Charles Zhang
Charles Zhang, CFP®, MBA, MSFS, ChFC®, CLU, CFS, CMFC
Founder and President
- Education:
- MBA - Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- Executive Education - Harvard Business School
- MA in Economics - Western Michigan University
- Executive Education - Columbia University
- MS in Financial Services - The Institute of Business and Finance
- Professional Designations:
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
- Professional Achievements:
- Barron’s Rankings:
- Ranked #1 in the nation on the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors list for 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2021.
- Ranked #1 in Michigan for 13 consecutive years (2013–2025).
- Barron’s Hall of Fame inductee
- Forbes Rankings:
- Ranked #1 in Michigan for 8 consecutive years (2018–2025).
- Ranked #4 in the nation on America’s Top Wealth Advisors list from 2023–2025 and is the highest-ranking NAPFA-Registered fee-only advisor and highest-ranking independent advisor on the list.
- NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
- Ranked #1 among over 10,000 advisors at a leading national financial planning firm by age 29.
- Barron’s Rankings:
- Leadership and Service:
- Economics Advisory Council – Department of Economics, Columbia University
- COUR Member (Committee on University Resources) – Harvard University (2016-2024)
- Steering Committee Member – Columbia College, Columbia University (2016–2022)
- Former adjunct professor of Finance at Western Michigan University and advisory board member for the Haworth College of Business.
- Honors and Recognition:
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® – 2024 Michigan & Northwest Ohio Award Winner
- The Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the worlds most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.
- 2023 Keynote Speaker – Executive MBA Convocation, Kellogg School of Management
- Named to the Grand Rapids 200 list of the most powerful and influential leaders in West Michigan (2020–2022).
- WMU Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for 2021
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® – 2024 Michigan & Northwest Ohio Award Winner
- Media and Press:
- Frequently interviewed and quoted by national media sources including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Forbes, and others. See Media and Press
- Philanthropy:
- Benefactor of Columbia University
- Supporter of arts, education, and healthcare initiatives in Michigan and beyond. See Giving Back
*As reported in Barron's February 18, 2013, February 22, 2014, February 23, 2015, March 5, 2016, March 4 , 2017, March 10, 2018, March 8, 2019, March 13, 2020, March 12, 2021, March 12, 2022, March 11, 2023, March 11, 2024 and March 10, 2025. Based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, philanthropic work and other factors.
**As reported in Barron's September 13, 2025, September 13, 2024, September 15, 2023 and September 17, 2021. The ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms, the quality of the advisors' practices and other factors. For fee-only status see NAPFA.org.
***As reported by Forbes on February 15, 2018, February 20, 2019, January 16, 2020, February 11, 2021, April 7, 2022, April 4, 2023, April 3, 2024 and April 8, 2025. Each advisor - selected by Shook Research - is chosen based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including: in-person interviews, industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced, assets under management, and other factors.
****As reported in Forbes April 4, 2023, April 3, 2024 and April 8, 2025. The Forbes ranking of America’s Top Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes or SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
Zhang Financial
5931 Oakland Drive Portage, MI 49024
List of office locations
Email: clientservice@zhangfinancial.com | Toll-Free: 888-777-0126
Minimum investment requirement: $1,000,000 in Michigan, $2,000,000 outside of Michigan.
Investment Advice offered through Zhang Financial, a Fee-Only Wealth Management Group.
