In a city where fame often overshadows fairness, Eric Fulton—business manager and accountant—has built his entire career on the opposite. As the founder and CEO of Fulton Management in Encino, California, he leads a team of 45 professionals who handle the finances of nearly 800 clients in television, film, music, sports, and digital media, including some of the biggest names on YouTube.

With more than three decades of experience in entertainment finance, Fulton has earned respect for his integrity, loyalty, and innovation. He founded Fulton Management to reflect those principles, creating a company that treats every client with honesty and accountability.

While most firms take a percentage of their clients’ earnings, his company charges only for the work performed, rewarding effort, not income.

“I don’t think successful clients should subsidize those still building their careers,” he explained. “Our model keeps us accountable and fair.”

What began as an unconventional idea has become the firm’s defining strength. At Fulton Management, fairness is the standard that influences every decision and guides each client relationship.

Creating a Loyal Client Base With Candor

If there’s one thing Fulton is known for, it’s honesty, especially when the truth is hard to hear. From the start, he’s built his career on being upfront and transparent, believing that clients deserve facts, not just reassurance.

“My role is not to say “yes” to everything,” he said. “but to give clients the truth, even when it’s difficult, so they can make informed decisions.”

Over the years, his candor has earned him the trust of clients across entertainment, sports, and digital media. Many have stayed with him since his earliest days, drawn to his consistency and fairness.

Fulton continues to handle client work personally, something most CEOs delegate.

“Nothing is beneath me,” he said. “I still personally handle tax returns for some clients who’ve trusted me since day one. They’re part of my professional family.”

A hands-on leader, he remains involved in every part of Fulton Management, going the extra mile to serve his clients and employees alike.

The Making of a Business Manager

Eric Fulton, business manager and lifelong numbers enthusiast, found his passion early. At just 14 years old, he taught himself how to prepare tax returns on a typewriter and began filing for family and friends. By the time he attended college, he had turned his self-taught skills into a small business.

He graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in

accounting. While still a student, he co-founded Fulton & Kaplan, offering tax services to friends, family, and classmates.

After graduation, he joined Deloitte, one of the world’s largest accounting firms. While working there full-time, he established Fulton & Miller, where he began building his own client base.

His introduction to the entertainment industry came in 1989 when he joined Boulevard Management. This move combined his love of finance with his growing passion for helping creative professionals build lasting careers.

Over the years, his companies evolved, from W. Eric Fulton & Associates, to Fulton & Meyer, and finally to Fulton Management in 2015. As he grew through each transition, he remained dedicated to his original purpose of offering fair, transparent financial guidance to creative professionals.

“Our evolution reflects our commitment to adapting without losing sight of our foundational values,” he said.

Even after decades in the industry, Fulton continues to admit that he doesn’t know everything, remaining open to learning from new situations and the people around him.

“Be willing to do the unglamorous work,” he said. “Nothing should be beneath you, because that’s how you learn every aspect of the business.”

The Moving Target of Modern Finance

When Fulton first started his career, business managers were mostly bookkeepers and tax preparers who focused more on compliance than strategy.

“Thirty years ago, the role was more narrowly defined,” he explained. “Today, it’s far more holistic.”

Now, clients look to Fulton for everything from long-term financial planning to tax strategy, risk management, and career advice. As the entertainment industry has grown increasingly global, his work now often involves overseeing international projects and endorsements that demand expertise in cross-border tax law and financial systems.

Technology has also changed what clients expect, creating a faster-paced environment and adding to the pressure.

“Clients want instant access to information, so transparency, reporting, and digital tools have become essential,” he said.

Fulton compares his work to being a quarterback, coordinating multiple moving parts so that creatives can focus on their work. He keeps his firm intentionally boutique, ensuring that every relationship remains personal and that clients continue to have direct access to him.

A People-First Firm in a Profit-First Industry

Walk into Fulton Management’s office and it feels more like a close-knit team than a corporate workspace. Fulton calls it his “second family.”

“Creating an environment where people genuinely want to work and grow is as important to me as the bottom line,” he shared.

He plans Dodgers games, paint nights, and holiday parties himself, and makes sure to celebrate team birthdays and weddings. He’s known for rolling up his sleeves and working alongside his staff, staying late when deadlines demand it and tackling any task, big or small.

His example sets the tone for a team where no one is above the work, and where dedication runs both ways. Many of his employees have remained with the firm for years, guiding clients through major career transitions, family milestones, and even retirements.

Guidance That Acts Like Gravity

After more than 30 years in entertainment finance, Fulton has seen how fast success can come and go. That’s why he teaches his clients to think beyond their best years and plan for the future. 

“Resilience comes from planning,” he said. “I encourage clients to think long-term and to live below their means even in peak years. Setting aside reserves, diversifying income streams, and avoiding over-leverage are key.”

The human side of his work, he admits, is often the hardest part. Behind every balance sheet are people going through real changes like marriage, divorce, career highs, and difficult financial downturns. During those moments, it’s up to him to keep his clients present and focused on what matters.

“When emotions run high, the best thing you can do for a client is give them clear, objective advice rooted in their long-term best interest,” he said.

Trust is what makes that possible. Fulton knows that managing someone’s finances often means stepping into very personal parts of their life, and he treats that responsibility with care.

Every conversation, decision, and piece of information that passes through his firm is handled with discretion.

“Protecting that information is a matter of both ethics and respect,” he explained.

His professionalism has earned the trust of clients who rely on him for their finances, their futures, and their peace of mind.

Giving Back and Paying It Forward

Fulton’s version of success isn’t limited to the office. For seven years, he volunteered with Agoura Pony Baseball, including five as board president, helping ensure every child had a positive experience and looked forward to returning each season.

Fulton Management also gives back through donation-matching programs and community outreach, including “Bagged Lunches for the Homeless.” Those initiatives have become even more meaningful as the company continues to grow.

Looking ahead, he’s determined to keep that same spirit of purpose and community at the center of his work. Growth, for him, isn’t about becoming the biggest name in entertainment finance, but staying true to the values that built Fulton Management in the first place.

The company grows carefully and intentionally, adding team members who share its long-standing principles of fairness, loyalty, and transparency—and being selective about the clients it takes on.

Mentorship is another important part of that vision. Fulton continues to train younger professionals within the firm, preparing them to take on future leadership roles and carry the firm’s mission forward. To him, continuity matters just as much as innovation.

“We may add services in areas like philanthropy or financial education,” he shared. “but always with the same goal [of serving] our clients in a thoughtful, high-quality way.”

Where Integrity Is the Inheritance

Eric Fulton, accountant and founder of Fulton Management, has earned recognition from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard, making him the only business manager ever featured in all three publications at once.

Outside of work, Fulton divides his time between Agoura Hills and Malibu, spending time with his three adult sons and catching Dodgers games whenever he can.

After all these years in entertainment finance, Fulton still measures success the same way he did when he started.

"It's never been just about building wealth,” he said. “It’s about building people.”