Spark Financial Advisors

Michelle Orellana is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Spark Financial Advisors. Her prior experience includes roles at Verus Financial Partners and Good Neighbor Homes. Spark Financial Advisors is a small SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $116 million and serving individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes passive portfolio construction guided by fundamental analysis and offers comprehensive financial planning, employee benefit plan services, and fiduciary adviser services.

Suzanne Grason is a Certified Financial Planner™ with 20 years of industry experience. She is currently with Spark Financial Advisors, where she has worked since 2022. Her prior roles include positions at Cerity Partners LLC, FJY Financial, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Suzanne serves as President of the Financial Planning Association Central Virginia Chapter and is a board member of the National Capital Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals. Spark Financial Advisors is a boutique SEC-registered firm with four advisors managing approximately $116 million. The firm provides wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and employee benefit plan services to individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses, emphasizing passive portfolio construction guided by fundamental analysis and tailored client strategies.

Hi, I’m Lauren Zangardi Haynes, CFP®, CIMA® and founder of Spark Financial Advisors. At Spark Financial Advisors we are focused on helping high earning women, dual-career couples & business owners put an effective strategy in place to build wealth, manage taxes, and spend more time doing what they love. Our clients gain peace of mind knowing their finances are outsourced to a highly qualified team with expertise in building wealth and transitioning into retirement. I got my start in the financial services industry in 2005 with Bank of America. While working for U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management I attained my CFP® designation and became a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®). I transitioned to a smaller Fee-Only financial planning firm to get broader experience beyond investment management and haven’t looked back. I have been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report among others, and have written for Richmond Family Magazine. I previously served on the South Region Board for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) the leading organization for fiduciary, Fee-Only financial planners. When I’m not geeking out on financial planning I like to spend time with my husband and 3 kids, read, watch stand-up comedy, and (attempt to) garden.