Michael Babcock
CFP®, CPA
The Wealth Conservatory
Financial Advisor
Michael Babcock
CFP®, CPA
The Wealth Conservatory
Financial Advisor
My aim is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Michael Babcock, CFP®, CPA
Fee-Only Planner with offices in New Hampshire, Missouri, and California
Michael is the Wealth Conservatory's fee-only financial planner located in Springfield, Missouri. He provides comprehensive, objective advice to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As an independent fiduciary, he never receives third-party financial commissions and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy guidance.
Before becoming a financial planner, Michael worked as an accountant for almost six years. It was during this time that he saw first-hand how seemingly “small” financial decisions can have an enormous impact on whether someone reaches their long-term financial goals. He came to realize people don’t deliberately sabotage their goals with poor financial choices--they simply lack the right information, tools, and guidance to make better decisions.
Seeing the opportunity to provide unbiased financial guidance, Michael earned the Certified Financial Planner® practitioner designation and began delivering advice in his own Fee-Only financial planning firm before merging his practice with The Wealth Conservatory. He enjoys providing advice that focuses on the “big picture,” makes a real difference in peoples’ lives, and gives direction and meaning to their day-to-day financial choices.
Experience: Senior Advisor at The Wealth Conservatory, May 2009 – Present; Founder and Personal Financial Advisor at Financial Planning Advocates, December 2003 – April 2009; Senior Accountant at Elliott, Robinson & Company, LLP – January 1998 – September 2003
Education: Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner 2004; Certified Public Accountant, 2000; Bachelor of Science, Accounting, 1998, Missouri State University
Memberships and Affiliations: National Association of Personal Financial Advisors; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Outside the Office: Michael has been a resident of Springfield since childhood. He lives in a restored 1913 bungalow home in the city’s historic district with his wife, Gayle, and daughter, Linnea.
Michael Babcock 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.
The Art and Science of Finance
Whether one is managing finances (including but not limited to investments) at home or for an entity, there is a reasonable expectation that applicable principles and methodologies will be followed. These include acting within the law and adhering to regulations; controlling risks and expenses; performing due diligence over the purchase of financial and insurance products; avoiding conflicts of interest; monitoring progress and performance; and reporting to others. How many of us have the knowledge, skills, resources, and experience to meet this expectation?
The Wealth Conservatory educates and consults individuals and entities on excellence in stewarding finances for themselves, their families, trusts, foundations and charitable organizations. It is a weighty responsibility to be taken seriously, ethically, and competently. We are here to help.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Michael Babcock is a NAPFA-Registered Financial AdvisorThe 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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Michael Babcock is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for VerificationCFP® 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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Michael Babcock is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
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Michael Babcock is a Certified Public Accountant (Learn More)Certified Public Accountants are licensed by the state and authorized by the state to practice public or private accounting. CPA licensing requirements are state specific, but typically include a bachelors degree with additional accounting coursework, successful completion of the Uniform CPA Exam, work experience, successful completion of an approved ethics course, and ongoing continuing education.
