Navigating Growth as a Solo Financial Planner

Stacy Miller, MBA, CFP^® of BayView Financial Planning

The early stages of building a personal financial practice can feel like an upward journey, but Stacy Miller, MBA, CFP^®, founder of BayView Financial Planning, trusts in the process, relying on her steadfast perseverance. She’s investing every effort into continuous education, client engagement, and building visibility to lay the groundwork to ensure her firm is positioned for growth. As a solo practitioner since March 2024, Stacy has been facing both the rewards and challenges of running her business. A one-person team, she focuses on guiding women, widows, and military families toward financial empowerment.

Based in Tampa, BayView currently serves two clients and manages $2 million in assets, uniquely providing accessible financial advice without investment minimums—a model reflecting her commitment to helping people through life’s financial dynamics. “It was important to me to have a business model like this,” says Stacy, a former military spouse who has navigated 14 relocations, often leaving her unemployed or underemployed. “Everyone has complicated financial decisions to make when life changes positively or negatively.”

Cultivating Credibility Through Continuous Education and Industry Engagement

Inspired to help others, Stacy began public speaking and writing to educate women, young adults, and military families in personal finance. Later, fellow female advisors she met at the 2017 Financial Advisor Invest in Women Conference inspired her journey toward completing her CFP^® certification. Becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional in 2019, she has quickly gained recognition and credibility within the industry. Prioritizing continuous learning and active community involvement, especially among women, has always been integral to Stacy’s professional development and success. “As a new advisor in a boutique investment management firm, I was tasked with training myself through education, conferences, and experiences,” she explains.

Stacy’s engagement and NAPFA membership have led her to contribute to several committees and participate in various women-led and pro bono organizations, such as the NAPFA Foundation, Savvy Ladies, Advisers Give Back, and the College Affordability Project. She’s also been provided additional opportunities to share her experience as a featured speaker at the 2023 NAPFA Spring Conference and mentor with the Women's Initiative. She continues to leverage her various networks and regularly stays current with trends and news, attending events and following various platforms and experts, such as Michael Kitces of Kitces.com.

Building From Scratch: The Challenges and Rewards of a Solo Practice

Stacy has appreciated the opportunity to establish her firm, values, and distinct business model from the ground up, which includes her “no-judgment zone” approach and focuses on niche markets, such as women, widows, and military and veteran families requiring specialized expertise. “Women want expert guidance, empowerment, and an empathetic ear,” she says. “My experience as a military spouse, managing moves, my career, and family obligations, has given me firsthand insights into how transitions can profoundly impact women.”

Stacy acknowledges finding her ideal clients and growing her firm are primary challenges. “I am working hard at communicating to the world that BayView Financial Planning is open for business,” she says. Her marketing efforts are as in-depth as her industry engagement, encompassing a multipronged plan to increase brand visibility. In addition to partnering with a marketing consultant, Stacy leverages multiple lead generation sites and media features, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and other outlets. She stays connected with her audience, creating original content through her blog, newsletter, and videos on personal finance topics, including military-specific benefits and investment strategies for busy female professionals.

Focused on steady progress and lasting success, Stacy remains dedicated to her vision, ensuring BayView’s readiness to serve clients, particularly women, and make a lasting impact in the financial planning arena. “I’m passionate about guiding my clients toward investing in their own future financial security through the tides of life,” she says.

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