Eric T. Ludwig, PhD, CFP®, RICP®, is an accomplished retirement income planning expert, associate professor of Retirement Income, and RICP® program director. As director of the Center for Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services, Eric is passionate about developing research and innovative solutions that help investors achieve financial security and personal fulfillment, two essential components of overall retirement well-being.

Ludwig’s over 12 years of experience as CEO and wealth manager at Stockbridge Private Wealth Management bring a practical and dynamic perspective to academia. He began his financial planning career at a large financial institution, where he was nominated for Financial Advisor of the Year and awarded the Horizon Award, Inner Circle Recognition Award, and President's Club distinctions for ranking as one of the firm's leading financial planners. He has been a Kansas State University and UCLA professor and served as a subject matter expert for a fintech company.

As a nationally recognized writer and researcher in behavioral finance and retirement planning, Ludwig has presented peer-reviewed research at major industry conferences including the American Council of Consumer Interests, AFCPE® Symposium, CFP® Board Conference, FPA National Conference, and other leading financial planning conferences nationwide. He serves on the editorial advisory board of the Financial Planning Review and the Journal of Financial Planning and is a regular contributor to various industry publications. In 2026, he launched the book “The Retirement Specialist: Why Retirement Requires Expertise and How to Find It” to help pre-retirees identify the financial advisors best suited to help them achieve and maintain financial wellness throughout retirement. Ludwig has provided expert commentary on retirement and financial planning topics across national media outlets and has been quoted in leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Investment News, ThinkAdvisor, Financial Planning, Financial Advisor, MarketWatch, CNBC.com, and other prominent financial and mainstream media outlets throughout the country.