew there had to be a better way.

That's when I discovered the XY Planning Network — a small group of advisors challenging the status quo. They showed me what modern financial planning could look like when you ditch the outdated scripts.

So I made the scariest decision of my career in 2019: I left my cushy corporate job to build something different with my partner, Fran.

Opulus was born.

My boss and managers said I was crazy. "This is the dumbest idea I've ever heard. You won't make any money doing this," they warned.

They were wrong.

Within months, ambitious professionals started reaching out.

They were tired of generic advice and ready for a system built around their goals — like slashing taxes, boosting their income, and fast-tracking financial freedom.

Today, the numbers and recognition tell part of our story:

• We guide 135 ambitious families across 23 states who are building wealth on their terms
• Named to Investopedia's Top 100 Financial Advisors (2023) and their prestigious Financial Advisor Council (2024)
• Recognized as one of the Best Wealth Managers Under 40 in the USA by InvestmentNews

But the real validation?

It's seeing clients finally get the guidance they deserve — and watching them build wealth with confidence instead of confusion.

Morgan Housel says the highest form of wealth is the freedom to choose how you spend your time. That's what drives me now — helping others build that freedom years or decades earlier than they thought possible.

The traditional financial system isn't broken — it just wasn't built for you. My mission is to change that, one family at a time.

Whenever you're ready to build wealth on your terms — reach out. 

Let's talk about what's possible when you have the right system and support in your corner.