Lauren Zangardi Haynes
CFP®, CIMA®, CEPA
Spark Financial Advisors
Founder
Lauren Zangardi Haynes
CFP®, CIMA®, CEPA
Spark Financial Advisors
Founder
Get more time for the things you love and the calm that comes when you know your financial life is well-managed. - Lauren Zangardi Haynes, CFP®, CIMA®, CEPA
We help business owners and dual-career couples create and enjoy financial freedom. Fee-Only financial planner located in Richmond and Williamsburg, VA, serving clients locally and across the country

Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a Richmond, VA fee-only financial planner. Spark Financial Advisors provides retirement planning, comprehensive financial planning, and small business 401(k) planning to help families and small business owners organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Lauren Zangardi Haynes is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
We help business owners and dual-career couples build and enjoy financial freedom with confidence. You may be wondering:
“How can I build my net worth outside of my business?"
"Am I doing the right thing with my money?"
"Do I have enough to safely retire?"
We help clients make crucial decisions around creating financial freedom, reducing taxes, saving for retirement (and safely enjoying retirement), exit planning for business owners, investing and making an impact on our world.
We are firm believers in the transformative power of financial planning. By incorporating life planning into our financial planning process we help clients define what they are seeking in life, help them design a path to get there, and work through the detours that inevitably pop-up along the way.
Over the last 14 years Lauren Zangardi Haynes has worked for another Fee-Only financial planning firm and as a Portfolio Analyst for U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. While with U.S. Trust Lauren earned her CFP® designation and became a Certified Investment Management Analyst through a program sponsored in part by the Wharton School of Business.
Lauren is currently the President of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) South Region board.
Let's connect and see if we are a good fit to work together. We look forward to hearing from you!
Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
MORE THAN AN ADVISOR
At Spark Financial we blend financial advice with life planning. Our holistic look helps your future come into sharp focus. Let’s work together to find creative ways to save money and solve problems.
Spark Financial Advisors works hard to build a foundation for your wealth:
Save in all the right places
Match your spending to your values
Open new career opportunities
Build financial confidence
Stick to your plan
Make your money work as hard as you do
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
- Charitable Planning
- Fee-Only 401(k) Plan Management
Ideal Clients
- Business Owners and Executives
- Professional & Entrepreneurial Women
- Dual-Career Families
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- VCU Health System Employees
- Charitable Givers
- Sudden Money Situations
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
- Friendly & Approachable Atmosphere
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®)
The CIMA designation is the premier certification for financial advisors and investment consultants and one of the only professional certifications in financial services to meet international accreditation and quality standards. CIMA advisors have completed a rigorous process and have demonstrated knowledge and competency in a variety of investment management consulting and portfolio construction topics, including advanced investment management theory and application.
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is a Member of the XY Planning Network
The XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted on CNN Business: "How to plan for taxes in retirement"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in MarketWatch: "How a financial pro turned a money crisis into a valuable lesson"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in the New York Times: "Simple Rule for Calculating Where You Stand on College Savings"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in USA Today: "Personal debt: Why now is a critical time to pay off credit cards"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in the New York Times: "A $2,500 Tax Credit for Students Has a Few Pitfalls"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in Forbes: "8 Ways To Keep A Leash On Holiday Spending"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in US News and World Report: "Pros and Cons in Paying a Child's Student Loans"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in US News and World Report: "4 Reasons Women Should Consider Hiring a Financial Advisor"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in Forbes: "3 Ways People With High Credit Scores Are Hurting Their Financial Health"
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Lauren Zangardi Haynes is Quoted in the Wall Street Journal: "529 Day: What to Consider When Choosing Education-Saving Plans"
Contact Lauren Zangardi Haynes
Office Locations:
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413 Stuart Circle
Suite 220
Richmond, VA 23220 -
By Appointment
Williamsburg, VA 23185