Stephens Consulting

Stephens Consulting

Stephens Consulting, doing business as Pearl Planning, was founded in 2018 by Melissa Joy, a CFP® and CDFA®. Based in Flint, Michigan, the firm operates a client-facing office in Dexter and provides financial planning and investment management services to individuals, families, and entities nationwide. The firm organizes as a small, independent RIA where all financial planners hold CFP® designations and act as fiduciaries. The firm delivers integrated financial planning and discretionary investment management, with a service model that bundles planning and investment oversight for a single fee. Financial-planning-only engagements are also available. According to its website, the client base includes high-income earners, individuals with complex stock options, and those navigating major life transitions such as divorce, career change, or retirement. The firm states a particular focus on tax-aware strategies, retirement income modeling, and decision support around concentrated positions or large inflows. As of May 2026, Pearl Planning served clients across 28 US states, offering virtual and in-person advisory. Melissa Joy leads a team of seven, including three additional financial planners — Alexa Kane, Toni Wander — and Chief Operating Officer Alyssa Calhoun. The firm’s website confirms it has been featured in media outlets, though no specific AUM or total client asset figures are publicly disclosed. In May 2026, the firm reported serving clients across 28 states, up from its historical concentration in Southeast Michigan. Pearl Planning also produces the podcast "Women’s Money Wisdom." Pearl Planning differentiates through its woman-owned, fiduciary-only structure in an industry where a minority of firms are women-led. The firm’s emphasis on integrating comprehensive financial planning with investment management — at a single bundled fee — contrasts with practices that primarily gate advice behind asset minimums or separate planning retainers. The team’s all-CFP composition is uncommon at firms of its size, signaling a deliberate credentialing threshold for client-facing roles.