Michael Daley CPA and Certified Financial Planner® Professional
Quick Facts About Michael
Age: 41
Kids: 4
Hobbies: Travel, photography, playing bocce, anything sports-related
Favorite Food: Steak
Go-to Mixed Drink: Manhattan
Historical Figure I’d Like To Meet: Winston Churchill
Hometown: Cottleville, MO
Education: Saint Louis University
Favorite Sport: College Football
Favorite School Subject: History
Experience: 13 Years as a Financial Planner, 17 Years As a CPA
I started Peakview Strategies to give my clients an opportunity to break free from traditional financial services companies and focus on real financial planning. Too often during my time in the financial world, I saw companies that operated under old models that cared only about selling products, offered incomplete solutions and outdated technology that’s out of step with how the world works, or incentivized their employees and affiliates for things not in the client’s best interests. It is my intention that Peakview Strategies will fix those shortcomings and bring a select group of clients a new experience unlike what they’ve read about online when working with a stereotypical financial advisor. Throughout this site, you can learn about the philosophy behind what sets us apart. We’d love the opportunity to be of service if you like what you see.
I believe that Fee-Only Financial Planning and being paid only for advice and services is the future of the financial services industry. The world deserves better than product salespeople–even, or especially–when they tell others they’re doing real planning but fail to address the majority of a client’s needs.
I care deeply about my clients and want to be their biggest advocates in their unique missions to make the most of their money. I was born in the Washington, DC area before growing up in Memphis, TN. Following high school, I attended Saint Louis University and received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Accounting. After a stint in public accounting with a large multinational firm, as well as in industry at a boutique insurance carrier, I knew that I was called to use my knowledge and expertise for something more.
I took the opportunity to join a large financial services company where I learned how to translate my knowledge into advice that clients could use to grow and reinforce their financial prowess. During my time there, I built a large and diverse clientele and because of my passion for financial planning as the core of what should be offered to consumers, worked my way up to becoming Financial Planning Director. The best compliments I’ve received are those who have expressed their gratitude for guidance to results they didn’t think were possible and for encouragement to keep going to get to those destinations. Knowing there was so much more that could be done for a select set of my clients, I formed Peakview Strategies to address the unique needs of those clients.
When not working to benefit my clients or honing my craft, you’ll likely find me traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, or enjoying one of my many other hobbies. I’m an avid follower of sports, love smoking meat and tasting bourbon, drinking coffee and like the historical figure I’d love to meet (Winston Churchill), am easily satisfied with the very best. I do my best to undo all the smoked meat and bourbon by plugging in for some quality time exercising. Our family is active is active in our parish church and school at St. Joseph in Cottleville where I am also part of the leadership team for the parish mens ministry, IGNITE. I also take great joy in coaching youth soccer and seeing other people win. I love knowing that the work I do for my clients is helping them achieve big dreams and I consider it a privilege to be part of their team of experts.
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This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2685 St. Louis-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 187 (7 % of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,691, 167, 6%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 – 6/30/23; 2022: 2418, 158, 7%, 10/1/22, 1/24/22 – 7/22/22; 2021: 2683, 164, 6%, 10/1/21, 12/28/20 – 8/6/21; 2020: 2431, 170, 7%, 10/1/20, 1/6/20 – 8/7/20; 2019: 2481, 185, 7%, 10/1/19, 1/14/19 – 8/9/19; 2018: 2533, 179, 7%, 10/1/18, 1/26/18 – 8/15/18; 2017: 1681, 181, 11%, 10/1/17, 1/26/17 – 8/28/17; 2016: 1427, 324, 23%, 9/1/16, 3/3/16 – 8/22/16; 2015: 2194, 358, 16%, 10/1/15, 2/16/15 – 8/11/15; 2014: 1401, 389, 28%, 2/1/14, 2/16/13 – 8/11/13; 2013: 1726, 485, 28%, 2/1/13, 2/16/12 – 8/11/12; 2012: 1800, 455, 25%, 2/1/12, 2/16/11 – 8/11/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.