Macomb, MI · Serving All of Michigan
A Financial Advisor Serving Macomb, Entirely by Video
If you're early in your career in Sterling Heights, Warren, Shelby Township or anywhere else in Macomb, the decisions stack up fast. We build one plan around your income, your benefits and the house you want, meet with you by video, and already work with many clients across the area.
Good Job, Good Benefits, and No Real Plan Yet
Plenty of people in Macomb work for an automaker, a defense contractor or a hospital, with benefits that beat most jobs and are harder to understand. You might have a pension and a 401(k), a stock purchase plan, or a TSP account from a federal job, and nobody has shown you how they fit together.
Then life speeds up. A first house, a wedding, maybe kids, and parents nearby who may need help someday. Each decision gets made separately, and the plan never gets written.
Putting those pieces in order is a big part of the work we do for clients across Macomb.
Before vs. After Villaire Financial
Without a Plan
- A TSP, pension or 401(k) you set up on day one and never revisited
- Saving for a house with no target date or number
- Overtime and bonuses that disappear into everyday spending
- Not sure whether a job in Detroit is worth the city tax and the commute
- Googling your way through major decisions and hoping you got it right
With Villaire Financial
- Contributions set to capture every dollar of match, reviewed each year
- A down payment goal, a timeline and a monthly amount you can hit
- A plan for extra pay, decided before it lands
- The real take-home difference worked out before you accept
- 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.
Auto and Defense Professionals
Engineers, analysts and skilled trades with good benefits and little time to sort them out. We put every one of them to work.
Federal Employees
TSP, a FERS pension and a career path with its own rules. We plan around all three.
Young Families Close to Home
Buying near family, planning for kids and building savings at the same time. We put it all on one timeline.
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 Macomb 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 led by Chris Villaire, CFP®. We work with many young professionals and families in Sterling Heights, Warren and across Macomb and metro Detroit, all by video. 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 Macomb
Meetings happen by video, so you can meet before a shift or after the kids are asleep. Documents are signed online, and your plan and accounts live in one client portal.
Our office is in downtown Grand Rapids, and our Macomb clients work with us by video, the same way you would.
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 Macomb Usually Ask First
Does anywhere in Macomb have a city income tax?
No. Sterling Heights, Warren and the other cities in Macomb are not on the Michigan Treasury's list of the 24 cities that levy an income tax. If you work in Detroit, though, you owe the city's 1.2% nonresident rate on wages for work done there, about $1,020 a year on an $85,000 salary. We check that number before you take a Detroit job or agree to a hybrid schedule.
I am a federal employee at the Detroit Arsenal. How does my TSP match work?
Under FERS, your agency puts in 1% of basic pay automatically and matches what you contribute on the first 5% of pay: dollar for dollar on the first 3% and 50 cents on the dollar on the next 2%, according to the Thrift Savings Plan. Contributing at least 5% brings the agency total to 5% of your pay. We set your contribution, choose between traditional and Roth TSP, and plan around your FERS pension.
I work for an automaker or a defense contractor in Macomb. What should I bring to the first meeting?
Your benefits summary and a recent pay stub. Macomb's largest employers include General Motors, Stellantis and the U.S. Army at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, according to the county, and Sterling Heights is home to defense employers such as General Dynamics Land Systems. Those packages can include a pension, a 401(k) match, a stock purchase plan and an HSA, and the documents tell us which ones you have.
What does a home cost in Macomb, and what about property taxes?
The Census Bureau's latest five-year estimate puts the median home value at about $274,300 in Sterling Heights, $193,400 in Warren and $243,900 across Macomb as a whole, so 10% down runs roughly $19,340 to $27,430 in those cities. After a sale, Michigan resets the home's taxable value to the State Equalized Value, so your bill can be higher than the seller's. File a Principal Residence Exemption once you move in, and we fit the payment, the taxes and your retirement savings into one plan.
How do I find a financial advisor in Macomb who is not selling something?
Ask how they get paid. Many advisors earn commissions on the insurance and investments they recommend, which is a conflict you should know about up front. Villaire Financial is fee-only, so the only money we receive is the fee you see, and as a fiduciary we are legally required to act in your best interest. Our founder, Chris Villaire, holds the CFP® certification.
How much does a financial advisor cost in Macomb, 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.
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Other areas we serve
Sources
- Census Reporter, Macomb County (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Census Reporter, Sterling Heights city (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Census Reporter, Warren city (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Michigan Treasury, Which cities impose an income tax?
- Michigan Treasury, 2025 City of Detroit individual income tax forms and instructions
- Thrift Savings Plan, What is a contribution?
- Macomb County, By the Numbers (Spring 2023), top employers
- City of Sterling Heights, Defense industry
- Michigan State Tax Commission, Transfer of Ownership Guidelines
- Michigan Treasury, Principal Residence Exemption
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.