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2024

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Best Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, MI

Our Recommended Top 15

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Kalamazoo Financial Advisors on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

32Reviewed

25Curated

15Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider
SmartAdvisor by SmartAsset logo

SmartAdvisor by SmartAssetExpertise.com

Kalamazoo, MI
Free Consultation

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

SmartAsset's free, five-minute tool makes it easy to find qualified financial advisors in your area. The exclusive tool uses a quick survey to help SmartAsset's exclusive algorithm match you with up to three advisors based on your specific financial needs. Each advisor is a fiduciary, legally bound to work in your best interest, and rigorously vetted by SmartAsset. You can speak with each for free, sometimes within a matter of minutes, and choose whom you want to work with. Hundreds of thousands of smart investors and retirees have already used SmartAsset's simple, no-cost service to find the right financial advisors for them.

  • Estate Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Retirement Planning
  • Financial Planning

Kalamazoo, MI

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Financial Advisor in Kalamazoo? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

5464 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Fiduciary Financial Advisors is an independent wealth management and financial planning firm that serves residents of Kalamazoo. Its team of fiduciary advisors assists on concerns related to retirement planning, educational funds, estate, insurance, and investment. It works with Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade to help clients manage their insurance and investment needs. The firm has more than $300 million in assets under management. Ben VerWys, the firm's founder and senior financial advisor, was given a 5 Star Quality Advisor rating by Paladin Research.

  • Finance Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

450 West Centre Ave Ste C, Portage, MI 49024

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Bright Financial Advisors, Inc., is a wealth management firm that caters to Kalamazoo-based clients. Its financial services involve dealing with business, retirement, and estate planning; investment and stock options; and tax strategies. Both its president, Andrew W. Price, and vice president, Brookes L. Welc, are Certified Financial Planners. They have more than 35 years of combined financial industry experience. The company is active in community affairs through quarterly support given to local organizations like Loaves & Fishes and the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

5931 Oakland Drive, Portage, MI 49024

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (16)

Why choose this provider?

Zhang Financial is an advisory firm that has been serving Kalamazoo for more than 30 years. It provides investment advice through a wide range of independent research resources to help individuals in choosing an investment path that fits their needs. The firm partners with custodians like LPL Financial, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab. Its founder, Charles Zhang, is a Certified Financial Planner who has been featured in various media outlets, such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Financial Planning

405 W Michigan Avenue Suite 110, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

CWS Financial Advisors is a boutique wealth management firm that serves clients in Kalamazoo. It assists affluent families and business owners in achieving their financial objectives through income management, portfolio development, asset allocation, and tax optimization. The firm has adopted a collaborative communication approach to understanding the unique needs of clients. The history of CWS Financial Advisors can be traced back to a broker/dealer firm that was established by Jerry Cross in 1983. The firm became an independent registered investment advisor in 2018.

  • Finance Planning

125 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 302, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1919, Baird is a local firm that offers financial advisory services for clients in Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas. Its team of financial advisors assists in addressing the unique investment choices and financial objectives of every client. They provide a range of financial planning solutions that involve retirement and education planning, wealth transfer, charitable giving, and tax planning. In addition, they handle investment management, including brokerage, cash management, comprehensive advisory, and portfolio management.

  • Wealth Management

2725 Airview Boulevard Suite 204, Portage, MI 49002

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Preferred Financial Group, LLC, is a firm serving Kalamazoo. Its personalized services focus on helping clients develop plans that help them prepare for a successful retirement. Its advisors educate them on financial products structured to their goal. It also offers a wide array of investment vehicles, including bonds, brokerage accounts, common stocks, government securities, IRAs, and treasury bills. Other products include disability income, life, and long-term care insurance. Its financial planning services range from estate and retirement to tax management.

  • Investment Management
  • Financial Planning

244 North Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (6)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Rose Street Advisors addresses financial planning matters in Kalamazoo. From retirement plans to wealth management to life insurance, the firm has been providing its services to families and businesses for over 75 years. Its team of advisors works hand in hand with clients by enumerating their needs and finding the right plan for their short-term and long-term benefits. Through the leadership of principal and employee benefits advisor Kevin McPherson, the firm has extended its services throughout Michigan and the nearby states.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

6100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (17)
Google
3.9 (8)

Why choose this provider?

The Wiser Financial Group is an independent advising group based in Kalamazoo. It helps individuals plan for various aspects of their life by giving them financial advice regarding education for their family, insurance coverage, and retirement and estate planning. Its staff also performs investment management services for families and employee benefits planning for employers. Founder Ronald Wiser is a board member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He holds various professional designations, like the Certified Financial Planner designation from the CFP Board.

  • Retirement Planning
  • Finance Planning

7840 Moorsbridge Road, Portage, MI 49024

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

LVM Capital Management Ltd is a financial advisory firm that serves Kalamazoo and the surrounding locations. Its team develops financial plans for clients, which involves making recommendations on charitable goals strategies, income tax, and retirement savings and distribution. The financial planners also evaluate clients' life and health insurance needs in the process. In addition, they utilize an investment management approach, which has been applied to various market cycles and refined over the past 30 years. LVM Capital Management has been operating since 1988.

  • Financial Planning

7900 Kirkland Court, Portage, MI 49024

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Alkhamis Financial offers wealth planning and investment management solutions to clients in Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas. The firm's financial planning services include the areas of investment, retirement, estate planning, and insurance. Zack Alkhamis, the company's founder, is the branch manager and investment advisor representative of LPL Financial. He has more than 28 years of experience serving as a retirement income specialist and helping retirees generate income. He is also a Certified Fund Specialist and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor.

