Darren Levinthal, CFP®, CMFC®, APMA
Financial Advisor
Darren started his career as an investment analyst and paraplanner, building the technical foundation that still shapes how he works today. More than two decades later, that foundation has grown into something deeper: a commitment to helping clients understand not just what they’re doing financially, but why every piece of it matters.
You started as an investment analyst before becoming an advisor. How does that background change the way you work with clients?
It means I understand the mechanics before I explain them. Early in my career, I was building portfolios and running planning strategies behind the scenes. That hands-on technical experience gave me a level of fluency that I bring directly into client conversations. I’m not translating someone else’s analysis. I understand it, and I can walk you through it clearly.
You emphasize integration and accountability as the foundation of your planning process. What does that look like in practice?
Integration means your investments, tax strategy, estate plan, and retirement goals are all working from the same set of priorities, not operating in separate conversations with separate professionals. Accountability means I take ownership of that coordination. You shouldn’t have to chase down your own plan. I stay on top of it, flag what needs attention, and make sure things actually get done.
Why is multigenerational planning so important to you?
Because wealth doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Families pass down values, responsibilities, and financial complexity across generations. If planning only accounts for one person at one moment in time, it misses the bigger picture. When it’s appropriate, I want to understand the full family context so the strategy we build today doesn’t create problems for the people you care about tomorrow.
You've been in this industry for over 20 years. What has changed most in how you advise clients?
Early in my career, the focus was heavily technical. Portfolio construction, planning mechanics, getting the numbers right. That still matters. But over time, I’ve come to understand that the most important part of this work is helping people understand their own financial lives clearly enough to make confident decisions. The technical work earns trust. The education and clarity keep it.
What do you want clients to feel after working with you for a few years?
In control. Not dependent on me to decode everything, but genuinely informed about their strategy and confident in the direction they’re heading. My goal is to educate and empower throughout the process, not just deliver a plan and move on. A client who understands their financial life is a client who makes better decisions when something unexpected happens.
Life outside the office
Darren lives in Colorado with his wife, Stacey, and their daughter, Paige. When he’s not working, the family is usually traveling, with a strong preference for destinations near the water. Beaches, boat rides, and new places to explore together are where he recharges. Colorado keeps him grounded, but the water pulls him back whenever he can get there.
You earned your degree in Communications before building a career in finance. Does that combination still show up in your work? Every day. Finance is full of smart people who can’t explain what they do in plain language. Understanding how to communicate clearly, how to frame complex information in a way that actually lands, is a skill I use constantly. The CFP® and the other designations gave me technical credibility. The communications background helped me make that knowledge useful to the people sitting across from me.
Travel seems to be a big part of your life outside the office. What do you take from that? Perspective, mostly. Experiencing different places and cultures reminds you that there are many ways to live a good life. That’s something I carry into client conversations. Success looks different for every family, and my job is to understand what it looks like for yours, not apply someone else’s definition to your situation.