Top startup equity planning financial advisors in Farmington Hills, MI

Michael Cho is a financial advisor at Armor Wealth Strategies, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Cutter & Company, Inc and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Outside of advising, Cho serves as a fencing referee and volunteers as treasurer for the Disability Network of Oakland and Macomb Counties. Armor Wealth Strategies is a small advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm tailors portfolios to client goals and risk tolerances, employing a range of investment strategies and providing ongoing monitoring and quarterly reviews.

Steven White is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with IP Financial Advisory Services since 2019 and is also associated with Innovation Partners LLC. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved in administering employee benefit plans and distributes discount prescription drug cards through a separate business. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a mix of analytical approaches and also refers clients to third-party investment advisors, emphasizing services for non-high-net-worth individuals.

Vicki Filipiak is a CFP®-designated advisor with 27 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera since 2019. Her prior roles include extensive tenure at Foresters Financial Services and Foresters Advisory Services. She serves as chairperson of the endowment fund committee at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and owns an agricultural business involving farming, hunting leases, timber sales, and barn rentals. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary account structures.

Jeff Probst is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012, as well as JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2005. From 2019 to 2020, he was involved with Beach House Apartments, LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities primarily provides investment consulting and advisory services to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Michael Lafave is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Plymouth, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Financial Services and Primerica Advisors since 1991. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in the sale of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, which provides model-delivery strategies and a limited selection of separately managed accounts for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes a tiered wrap-fee structure and curates third-party asset managers for its portfolio models.

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising, currently working at Edward Jones since 2014. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee solutions, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.