  • Estate Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Wealth Management

7110 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Gasaway Investment Advisors, Inc., has been providing financial planning services in Kalamazoo for more than 30 years. The company's individual and commercial financial management services include retirement planning and administration, wealth and investment management, asset allocation, government forms filing and reporting, and 24-hour monitoring and accessibility. The founder's son and the company's current president, Jim Gasaway, helped establish the firm in 1990. He holds a degree in Accounting and is a Certified Financial Planner.

  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

590 W. Centre Ave, Portage, MI 49024

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Operating in Portage, Sanford Advisory provides financial consultation and planning for residents of Kalamazoo and nearby communities. It reviews clients' finances, from annual income to taxes and expenses, to help them find ways to save money. The firm also helps them assess different investments and savings accounts to find suitable options. It also directs funds to be stored for future use, such as children's education or retirement. Sanford Advisory employs 10 different professionals, including CPAs and CFPs with over 200 years of combined experience.

  • Financial Planning

15 Capital Ave. NE, Suite 104, Battle Creek, MI 49017

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Serving clients in the Kalamazoo metro, Diversified Financial Advisors provides a variety of financial services that help individuals manage their investments and plan for building wealth. Its assists with individual retirement accounts, annuities, savings plans, and simplified employee pension plans. Its service portfolio also covers 529 qualified tuition plans, certificates of deposit, U.S. treasuries securities, and mutual funds. The firm's advisor, Blane Heisler, is a CFP who has been working in the financial industry for almost 10 years.

  • Financial Planning

Compare our Top Financial Advisors

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
SmartAdvisor by SmartAsset
Kalamazoo, MIFree Consultation
Fiduciary Financial Advisors
5464 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Bright Financial Advisors, Inc.
450 West Centre Ave Ste C, Portage, MI 49024
Zhang Financial
5931 Oakland Drive, Portage, MI 49024
CWS Financial Advisors
405 W Michigan Avenue Suite 110, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Baird
125 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 302, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Preferred Financial Group, LLC
2725 Airview Boulevard Suite 204, Portage, MI 49002
Rose Street Advisors
244 North Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
The Wiser Financial Group
6100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
LVM Capital Management Ltd
7840 Moorsbridge Road, Portage, MI 49024
Alkhamis Financial
7900 Kirkland Court, Portage, MI 49024
Gasaway Investment Advisors, Inc.
7110 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Sanford Advisory
590 W. Centre Ave, Portage, MI 49024
Diversified Financial Advisors
15 Capital Ave. NE, Suite 104, Battle Creek, MI 49017

FAQs

  • Introduction

    There are many titles for financial professionals, so it's challenging to track what each one means. A financial advisor is probably the term you've heard most often. Financial advisor is a broad term for a professional who helps individuals or companies manage their finances, including investment choices. There are over 100 certifications that financial advisors can obtain.

    • Financial planners, wealth managers, and investment advisors are all financial advisors with different focus areas.
    • A financial planner helps an individual or a company make a plan to achieve long-term financial goals.
    • A wealth manager helps individuals maintain their wealth through various disciplines and services, such as taxes, estate planning, and investment advice.
    • An investment advisor offers investment advice and recommendations to individuals or organizations.
    There’s a misconception that you have to be extremely wealthy to use a financial advisor. In reality, they can be beneficial for people from any income level. Keep reading to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about financial advisors, so you know which type can fit your specific needs.

  • What are the common ways that financial advisors in Kalamazoo get paid?

    Financial advisors in Kalamazoo earn compensation through either commissions or fees. Commission-based advisors earn an upfront payment which is typically a percentage deducted from the initial investment, ranging from 5% to 6%. On the other hand, fee-based advisors do not charge upfront commissions but instead receive an annual advisory expense, usually between 1.0% to 1.5% of the managed assets. The choice depends on the client's situation and perspective.

  • What are the licensing requirements of financial advisors in Kalamazoo before they can sell securities?

    Financial advisors in Kalamazoo need to obtain the appropriate securities license, which depends on the investments they will sell, the compensation method, and the scope of services provided. The Series 63 license, known as the Uniform Securities Agent license, is required in each state where they conduct business. The Series 66 exam combines Series 63 and 65, while the Series 7 license designates them as registered representatives, commonly referred to as stockbrokers, overseen by FINRA.

  • How can financial advisors in Kalamazoo assist with college funding options?

    Financial advisors in Kalamazoo can assist clients in choosing suitable options like Coverdell Education Savings, 529 Plans, and other accounts with varying tax benefits and flexibility. Advisors start with a philosophical approach and then delve into specific investments tailored to each individual's needs. They consider tax implications, ownership and custodial risks, contribution restrictions, income limitations, and available investment choices to implement a suitable college funding plan.

  • What steps can financial advisors in Kalamazoo recommend during a recession?

    During a recession, financial advisors in Kalamazoo advise clients to check their asset allocation, focusing on long-term goals rather than timing the market. Revisiting financial plans to ensure sufficient liquidity for a prolonged recovery is crucial. Building a bond ladder matching annual expenses can provide a cushion during market downturns. Advisors also recommend prioritizing high-interest debt elimination and caution against using assets as loan collateral.

  • When might residents in Kalamazoo consider working with a financial advisor?

    The residents of Kalamazoo might consider working with a financial advisor if they need investment guidance, are too busy with work or life to conduct their research, and during market volatility. They may also decide to hire an advisor if they require reassurance, seek accountability and consistency with investing, or if they lack interest in finances and prefer professional guidance. Financial advisors can provide support, advice, and expertise to enhance their clients' investing plans and overall financial management.

  • Are financial advisors worth it?

    Whether or not a financial advisor is worth it depends on your personal situation. If your finances are fairly straightforward, then you may be better off handling it on your own. But if you have substantial assets or a complex investment portfolio, then hiring someone to handle it for you can be well worth the cost.