Detroit, MI · Serving All of Michigan
A Financial Advisor Serving Metro Detroit, Entirely by Video
Your career in Detroit is moving fast. The raise, the first condo or house, the 401(k) match and a student loan balance you keep meaning to deal with are all decisions that compound for decades. We build one plan around all of it and meet with you by video, so it fits around your workday.
You're Building Something in Detroit. Is Your Money Keeping Up?
Plenty of people in their 20s and 30s have bet on Detroit, with a job downtown or in Midtown, a first place in Corktown or Lafayette Park, or a commute in from Royal Oak or Ferndale. The career is moving, but the money mostly runs on autopilot.
Should you buy in the city or the suburbs, and what does the city income tax change? Is the default 401(k) contribution enough? What do you do with shares from an employee stock purchase plan? Most people answer these one at a time, from whatever comes up in a search.
Each answer can look right in isolation and still not add up. The sooner the pieces are on one plan, the cheaper the mistakes are to fix.
Before vs. After Villaire Financial
Without a Plan
- A paycheck smaller than expected and no idea how much is city tax
- Renting downtown and unsure whether to buy in the city or the suburbs
- Company stock you bought through work and never looked at again
- Student loan payments on autopilot with no strategy behind them
- Googling your way through major decisions and hoping you got it right
With Villaire Financial
- Every tax on your pay mapped, so take-home pay holds no surprises
- A side-by-side answer using your income, your commute and real tax numbers
- A clear rule for how much company stock to hold and when to sell
- A payoff or forgiveness plan matched to your job and your goals
- Someone to check big decisions with before you make them
Is This Built for You?
We work best with people who have a lot going on financially and want someone in their corner to get everything working together.
Early-Career Professionals
A good job with a big employer, benefits you have not fully used, and no written plan yet. We start by putting those benefits to work.
First-Time Buyers
Weighing a condo in the city against a house in the suburbs. We run both with your numbers, taxes included.
Couples Combining Finances
Two incomes, two sets of benefits and one household. We build one plan you both understand.
What clients say about working with us
"My wife and I have been working with Chris for a few years now. He's been absolutely incredible with helping us manage our finances."
"Chris is one of the most genuine people you will meet in the financial services industry. I trust him to do what is right and he is considerate with all his clients."
"Since getting married two years ago, he has helped us create clear financial plans, stay on top of our money, and set up funds that actually make us feel confident about our future."
5.0 average Google rating as of October 14, 2026, based on 74 reviews posted to the Villaire Financial, LLC Google Business Profile since the firm opened in 2022. Google is not affiliated with Villaire Financial. No compensation was provided for any review. Ratings may not represent every client's experience and are not a guarantee of future results.
Testimonials from current clients of Villaire Financial, LLC. No compensation was provided for these reviews. Individual experiences and results will vary. These testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients.
A financial advisor for Detroit who makes sure you're actually building the life you want.
Villaire Financial is a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor based in Grand Rapids and serving metro Detroit, led by Chris Villaire, CFP®. We work with clients from downtown to the suburbs by video, mostly young professionals early in their careers. Planning starts at $50 a month after a $250 onboarding fee, with no asset minimum.
Chris started Villaire Financial because the financial services industry has largely overlooked people in their 20s and 30s for decades. He built this firm for young professionals who want clarity and direction with their money, and he is in the same stage of life as his clients.
Meet ChrisYour full financial plan in 30 days. Then we're there as life goes on.
Week 1
Book a Free 30-Minute Intro Call
Schedule a 30-minute call directly on our calendar. We'll hear about your situation, answer your questions, and tell you honestly if we think working together makes sense.
Week 2
Deep-Dive Onboarding Meeting
Once we've decided to move forward, we schedule a deeper meeting covering income, expenses, investments, debts, insurance, taxes, and what you're actually trying to accomplish.
Weeks 3-4
Your Financial Plan
We build your plan across every area of your finances, then meet to present it and walk through it together so you understand the reasoning behind every decision. From there, we handle the execution: account setup, money movement, and your personalized client portal.
Onward
Ongoing Reviews and Support
We meet at least twice a year to review progress and adjust as life changes. Between meetings, you can reach out whenever something comes up.
What you walk away with
- A personalized financial plan covering every area of your financial life
- A clear picture of where you stand and what to do next
- A secure client portal with all your accounts and goals in one place
- Ongoing investment management, handled for you
- Twice-yearly reviews and an advisor you can reach between meetings
Working with us from Detroit
Every meeting happens by video, so it fits in a lunch break. Documents are signed online, and your accounts and your plan live in one client portal.
The firm's office is in downtown Grand Rapids if you are ever on the west side of the state and want to stop in.
Meetings are by video, documents are signed online, and your plan lives in a client portal you can open from anywhere in Michigan.
