Eric McClain
CFP®
Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC
Partner and Financial Advisor
Eric McClain
CFP®
Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC
Partner and Financial Advisor
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Eric McClain, CFP®
Fee-Only Retirement Planner, located in Vestavia, AL, & Pensacola, FL.

Eric McClain is a Vestavia, AL fee-only financial planner. Approach Retirement Advisors, LLC provides comprehensive and objective wealth management to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Eric McClain is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Eric McClain, CFP®, is a Partner and Financial Advisor at Approach Retirement Advisors.
I grew up in Alabama, mostly in St. Clair County, graduating from Moody High School in 1994. Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, I worked cleaning cars and cutting grass long before I could drive. I was always interested in finance, and remember my Grandfather teasing me for reading stock quotes in the newspaper. Once I was finally old enough to get behind the wheel, my interest in money was stronger than ever – though more in the spending of it at this stage than its successful management!
After turning eighteen and not really having much of a life plan, I decided to join the Navy. I attended boot camp in Orlando, Florida, then spent the next nine months training to be an Aircraft Electrician spending time in Memphis, Tennessee and finishing up in Jacksonville, Florida.
During this time I visited the Fidelity office to open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). At the time $2000 per year was all you could save. I also had to contribute $100 per month to the G.I. Bill, which later paid for nearly half of my College education. A great investment!
I look back fondly on my service in the military. Over the three years I spent in active service, about fifteen months were spent at sea over two long deployments and several shorter training cruises. The comradery of the military is difficult to replicate in the real world. Searching for the right business partner is what lead me to want to work with John Lovejoy.
After Military service, I attended college first at Jefferson State Community College. Here I acquired enough credits (two years) to be able to move to a four-year institution. I later studied Financial Planning at the University of Alabama.
I completed all the required CFP® certification exam, all before graduating college. The initial and on-going technical training to be a Certified Financial Planner™ and NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor is substantial, though I have to admit that my favorite training had nothing, and yet everything, to do with finance. I attended a week-long session called FPA residency, the sole purpose of which was learning how to be a better planner by being a better listener and communicator.
John and I were part of the same study group for a long time before we kicked around the idea of creating our own firm. After many years in financial services, and realizing the good rapport between us, John and I finally decided to launch McClain Lovejoy Financial Planning.
I met my future wife at the bank and we’ve been together for fifteen years now, residing in Vestavia, Alabama. We have three beautiful little girls, each unique and special. I enjoy learning new things, especially in technology and finance. I do play an occasional video game and have been known to whip up some homemade cinnamon roll pancakes from time to time. As I’m currently in the Summer of my life, I focus on taking care of my family and clients.
Eric McClain is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
We’re an independent, fee-only retirement planning firm with offices in Birmingham, AL, Pensacola, FL and Navarre, FL. As fiduciary financial advisors, our goal is to help you plan and transition into a successful, secure, and meaningful retirement. What sets us apart is not necessarily WHAT we offer, but HOW we go about delivering it. Everything we do has you and your unique needs in mind. The focus and expertise of a small team helps up strive to provide the reassurance of a friendly and trusted advisor. Planning – at the beginning and throughout the relationship – is an integral part of the value we provide to each new client. Our commitment to planning is reflected in the fact that our management fee includes all initial financial planning, ongoing financial planning and investment management services.
Learn more at: www.ApproachRetirement.com
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Simplifying your investments
- Making sure you don't run out of money
- Taking the bite out of taxes
- Company Stock in Retirement Plan
Ideal Clients
- Younger Baby Boomers
- Gen X Business Owners
- Procter & Gamble Employees
- Retirees relocating to Alabama
Working Together
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Eric McClain is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Eric McClain is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Eric McClain is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)
FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
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Eric McClain is Quoted on Yahoo Finance: "The 30 Greatest Threats to Your Retirement"
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Eric McClain is Quoted on Yahoo Finance: "15 Retirement Mistakes and Why They’ll Shrink Your Nest Egg"
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Eric McClain is Quoted on LimaOhio.com: "7 financial steps to take after buying your first home"
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Eric McClain is Quoted on Human Interest: "How a Smart 401(k) Investment Strategy Can Help Recruit and Retain Workers"
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Eric McClain is Quoted on AL.com: "McClain Lovejoy adds Wealthtrace"
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Eric McClain is Quoted on Kiplinger: "Cutting the Tax Bill on Company Stock"
Contact Eric McClain
Office Locations:
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3928 Cypress Drive
Suite 150
Vestavia, AL 35243