Forty Under 40: Michelle Hauge

Since opening her own office in 2017 as an independent financial advisor at Strategic Partners Inc., Michelle Hauge has committed to serving as both mentee and mentor to women in her industry. Only about 17% are female, and 40% of those are expected to retire within the next 10 years.

Hauge is a Certified Wealth Strategist working toward designation as a Certified Financial Planner. She grew up in Michigan and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas.

Hauge got her start in financial advising with Arvest Private Wealth Management.

In 2005, she took a position with Arvest as a mortgage loan assistant, and Arvest quickly put her through the bank’s first training program for financial advisers. She was then assigned to assist the firm’s top mortgage producer, who departed Arvest during Hauge’s first week.

“I jumped in and took over,” Hauge said. She had worked her way up to a senior client advisor when she made the decision — slowly, as she admits she doesn’t like change — to go independent.

She affiliated with the broker/dealer Royal Alliance, the nation’s second most extensive network of independent wealth management firms. She set up an office in Rogers, adjacent to Michael Stafford, CPA and CFP, who is also securities licensed so that together they can offer clients a full range of services.

In 2012, Hauge and her husband had a son who spent two weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She later became part of the inaugural NICU committee for Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas. She is active with Mercy’s Women With a Mission and also supports Open Avenues. She enjoys speaking for local groups and on panels and podcasts.