Book a free intro callWhat it costs. No surprises.
Fee-only means you pay us and no one else does. Every fee is in writing before you commit to anything.
| One-time onboarding | $250 |
|---|---|
| Planning, per month | $50 to $125, based on income and complexity |
| With $100,000+ managed | Monthly fee waived |
| Investment management | 1.25% a year (lower above $500,000), only if we manage your investments |
| Asset minimum | None |
| Commissions | None |
What People in Detroit Usually Ask First
Does Detroit have a city income tax?
Yes. Detroit taxes residents 2.4% of their income and nonresidents 1.2% of wages for work done in the city, according to the Michigan Treasury, which runs the tax for the city. On a $75,000 salary that is $1,800 a year if you live in Detroit and $900 if you live in the suburbs and work downtown. We count it in your cash flow and in any rent-or-buy decision.
Should I buy a home in Detroit or in the suburbs?
It depends on more than the price. The Census Bureau's latest five-year estimate puts the median home value at about $83,900 in Detroit and $243,900 in Macomb County. Living in the city adds the 2.4% resident income tax, and a 2021 report from Detroit City Council's Legislative Policy Division found the city's property tax rate was more than twice the state average. We compare the full monthly cost of each option, taxes and repairs included, against your savings goals before you start touring.
I work for an automaker or a downtown employer. What should I bring to the first meeting?
Your benefits summary and a recent pay stub. GM chose the new Hudson's Detroit building for its headquarters, and many employers in the city offer a 401(k) match, an HSA and sometimes a stock purchase plan. We use those documents to set your contribution rates, decide how much company stock to keep and line up your HSA with your health plan.
Can I get help with a down payment on a first home in Detroit?
Possibly. MSHDA's MI 10K program offers up to $10,000 toward a down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses for buyers with low and moderate incomes, anywhere in Michigan. It is an interest-free loan with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage, and it requires a MSHDA MI Home Loan and a homebuyer education class. We check whether you qualify and whether it fits the rest of your plan.
How do I find a good financial advisor in metro Detroit?
Check how the advisor is paid, whether they owe you a fiduciary duty, and whether they hold the CFP® certification, which you can confirm on the CFP Board's website. Fee-only means the advisor earns nothing from selling you products. Villaire Financial is fee-only and fiduciary, our founder Chris Villaire is a CFP® professional, and we already work with clients across metro Detroit, all by video. Living near the office is not required.
How much does a financial advisor cost in Detroit, MI?
The one-time onboarding fee is $250. Ongoing planning is $50 to $125 a month depending on income and complexity, and it is waived once you have $100,000 or more in managed assets. If we manage your investments, that is 1.25% a year on the assets we manage, and the rate drops above $500,000. There are no commissions and no asset minimum.
Is there a minimum amount I need to work with Villaire Financial?
No. There is no asset minimum, so you can start before you have built up much in savings.
Is Villaire Financial a fiduciary?
Yes. Villaire Financial is a fee-only registered investment adviser, legally required to act in your best interest and paid only by its clients, never by commissions or product sales.
One Conversation. No Commitment.
A free 30-minute call. You'll leave with a clear answer on your biggest financial priority and an honest read on whether working together makes sense.
Not ready to talk yet?
The Path to Financial Freedom
A free 17-page walkthrough of budgeting, debt paydown, investing, and tax strategy, written for people in their 20s and 30s who want a clear starting point.
Download the Free GuideWorth Reading Next
Practical advice for busy professionals, with clear next steps you can actually use.
Michigan Cities With an Income Tax: The 2026 List and Rates
Twenty-four Michigan cities charge their own income tax, from 0.5% to 2.4%. Here's the list, how residents and commuters are taxed, and what it costs.
How to Read Your 401(k) Statement (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Most people ignore their 401(k) statements. Here's what actually matters on them and what to do with that information.
Should I Pay Off Debt or Invest? A Framework for Young Professionals
Pay off debt or invest? The answer depends on your interest rates, tax situation, and goals. A clear framework for young professionals to think through it.
Other areas we serve
Sources
- Michigan Treasury, Which cities impose an income tax?
- Michigan Treasury, 2025 City of Detroit individual income tax forms and instructions
- Michigan Treasury, Filing a Detroit individual income tax return
- Census Reporter, Detroit city (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Census Reporter, Macomb County (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Detroit City Council Legislative Policy Division, report on Detroit's property tax millage rate (2021)
- Fortune, GM to move headquarters to Hudson's Detroit (April 2024)
- MSHDA, MI 10K DPA Loan
Census figures are 2024 five-year American Community Survey estimates and carry a margin of error. Tax rates and program rules change, so confirm current figures with the city, the township assessor or a tax professional. Examples are for illustration only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or investment advice. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.