Stephen Poplaski
PhD, CFP®, CPA
Lighthouse Financial Management, LLC
Managing Member
Stephen Poplaski
PhD, CFP®, CPA
Lighthouse Financial Management, LLC
Managing Member
As a fee-only financial planner, my aim is to offer unbiased financial advice to inform decisions concerning your financial well-being. - Stephen Poplaski, PhD, CFP®, CPA
Fee-Only fiduciary located in Westerly, RI. Services include investment management, tax planning/preparation, retirement, and estate planning.

Stephen Poplaski is a Westerly, RI fee-only financial planner. Lighthouse Financial Management, LLC is an independent advisory firm offering comprehensive financial planning services customized to respond clients goals and life events.
Stephen C. Poplaski, PhD, CPA, CFP® is a Certified Public Accountant, (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioner, (CFP®).
He has been with Lighthouse Financial Management, LLC since its start in January 2002. At the firm, Stephen’s primary focus is individual tax planning and preparation. He also provides consulting for clients who own business entities and works with our team of CFP practitioners on financial planning and investment management cases as needed.
In addition to his work at Lighthouse, Stephen has taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in personal financial planning, corporate analysis and valuation, individual income tax, and applied behavioral finance.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance, a Master of Science degree in Financial Planning, and a Ph.D. in Personal Finance.
He served as a member of the Kansas State University's National Advisory Board for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in financial planning and is a peer reviewer for the "Journal of Financial Planning."
Stephen Poplaski 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.
Lighthouse Financial Management, LLC is an independent, “fee-only” advisory firm offering comprehensive financial planning services that are customized for each client's goals and life events. Our ongoing process helps clients with an informed and disciplined approach to decisions concerning their financial life.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Personal Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Analysis, Portfolio Design, and Ongoing Management.
- Business Planning including profitability/operational analysis, and equity transition.
- Tax Planning and Individual Tax Preparation
- Rental Real Estate
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Stephen Poplaski 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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Stephen Poplaski 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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Stephen Poplaski is a Certified Public Accountant (Learn More)
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional accountant who has met the education and experience requirements set by their state's Board of Accountancy and has passed the Uniform CPA Exam. CPAs are licensed to provide a wide range of accounting services, including financial statement preparation, tax planning and preparation, auditing, consulting, and other financial advisory services.
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Stephen Poplaski is a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
The Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential is granted solely to CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) with considerable personal financial planning education and experience. All areas of personal financial planning—including estate, retirement, investments, and insurance—have tax implications, and the PFS professional has the experience, ethics, and expertise to get the job done right.
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Stephen Poplaski Co-Authored a Paper in the Journal of Student Financial Aid: Investing in Education: Impact of Student Financial Stress on Self-Reported Health
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Stephen Poplaski Co-Authored "Exploring Perceptions of Graduates’ Experiences that Impact CFP® Certification: A Multiple Case Inquiry" Available on AFCPE
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Lighthouse Financial Management Named Best Financial Planners for Business Owners on the 2022 5 Best Financial Planners in Rhode Island List
Contact Stephen Poplaski
Office Locations:
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85 Beach St
Bldg D
Westerly, RI 02891