For nearly 20 years, Erica Whittlinger owned and operated a successful money management firm and appeared regularly on Public Radio’s “Sound Money”. Seemingly at the height of success, open-heart surgery convinced her that she could change her life or die at her desk. Choosing to turn her life of work into a work of art, she sold her firm and crafted a new life around her strengths, skills, and passions. As a co-founder of The ReFirement® Group, Erica and her partners assist business leaders and professional practices to increase profitability by tapping their strengths and passions to create more positive and productive work environments.

Erica developed and leads a workshop on “Soaring With Your Signature Strengths”, a proven program that identifies people’s inherent strengths, increasing productivity, engagement, customer satisfaction, and profits. “Intergenerational Dynamics in the Workplace” workshops demonstrate how significant demographic shifts in the US are impacting business and how to effectively leverage the differing values and communication styles of Boomers and GenXer's to benefit the bottom line. “ReFire Your Investment Portfolio” workshops draw on academic research and Erica's experience in the investment field and managing her own investments to help participants focus on the most effective portfolio management, asset allocation and diversification strategies for their pre-retirement and retirement funds.

Practicing what she preaches, Erica offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the summer and in Park City, Utah, in the winter, where she offers “Signature Strengths Ski Retreats” to business and professional groups. She is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization™, a non-profit membership organization for women who have guided businesses to at least $2-million in annual sales, and she facilitates the WPO’s Salt Lake City Chapter.

Erica is known throughout the country as a qualified source in the areas of entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and investments.  She has delivered speeches and seminars to business executives for over 25 years and is an oft-quoted source for the media. She co-authored the “The ReFirement Workbook” with business partners Jim Gambone and Debby Magnuson.

She has taught various courses at the University of St. Thomas MBA program, Metropolitan State University, and the University of Minnesota. Erica’s BA is in Economics and International Relations from Beloit College and she received her MBA from Vanderbilt University. She also studied at the University of Copenhagen and is a member of MENSA.