
Toby Harris, CFP®
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Professional
As a financial planner and founder of EQ Wealth Advisors, Toby spends much of his time managing clients’ financial plans and portfolios. His goal is to make sure nothing is left on the table and that their wealth operates as efficiently as possible. With his focused planning approach, he finds ways to help clients achieve their goals and set even greater ones, knowing that when the foundation of their plan is operating smoothly, it opens doors for them to do more than they thought possible–whether that be giving more to their favorite charity, traveling more frequently, or being able to purchase a vacation home on the beach. Most importantly, he wants his clients to know that no matter where they are in life, he’s looking out for them and their families—and that because of this, they don’t have to worry about their financial details—they can just enjoy living life.
In every aspect of his work, Toby’s overarching goal is to provide tangible value for his clients. He wants them to know that when they work with him, he’ll do everything he can to create the most effective plan with a practical process that gets them results. He especially loves working with small business owners and seeing the impact a solid financial plan can have for them, their family, and their community. He focuses solely on what’s best for his clients and their goals, knowing that by taking care of them first, everything else will fall into place.
Education & Experience
From a young age, Toby has been fascinated by finances and how people choose to spend their money. In middle school, he asked his parents to give him a dollar every day, and those one-dollar bills (which he kept in a shoebox) soon became like a mini emergency fund for his family. Toby loved seeing the impact of saving just a little every day, and he had seen how money (and a lack of planning) could cause stress for people—and he knew that one day, he wanted to be a part of solving that problem.
During his time in college at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Toby played baseball and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks to play professionally. As a highly competitive person who also loves learning about people, he was excited about this opportunity to spend time as a professional athlete. He knew baseball players had a track record for poor financial management, and he was interested to see how he and his new teammates would handle their success.
He quickly became enthralled with the stock market and the intricacies of wealth management. He changed his minor to finance, and as his friends (particularly those in the financial industry) noticed his passion for wealth management and his desire to understand how and why people spend their money, they suggested a career in financial planning. Before his introduction to investment strategies, Toby had considered becoming a psychologist—he was fascinated by personalities, loved learning what made people tick, and knew people felt comfortable having tough conversations with him. But he realized that as a financial planner, he could do both—be a “counselor” to people and pursue his passion for finance.
So, in 2004, after a couple years in the minor leagues, he became a financial advisor, where he gets to help people in all walks of life make financial decisions they feel good about. In 2008, he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, and he has his Series 24, 7, and 66 licenses. He is also part of the Dallas Financial Planners Association and holds licenses in several states.
Philosophy
Toby considers it his responsibility to find the best strategies for his clients, but he also wants them to understand the “why” behind those strategies. One of his favorite parts of his job is getting to know his clients and helping them understand all the possibilities that lie within their financial plan. He knows money can be an overwhelming subject, but by helping his clients understand where they are now and how to make strategic decisions, he hopes to alleviate that burden and give them peace of mind about the future. He spends much of his time educating, knowing that with a deeper understanding of their strategies and situation, his clients will feel more confident about every decision they make.
Personal Life
Toby lives in Lucas, Texas with his wife Tricia, an OBGYN by training, and their three children, Taegan, Talbree, and Ty. Toby and Tricia have been married for over 20 years, and they stay busy with their kids and three dogs. Toby loves to spend time with his family however he can, particularly outdoors, whether they’re playing tennis together, paddle boarding, mountain biking, or hiking. When he gets the chance, he also likes to fly fish, and he can usually convince his family to tag along with the promise of a good dinner and ice cream afterward.
Toby enjoys being involved in his kids’ lives, and he currently coaches his daughters’ middle school lacrosse team as well as Ty’s elementary school basketball team. In the past, he has also coached baseball, soccer, and tennis. He feels incredibly grateful for his life and his family, and at the end of the day, what matters most to him is seeing his children (and one day, their children) live happy, fulfilled lives.