Michelle L. Ash, MSFS, CFP®

Michelle L. Ash, CFP®, RICP®, CASL®

Michelle believes using a holistic approach to helping clients plan and live their dreams is critical to their success. 

The better she can help a client mesh their dreams with their finances, the more successful and fulfilling their retirement journey will be. 

Planning that addresses some of retirees' greatest worries such as health care expenses, long term care, longevity concerns, and unforeseen events can provide the most confidence as you retire. Michelle digs into the details, specializing in retirement planning, holistic wealth management, and specialized issues such as withdrawal planning, retiree healthcare decisions, Medicare, social security, and multi-year tax savings strategies.

Michelle taught educational courses on retirement planning through the University of North Florida’s LearnJax program from 2007 to 2019.  She has also served as an Adjunct Professor with Florida State College at Jacksonville, teaching courses on various financial matters, co-hosted the radio show "Financial Feud,” and has had her advice featured in the Jacksonville Business Journal.  She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has obtained her Masters in Financial Services (MSFS) with a concentration in Charitable and Legacy Planning. Michelle also holds the following additional designations and certifications:

  • RICP™: Retirement Income Certified Professional designation

  • EPT®: Estate Planning and Taxation Certificate

  • BSP®: Business Succession Planning Certificate

  • CASL®: Chartered Advisor for Senior Living designation

Michelle is a 1995 graduate from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, receiving Magna Cum Laude accolades.  She began her career in financial planning in 1998.  Ms. Ash has previously been a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Northeast Florida, having served as President in 2018 and on its board for 5 years.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband, yoga, stand-up paddleboarding on both the ocean and Jacksonville’s waterways, flower gardening, and spending time outdoors.

View full disclosure about Michelle's licensing, employment history, credentials, and professional conduct at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. website.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™  and federally registered CFP (with flame logo) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Investment Advisory Services Provided by Paragon Wealth Strategies, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

Latest from Michelle:
Introduction to Withdrawal Planning During Retirement
Introduction to Withdrawal Planning During Retirement

Searching online about how to retire and use your savings to live on in retirement turns up tons of information. There are articles about the percentage to take out, the taxes to be aware of, and the rules and regulations. The type of article that you probably won’t find is the one that puts these academic facts together with a person’s life considerations to try and offer a real plan of action for withdrawals. This Retirement Income Series of blog topics will seek to do that.

Step 1 of 4: Begin with the End in Mind - Your Nest Egg Goal
Step 1 of 4: Begin with the End in Mind - Your Nest Egg Goal

Welcome back to our Retirement Income Series! Are you looking to retire and figure out what the retirement nest egg you’ve been building for all those years can do for you? In this article we’ll dive into the first step in the 4-step planning process that’s key to a retiree determining their own retirement income and withdrawal plan.

Step 3 of 4: Perform Multi-Year Tax Planning to Minimize Taxes in Retirement
Step 3 of 4: Perform Multi-Year Tax Planning to Minimize Taxes in Retirement

To effectively perform multi-year tax planning strategies, you need to start by looking at your overall income picture over your lifetime. Every single year is accounted for. Doing it this way creates a timeline that allows you to evaluate the bigger picture and identify where specific planning strategies along that timeline may help reduce your overall tax burden. Through this process, the goal is to determine which accounts to withdraw from and when based on your income and expense situation during various segments of time. 

Introductory Overview to Medicare
Introductory Overview to Medicare

Medicare: The United States’ version of universal healthcare for individuals aged 65 and older. Eligibility is a milestone that many retirees are excited to reach. Why? For those who retired prior to age 65, it often means lower costs or more comprehensive benefits. Unfortunately, regardless of age it’s usually also a rude awakening to the complex world of healthcare choices.