Local Advisors
Larry A. Mengerink, CFP®, AIF®
I am the founder of Park Lake Advisors located in Lansing, Michigan. I provide customized, investment and financial planning advice and plans to people from all walks of life.
The foundation of my financial planning expertise is built from two powerful and distinct experiences, the combination of which provides a uniquely strong base to help people make smart personal financial decisions.
The first chapter that helped shape my personal life and professional financial career was growing up in the cornfields of Ohio. Like many others have experienced, I grew up in a household that didn’t have financial conversations. My parents did a wonderful job keeping food in our bellies, clothes on our back and a roof over our head. It wasn’t until later that I understood their struggles.
After graduating high school with honors in 1994, I attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. I was able to obtain my Bachelor’s in Science in Business Administration with dual majors in Finance and International Business, coupled with a minor in Asian Studies.
Upon completion of my post-secondary education in 1998, I began my second chapter by swimming with the sharks at a New York City brokerage firm. While the training I received in New York was excellent, it was quickly apparent to me, with the assistance of my now-wife, that my personality and pocketbook were both better suited for the Midwest.
I moved to the Lansing-area in early 2000 and began working for a nationally-known financial planning firm. It was during this time I made the decision that the student loans and credit card debt that I had incurred during my time in college and New York was a weight around my financial neck. Not wanting to drown, I put together a debt snowball to rid myself of these debts once and for all. It’s still an accomplishment that I’m very proud of. Later, my professional development continued with firms focused on insurance, retirement plans and investment planning.
In founding Park Lake Advisors, I am marrying the character and skills that were developed in the first two chapters of my life. Living the life that many others experience helps drive my desire to help people receive the best financial advice in the most efficient manner.
As a financial planning professional, I have obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification (CFP®) and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary(AIF®) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies®, the standards-setting body for Fi360. The AIF® Designation signifies a specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet the defined standard of care.
As a business owner, I am able to focus solely on my clients without the need to maximize every penny of revenue; there is no “boss” breathing down my neck to increase commissions and prospect for new clients. This suits me well as I am motivated by each client’s success and peace of mind.
National Team
Parker Consaul is a partner with Pivotal Financial Advisors, LLC providing Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) supervision through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. to over 230 independent financial advisors. His 23 years of industry experience support independent financial advisors in financial planning, brokerage, insurance and investment advisory activities. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder. He holds the Life and Health license and FINRA registrations series 6, 7, 24, 63 and 65. He is a member of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the CFA Institute and the Financial Services Institute.
Mr. Consaul honorably served his country in the United States Navy where he retired in 1994 after 25 years with the rank of Captain. He was privileged to serve as Commanding Office of the nuclear powered submarines USS Cincinnati (SSN 693) and USS Michigan (SSBN 727).
Mr. Consaul graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Monte Ferguson, CFP®, ChFC® AIF®
Monte Ferguson has more than 30 years of diverse, highly successful leadership and business experience as both a military officer and corporate executive. Monte attended Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated with honors. He entered the U.S. Army Aviation branch in 1987 and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Monte’s military career culminated as a Maintenance Test Pilot and Company Commander.
After serving as a financial advisor at the start of his career, Monte was promoted to Branch Manager. This leadership position focused on the servicing of advisors and their clients with markets in several states. Subsequently, he moved to a corporate position in Fort Worth, Texas, to serve as Director of Leadership and Advisor Development. Monte’s position was in direct support of a Senior Vice President and Division Director as well as the Director of Field Operations. Ultimately, he assumed a position as the Director of Business Development and successfully stood up the department prior to moving on to his next opportunity at Pivotal Financial Advisors LLC.