About
Stephen Lay's Biography
Stephen Lay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a RETIREMENT INCOME CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL™.
With over two decades of expertise in investments and financial services, Stephen founded Curtain Wealth Planning, an independent financial planning, and registered investment advisory firm to help individuals and families across diverse backgrounds and income levels. Curtain Wealth Planning is based on his belief that everyone regardless of net worth, should be able to have access to independent and objective advice from an hourly, fee-only financial planner professional.
Stephen Lay is a member of the Garrett Planning Network. He adheres to the network’s standards, focusing on client-centered, fee-only services that prioritize the client’s best interests without the conflicts of interest associated with commissions or sales incentives. This affiliation serves as a testament to Stephen’s commitment to ethical, transparent, and client-centric financial planning practices.
He is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).
As a fiduciary, Stephen is legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of his clients. He is obligated to prioritize clients’ interests ahead of his own and to provide objective and unbiased advice. This standard is higher than the suitability standard that some financial professionals adhere to, requiring them only to make recommendations that are suitable for a client’s financial situation.
Stephen Lay is a member of the Garrett Planning Network. He adheres to the network’s standards, focusing on client-centered, fee-only services that prioritize the client’s best interests without the conflicts of interest associated with commissions or sales incentives. This affiliation serves as a testament to Stephen’s commitment to ethical, transparent, and client-centric financial planning practices.
Additionally, Stephen Lay is a fiduciary. This means that he is legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of his clients. As a fiduciary, he is obligated to prioritize clients’ interests ahead of his own and to provide objective and unbiased advice. This standard is higher than the suitability standard that some financial professionals adhere to, requiring them only to make recommendations that are suitable for a client’s financial situation.
Affiliations
Making competent, objective financial advice accessible
Stephen Lay is a member of the Garrett Planning Network, an affiliation of Fee-Only financial planners dedicated to serving people from all walks of life. As staunch consumer advocates and Fee-Only client fiduciaries, members of the Garrett Planning Network continue to demonstrate their commitment to serving the public’s best interests by making competent, commission-free financial planning and advice accessible to all people. Many financial advisors accept clients only if they meet certain income and net worth requirements. Stephen and his fellow Garrett Network members believe, however, that professional, objective financial advice is something all Americans need, at least periodically, to build the brightest financial futures. Holding to this philosophy, Stephen is proud to offer the same quality, professional advice to all clients, not just the affluent.
Garrett Planning Network members do not accept sales commissions or third-party compensation. All compensation comes directly from their clients. Learn more at garrettplanningnetwork.com.
Commitment to Objectivity
Stephen Lay is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) members practice Fee-Only financial planning which is client-centered, objective and ethical. As a Fee-Only advisory firm, recommendations are untainted by any type of fee received by the vendors of financial products, including investment funds, money managers and insurance companies. Fee-Only advisors provide consumers and institutions with comprehensive and objective financial advice on a “Fee-Only” basis, keeping only the best interests of the client in mind – with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product. Learn more at napfa.org.
The fiduciary duty encompasses principles of trust, loyalty, and diligence.
Fiduciaries must avoid conflicts of interest and fully disclose any potential conflicts that may impact their objectivity. This commitment is particularly important in the financial industry, where individuals seek advice and guidance for critical matters such as investments, retirement planning, and overall financial well-being.
Always clarify the fiduciary status and understand the responsibilities and obligations associated with that role when engaging in a financial advisory relationship.
