Your Interests
Come First.
Good financial guidance begins with a simple principle: the advice you receive should be centered on you, your goals and your financial life.
Advice Centered on
What Matters Most
When we provide financial advice, our responsibility is to put your interests first. That means taking the time to understand your goals, your circumstances and the financial decisions that matter most to you.
Working with a fiduciary financial advisor should mean more than meeting a technical standard. It should mean thoughtful recommendations, clear communication and a process designed around your financial life.
Your Interests First
Recommendations are developed around your goals, needs and financial circumstances rather than what is most convenient for us.
Clear Disclosure
You should understand important facts, costs and potential conflicts so you can make informed financial decisions.
Thoughtful Process
We use a disciplined process to evaluate your situation and develop recommendations that are appropriate for your objectives.
Ongoing Care
Financial lives change. We communicate, monitor and revisit your strategy as your circumstances and goals evolve.
Credentials That Reinforce Our Commitment
Professional credentials reflect the education, experience and standards that help support the advice you receive.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
CFP® professionals complete rigorous education, examination, experience and ethical requirements established by CFP Board.
When providing financial advice to a client, a CFP® professional is required to act as a fiduciary and place the client’s interests first.
Learn more about CFP® certificationAccredited Investment Fiduciary® Professional
The AIF® designation focuses specifically on fiduciary principles, standards of conduct and the processes used to carry out fiduciary responsibilities.
That specialized training reinforces a disciplined approach to evaluating investments, documenting decisions and serving clients with care.
Learn more about the AIF® designationA Process Built Around Your Best Interests
Fiduciary responsibility is not just about a standard of conduct. It is reflected in how we learn about you, evaluate your options, develop recommendations and stay engaged over time.
Understand
We begin by learning about your goals, priorities, values, time horizon and overall financial picture.
Evaluate
We review your circumstances, consider available strategies and weigh the tradeoffs that may affect your decisions.
Recommend
We present clear, personalized recommendations designed around your objectives and the information we have gathered.
Monitor
We stay engaged, communicate regularly and revisit your strategy as your life, goals and financial circumstances evolve.
Transparency Shouldn’t Be Complicated.
You should understand what you pay, how we are compensated and whether potential conflicts exist.
Fees
We explain the fees associated with the services we provide so you can understand what you are paying for.
Conflicts
Potential conflicts should be disclosed clearly so you have the information needed to make informed decisions.
Compensation
We believe you should know how we are compensated and how that may relate to the financial services you receive.
Want the full details?
View Our FeesQuestions Worth Asking Any Financial Advisor
A thoughtful advisor should welcome your questions. Understanding responsibilities, compensation, potential conflicts and the way your relationship will work can help you make a more informed decision.
When are you required to act as a fiduciary?
Ask your advisor to explain when fiduciary obligations apply and what those responsibilities mean in practice. When providing financial advice to a client, a CFP® professional is required to act as a fiduciary and place the client’s interests first.
How are you compensated?
You should understand how your advisor and firm are paid, including advisory fees, planning fees or other forms of compensation that may apply to the services you receive.
What potential conflicts of interest should I understand?
Financial professionals may encounter potential conflicts depending on the services they provide and how they are compensated. Ask how those conflicts are identified, disclosed and addressed.
What professional credentials do you maintain?
Credentials can help you understand an advisor’s education, training and professional standards. Ask what designations are maintained, what they require and how they relate to the advice you receive.
How will my investments and financial strategy be monitored?
Ask how often your situation will be reviewed, what may prompt changes and how your advisor will communicate with you as your goals, circumstances and financial markets evolve.
Can I clearly understand what I am paying?
You should be able to understand the fees associated with the services you receive. Park Lake Advisors provides additional information on our Our Fees page .
Who will be my primary point of contact?
It is worth knowing who will actually work with you, who will answer your questions and whether your relationship will be handled by the advisor you initially meet.
Can we meet in person or online?
Ask how meetings are handled and what options are available. Park Lake Advisors offers in-person meetings from our Lansing and Okemos offices as well as online meetings for clients who prefer to meet virtually.
Advice Should
Start With You.
Your goals, priorities and financial life should be at the center of the conversation. Let’s talk about where you are today and where you want to go.
Schedule a MeetingLansing & Okemos, Michigan
Meet with Park Lake Advisors at either of our Mid-Michigan offices.
In Person or Online
Meet at one of our offices or connect online from wherever works best for you.