Dr. Mikel Van Cleve, CFP®
Financial Planning Researcher | Educator | Consultant
Mikel Van Cleve is a financial planning researcher and educator with over two decades of industry experience. His work examines how family relationships, particularly in blended families, shape financial behavior, well-being, and planning outcomes.
Drawing on longitudinal data and advanced quantitative methods, Dr. Van Cleve investigates how relational dynamics influence financial decision-making across the life course. His research is grounded in both theory and practice to produce insights meaningful to scholars, financial planners, and policy conversations alike.
Dr. Van Cleve is especially passionate about helping financial professionals better serve blended families through evidence-based strategies.
Mikel Van Cleve, Ph.D., CFP®
Featured Research
Examines the determinants and consequences of financial infidelity in blended family systems, highlighting the roles of relational boundaries and trust in shaping financial outcomes.
Examines how psychological dynamics and family relationships shape estate planning decisions in blended families, highlighting why traditional planning approaches often fail and how practitioners can better support complex family systems.
Bridging Research and Practice
Dr. Van Cleve's work sits at the intersection of academic research and financial planning practice. In addition to scholarly publications and conference presentations, he has led the development of financial planning strategies, digital advice platforms, and educational initiatives serving over one million users.
This dual perspective informs a research agenda that is both analytically rigorous and practically relevant.
This site provides access to Dr. Van Cleve's research, publications, and ongoing work at the intersection of family relationships and financial well-being.
Professional Engagement & Consulting
In addition to Dr. Van Cleve's research and teaching, he provides training and consulting through Van Cleve Consulting, focused on helping financial professionals better serve blended families. This work translates research on family dynamics into practical strategies for client communication, planning, and outcomes.
© 2026, Mikel Van Cleve
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.