Eric Stein is a Partner at East Bay Investment Solutions, a firm that offers fractional Chief Investment Officer services, supporting over $6 billion in assets under advisement across 26 advisory firm clients. In this episode, we discuss how Eric leverages his extensive investment expertise not by managing portfolios for individual clients as a traditional financial advisor, but rather by embracing his role as an 'investment nerd' serving as a fractional Chief Investment Officer, supporting multiple advisory firms and their clients. Listen in as Eric shares how his fractional Chief Investment Officer service operates, providing investment research, portfolio design, and market commentary while leaving portfolio implementation up to the advisor themselves. He also discusses his winding career path, from commercial banking to Goldman Sachs Asset Management and as a CIO for a national RIA, to his current role, which he found after a careful 'dating' process with his business partner to ensure their visions aligned. Eric also reflects on his experiences across large national businesses and smaller firms, emphasizing the importance of role exploration, effective management practices, and learning from both successes and failures to navigate challenges that arise. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/403