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Michelle Laura Lafuente

Advisor at Merit Financial Advisors — Southgate, MI

Updated today

Credentials

Series 66, Series 65

Experience

14 years

Location

Southgate, MI 48195

Merit Financial Advisors logo

Merit Financial Advisors

Multi-team

Total advisors

284

Across 91 offices

Clients per advisor

71 High

Avg AUM per client

$897,421 High

HNW client ratio

22% Typical

About

Michelle Lafuente is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network, LPL Financial, Advantage Investment Management, and TL Financial Group. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving over 20,000 clients through 66 offices, managing approximately $23.9 billion in assets. The firm offers wealth-management services including asset management, financial planning, and employee financial-wellness programs, and employs a long-term, diversified investment approach with customizable portfolio models overseen by an internal investment team.

Client services

Based on Merit Financial Advisors

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops

Expertise

Based on Merit Financial Advisors

Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business ownership considerations

Occupation focus

Based on Merit Financial Advisors

Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive

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Fee options

Fixed

Financial planning fees can be flat fees, typically not exceeding $100,000, often prorated and payable monthly or quarterly

Percentage

$0 - $100,000: 1.50% $100,000 - $250,000: 1.25% $250,000+: 1.00%

Project-based

Up to $100,000 total for financial planning services; specific hourly rate not stated

Subscriptions

Ongoing financial planning fees payable annually, quarterly, or monthly; specific amounts not stated

Location

See office

Southgate, MI

13433 Reeck Court

Southgate MI 48195

Advisors at this office

4

Most active in

Michigan

Work history

14 years of industry experience

PKS Investments

2026 - Present • 1 year

Albany, NY

Merit Financial Advisors

2026 - Present • 1 year

Southgate, MI

Commonwealth Financial Network

2018 - 2026 • 8 years

Waltham, MA

LPL Financial

2012 - 2018 • 6 years

Southgate, MI

Advantage Investment Management, LLC

2012 - 2018 • 6 years

Soutgate, MI

TL Financial Group

2011 - 2026 • 15 years

Southgate, MI

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

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Frank C

Series 65

Detroit, MI

Jamerson-Crosby Investment Advisors LLC

Frank Crosby is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Jamerson-Crosby Investment Advisors LLC in Detroit, MI, bringing 12 years of industry experience. He concurrently works as a full-time research scientist at the U.S. Department of Defense's Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida. Jamerson-Crosby Investment Advisors LLC offers investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, foundations, and endowments. The firm employs a quantitative and economic analysis-driven investment process, combining long-term asset allocation with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing, and provides free services to nonprofit charitable organizations.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies
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Jason M

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Southgate, MI

Worldwide Capital Advisors, LLC

Jason Mcelroy is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and is the principal advisor at Worldwide Capital Advisors, LLC. He has been with Worldwide Capital Advisors since 2012 and also operates Downriver Income Tax, a tax preparation and accounting business he founded. Worldwide Capital Advisors provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm develops customized investment programs based on client goals and risk tolerances and offers comprehensive to topic-specific financial planning.

General tax planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Wealth management
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Anthony D

Series 66

Canton, MI

Measured Path Capital, LLC.

Anthony Daneshyar is a financial advisor at Measured Path Capital, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Kinetyc, LPL Enterprise, PRUCO Securities, and Populus Group, LLC, following a 22-year career at Ford Motor Company. Measured Path Capital, LLC is a Michigan state-registered investment adviser offering non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning coordination through third-party firms, and hourly consulting and investment education. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost investment vehicles and combines fundamental and technical analysis in its approach, with an emphasis on cost efficiency and long-term suitability.

Annuities
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Peter B

Series 63, Series 66

Trenton, MI

Bakalis Financial Inc.

Peter Bakalis is the sole advisor at Bakalis Financial Inc. in Trenton, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 13 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at D.H. Hill Advisors, DH Hill Securities, Spc, and Sigma Financial Corporation. Outside of financial advising, he has owned and operated Maalouf Salon since 2009 and maintains an independent insurance agency. Bakalis Financial Inc. provides portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a combination of analytic techniques and modern portfolio theory within a long-term trading framework. The firm manages approximately $26 million in client assets and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment mandates.

Annuities
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Christopher F

Series 65

Plymouth, MI

Ford Financial Fitness

Christopher Ford is the sole advisor at Ford Financial Fitness, LLC, an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of experience in investment advisory services. Ford also works as a mortgage originator at Rocket Mortgage, where he has been employed since 2010. Ford Financial Fitness provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management as well as financial planning services primarily for high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a mix of passive and active investment strategies based on fundamental and cyclical analysis, and it offers clients options for socially conscious investing and customizable restrictions.

Business ownership considerations Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy General tax planning Founder/Business Owner
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Alan C

CFP®, Series 65

Livonia, MI

On Track to Retire LLC

Alan Caldwell is a CFP® with seven years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at On Track to Retire LLC, an independent firm based in Livonia, MI. His work history includes roles at Origin Financial and involvement with several organizations focused on economic solutions and financial coaching. Prior to his advisory career, he was involved with Real Baked Goods for three years. On Track to Retire LLC provides financial planning and investment advice to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on client-specific plans and employs a fixed and hourly fee model, avoiding percentage-of-assets billing and discretionary trading.

General retirement planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Life insurance needs analysis Debt management
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