Reviews of Zhang Financial (Financial Consultant)

David Dawson

I have used several financial advisors since the late seventies. I was not satisfied with their service, results, and fees until I became a client of Zhang Financial. Their service and results are excellent, an added bonus is their Fee-Only approach. Having a fee-only financial advisor is the best way to ensure your financial advisor is working with your best interests and that the fees collected will be transparent and straight forward. Previous advisors were more concerned with churning my accounts rather than working for my benefit. I was so impressed with the products, people, and performance for my personal accounts that I had them manage my company's 401k as well. Zhang Financial is very honest and cost efficient. I am beyond pleased with their service. I have recommended Zhang Financial to family, friends, and clients.

Nick E

I have been a client of Zhang Financial for several years now. I find Zhang Financial to be a truly amazing firm. First and foremost, my investment performance over the years has been outstanding. The cost is very low and extremely competitive. Charles and Lynn are kind, knowledgeable, professional, and their customer service is excellent. They value their clients and treat each individual with respect and genuine interest. They really treat us all as family members. That is how deeply they are concerned and devoted to the success of their immediate community. They are devoted to the larger community as well and have been substantial and transformative supporters of educational institutions and non-profits in Kalamazoo and nationwide. Zhang Financial, its fantastic staff, and Charles and Lynn have my highest recommendation.

Yolanda Ludington

Zhang Financial is excellence! I've been a client for eight years and have yet to be disappointed in any aspect of their services. I'm forever impressed with their high level of professionalism, impressive efficiency handling a wide-range of services, moral integrity, and genuine care for my needs, my family's needs, and their surrounding community's needs. Long before I ever knew Charles and Lynn I had dealt with financial firms and banks in the metro Detroit area to handle my irrevocable trust and revocable trust. None have ever provided the level of all-round exceptional service that I've had with Zhang Financial. With Zhang Financial my investments are meticulously chosen for my needs and only for my needs. They are chosen with the lowest possible internal fees. My portfolio is reviewed and refreshed throughout the year. Strategies for tax purposes are addressed and implemented. Trust concerns are researched and addressed. This complete approach to all my needs continues to be handled with seamless efficiency. Charles and Lynn Zhang are a rare find - a dynamic duo. Throughout the years they have earned my respect and admiration. I have extraordinary trust in them. Zhang Financial is the epitome of what financial firm should be. Barron's and other reputable sources have made no mistake in putting Zhang Financial top on their list!

Harvey Fogel

Our financial advisor is Zhang Financial. We started with Charles Zhang and his company in 2001. Due to the low cost, well diversified portfolio strategy that this firm adheres to we have had very good results with low overall cost. We have always found Charles and his firm’s employees to be highly professional and trustworthy. Zhang Financial’s fee only structure and the scale of assets under management insures access to the best financial products at the least cost. We have been very satisfied with our experience with this firm.

Greg T

We have been clients of Zhang Financial for over two years. Following our frustration with poor returns from our prior investment advisor/company, we sought out a reputable, independent, fee-only advisor. Our research through NAPFA, FINRA, Independent Advisor Public Disclosure (for Form ADV), and other sources pointed us to Zhang Financial. Our initial meeting with Charles and our local manager, James Walsh, revealed their sincere desire to put our interests first, being independent, fee-only, and credentialed fiduciaries. They were detailed in developing an investment strategy designed to meet our risk/return criteria and forthright in explaining their steady, long-term investment approach. Upon the transfer of our account, it was soon discovered why our account had floundered with our previous advisor/firm. We were invested in 600+ stocks, which were buried in various proprietary, brokerage specific funds. Despite having a fixed advisor fee, any investment gains realized were being eaten up by the buried trade costs, fees, and other expenses of these proprietary funds which fed the parent investment company. They certainly did not have us or their customers' best interests in mind. Though we have only been with Zhang Financial for a short time, we truly feel that they seek the best for their clients. We appreciate that we are invested in a small number of well-researched, low-cost funds from established companies which provide above average returns compared to industry benchmarks with minimal turnover (sound like Warren Buffett's philosophy?). The tax and estate planning services provided by their staff are excellent. We are thankful to have found Charles, Lynn, and the rest of the Zhang Financial team. Our only regret is that we did not find them sooner!

Neal Elgersma

My wife and I have been working with Charles at Zhang Financial for approximately ten years. When we moved back to the Kalamazoo area, after many years away, we decided to meet with and interview three of the prominent financial advisory firms. Charles' approach to investing was an excellent match for us and his consultative style in our meetings, spending the time needed to answer every question, is outstanding. I retired in 2007 and Zhang Financial did an excellent job preparing us for that transition and working us through pension payouts, 401K transfers, stock sales, taxes, etc. As we all know, 2008 was a horrific year for investors, which was just one year after my retirement. Charles persistence and guidance in "staying the course" not only helped us through a stressful period, but positioned us for a recovery over the past several years that has made 2008 a distant memory. We never considered parting ways with Charles when he became an independent advisor several years ago. I feel that this did nothing but improve his fiduciary responsibilities to his clients. I never have a concern regarding whether he is working on my behalf or simply recommending an investment because the "parent firm" pushes the advisors to do that. He answers to no one, but his satisfied clients. I have recommended Zhang Finanical in the past and I would not hesitate to recommend Charles, Lynn and their team in the future. In speaking of team members, Jessica Rossana, CFP and Director of Client Services, is also excellent. Her detailed and analytical approach to answering my questions and the comfort level she has built with my wife is much appreciated. In summary, Zhang Financial deserves the honors received year after year as one of the top financial advisory firms in Michigan and the country.

L Su

I have to admit I’m very stingy when it comes to giving out any sort of review for the various kind of services or products I consume as a customer, however, I’m compelled to write up this review for Zhang Financials given the incredible service I’ve received over the past ten years. I got to know Charles and Lynn through the Executive MBA program at Kellogg. Charles and I were assigned to the same study group at school where I was struck by his desire to broaden and deepen his knowledge despite the fact that he was already a top financial adviser in the nation, and through our interactions at school, I’m even more impressed by their integrity on top of their intellectual capacity. So when I realized that I should seek professional help to manage personal wealth, it was an easy decision to select Zhang Financial, and over the past ten years, it has proved to be one of my best decisions and here’s why: • I would venture TRUST is the most important criteria for selecting a financial adviser. Having had the opportunity to know Charlese and Lynn and learn about their character at the MBA program certainly is a plus, however, the fact that they are fee only firm eliminates any potential conflict of interest. • Charles and Lynn set an incredibly high standard when it comes to client service, and that expectation is clearly understood and complied with by their staff. Jessica Rosanna is the manager that I work with on a day to day basis. She is incredibly responsive, a clear thinker and her attention to details is second to none. As a matter of fact, each and every one of my interactions with any of the staff at Zhang Financial has been very pleasant and handled with utmost professionalism • Last but not the least, my investment goal/expectation and Zhang Financial’s investment philosophy are a very good match. My portfolio has consistently beaten benchmark over the past ten years. I would highly recommend Zhang Financial to anyone who aims for long-term financial security by utilizing a trustworthy and proven wealth management firm.