The industry is broken
The wealth management and financial planning industry is failing too many people and needs to be shaken up in a major way. ​ Not only is it typically stale, male, and pale, but there are typically limitations, conflicts of interest, and a lack of transparency.
You deserve better
You deserve an expert partner in your corner who you can trust. A good financial planner gives objective financial planning advice, finds areas for optimization, and helps you implement it. A better financial planner does that while listening without judgement and helping you feel more confident that you're on the right path, even when life throws curveballs.
You're better than a "good enough" financial situation. It's time to feel empowered around your finances and know exactly how each dollar is supporting your dreams.
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Regardless of where you are in your financial journey, Wellful Money is here to walk alongside you.
Meet Our Founder
Michelle R. Wagner, CFP®
Michelle is a fiduciary and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional (read: highly experienced and does the right thing for her clients, period.) She started her career at notable wealth management firms in the DC area helping high-net-worth families. While the work she did was impactful, she didn't enjoy turning away those who didn't have millions to invest.
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​Michelle then worked at innovative financial planning startups that sought to serve people often overlooked by the industry. She found deep fulfillment in helping those clients, but with larger client bases, it felt nearly impossible to offer each family the proactive care and authentic conversations they truly deserve.
Michelle thrives on genuine connection, not scripts or templates. She believes financial planning should be personal, not transactional. That conviction led her to pursue a more intentional path where the advisor-client relationship is the centerpiece. By working with a limited number of hand-selected households, Michelle can provide the depth, clarity, and ongoing attention that transforms financial planning from a service into a true partnership.
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Michelle grew up in North Carolina and moved around (VA, NV, CA) with her husband, Bill, who is a fighter pilot in the Navy. They love being outdoors and exploring with their daughter and high energy dog. Michelle loves spending time with family, traveling, scuba diving, skiing, attending concerts, checking out local coffee shops, and volunteering in the community.