Mount Pleasant, SC Office

After graduating from the University of Dayton, Michael was like many other millennials (easy targets!); unsure of his career path and a lack of confidence in managing his own finances. Early in his career while working for one of the largest investment management firms in the country he attended the National Personal Financial Planner(NAPFA) conference. After hearing a few of the speakers(s/o Michael Kitces!), and meeting some of the attendees he knew financial planning was the field he wanted to pursue. He always had a passion for educating himself and others, and helping people along their financial journey quickly became his goal. Michael earned the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™) designation in 2018 to learn fundamentals of comprehensive financial planning. The education covers Investments, Estate Planning, Insurance, Education Planning, Retirement Planning, and Cash Flow Management. In early 2020, Michael created Black Dog Financial Planning to help professionals and families in their 30s and 40s with their finances. After working at a few firms, he realized the majority of investment advisors primarily focus on pre-retirees and retirees. Meanwhile his peer group was significantly under-served. He launched the firm to make high quality financial advice more affordable and accessible for his peer group, and to help individuals and families live great lives by making smarter financial decisions. When Michael isn’t helping his clients, he’s spending time with his own family. He and his wife, Katie, were married in May of 2018 after relocating to Charleston from Chicago, IL. They welcomed their first child, daughter Annie Rose, on February 6, 2020. Annie joins big “fur-brother”, Barkley, to which the firm, Black Dog Financial Planning, gets its name. Barkley is a rescue from PAWS Chicago, a no kill animal shelter. Barkley was 3 months old and 25 pounds when Mike and Katie adopted him. He’s now 3 years old and 80 pounds and his favorite pastime is watching squirrels from the window and chasing them out of the backyard. Mike and Katie enjoy low-country living, especially golf, the beach, and oyster roasts, but also love to travel. They got engaged in Paris in 2017 and have traveled around Europe and Asia together. Next up, they hope to visit South America, Australia and Africa. They look forward to raising their family in the low-country and traveling together whenever they can. Read Michael's blog here: https://blackdogfp.com/blog