Sarah M. Whitfield serves as Senior Financial Advisor at Advia Credit Union, where she helps members across Michigan and Wisconsin build retirement strategies, manage investments and plan for long-term financial goals. She holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designations, backed by 15 years of direct credit union experience.
Sarah M. Whitfield brings 15 years of credit union financial advisory experience to Advia Credit Union members. Her CFP designation — governed by the CFP Board's fiduciary standards — requires ongoing education and adherence to ethical practice requirements. The ChFC credential adds depth in advanced estate and insurance planning. As a CUDE, she maintains specialized knowledge of the cooperative credit union model and its advantages for member wealth building. She holds active Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses, enabling her to offer investment advisory and brokerage services through Advia Credit Union's investment program. All advisory accounts remain protected under the credit union's NCUA-insured deposit framework for qualifying products.
Sarah Whitfield joined the credit union industry in 2011 after completing her bachelor's degree in finance from Western Michigan University. Her first role — as a member service representative at a community credit union in Kalamazoo — gave her front-line experience with the financial challenges members face daily. She handled account openings, loan applications and basic financial counseling for three years before transitioning into the advisory division.
She earned the Certified Financial Planner designation in 2015 after completing the rigorous examination and experience requirements administered by the CFP Board. The certification requires 6,000 hours of professional financial planning experience or 4,000 hours in an apprenticeship capacity, plus passage of a 170-question examination covering investment planning, tax strategy, retirement distribution, estate planning and insurance analysis.
The Chartered Financial Consultant designation followed in 2018, adding eight additional courses in advanced financial planning topics including behavioral finance, special needs planning and business succession. Her CUDE credential — awarded by the National Credit Union Foundation — reflects a deep commitment to the cooperative model and the principles that distinguish credit unions from for-profit banks.
Sarah joined Advia Credit Union in 2019 as a Financial Advisor and was promoted to Senior Financial Advisor in 2022. She currently manages advisory relationships with members across all 28 branch locations, offering consultations in person, by phone and through video conference.
Sarah Whitfield works with Advia Credit Union members at every financial stage. A 25-year-old opening their first retirement account receives the same attentive planning as a 60-year-old preparing for distribution strategies. The cooperative model means her compensation is not tied to product sales — she recommends what serves the member's interest, period.
Retirement planning at Advia Credit Union starts with a comprehensive assessment of current savings, projected Social Security benefits, employer retirement plans and anticipated living expenses. Sarah builds custom projections using Monte Carlo simulations that model thousands of market scenarios to stress-test a member's retirement readiness. She helps members select appropriate IRA types, set contribution schedules and coordinate distributions to minimize tax impact.
Through the Advia Credit Union investment program, Sarah provides access to mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, individual securities and managed portfolios. Asset allocation recommendations follow a goals-based framework that matches investment risk to the member's timeline and risk tolerance. Quarterly portfolio reviews track performance against benchmarks and adjust allocations as circumstances change.
Sarah coordinates with members' attorneys and tax professionals to align financial accounts with estate documents. She reviews beneficiary designations across all accounts, identifies gaps in transfer-on-death arrangements and helps structure assets to minimize probate complexity. For members with charitable intent, she outlines donor-advised fund options and charitable remainder trust considerations.
Beyond individual consultations, Sarah leads Advia Credit Union's financial education workshop series. Topics rotate monthly and include budgeting fundamentals, debt payoff strategies, homebuyer preparation, college savings planning and pre-retirement readiness. Workshops are free for all Advia Credit Union members and open to the public in the communities the credit union serves.
A summary of Sarah Whitfield's advisory specializations, experience depth and professional credentials at Advia Credit Union.
| Specialty | Years of Experience | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement Planning | 12 years | CFP, ChFC |
| Investment Advisory | 10 years | Series 7, Series 66, CFP |
| Estate Planning Coordination | 8 years | ChFC |
| College Savings Strategies | 10 years | CFP |
| Financial Education | 15 years | CUDE |
| Tax-Efficient Distribution | 9 years | CFP, ChFC |
Call Advia Credit Union at (844) 238-4228 to book a no-cost initial financial planning session. Available in person, by phone or video.
Contact Us About Advia Credit UnionSarah M. Whitfield holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation and the Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) credential. She also maintains active Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses, which authorize her to provide investment advisory and brokerage services through the Advia Credit Union investment program.
Sarah provides retirement planning with Monte Carlo projections, investment advisory and portfolio management, estate planning coordination with attorneys and CPAs, college savings strategies using 529 plans and Coverdell accounts, tax-efficient distribution planning for retirees, and comprehensive financial plan development. Initial consultations are offered at no charge to Advia Credit Union members.
Call Advia Credit Union at (844) 238-4228 and request an appointment with the financial advisory team. Consultations are available at select branch locations in Michigan and Wisconsin, by phone and through secure video conference. The initial session covers your financial goals, current situation and recommended next steps at no charge.
Yes. Advia Credit Union financial advisory services are available to every member regardless of account balance, income level or asset size. The cooperative model ensures advisory recommendations serve the member's interest rather than product sales targets. Whether you are opening your first savings account or managing a complex retirement portfolio, the advisory team is here to help.
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