About the Founder
Lauren Mishra, PhD, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Enrolled Agent
After years in large, traditional firms, I grew frustrated by the conflicts of interest where company profits and priorities overshadowed client relationships. I eventually realized I simply could not serve two masters.
I founded Elion with the goal of providing conflict-free financial advice to people when they need it most - during times of uncertainty and transition.
I work with physicians, architects, business owners, entertainers, athletes, and other public figures who have suddenly found themselves in very different financial situations than those their parents faced or what they have experienced earlier in life.
As a fee-only advisor, I earn no outside commissions or incentives, ensuring that my recommendations are always in your best interest.
As a committed independent planner, I am not tied to the financial concerns of any larger company and I have no external stakeholders.
Without a strict corporate protocol, I am able to determine when and where my clients require additional, personal care and to support them exactly as they need me.
I personally design and manage your financial plan from start to finish. Unlike other firms that rely on paraplanners, assistants, or junior staff, I solely handle every detail, offering you a more personal, dedicated approach.
Finally, by accepting only a limited number of clients, I am able to give each person the dedicated time and attention they deserve, ensuring a truly personalized experience.
My Story
As a Certified Financial Planner and Enrolled Agent with a background in STEM, I’m passionate about making financial and tax planning simple and stress-free for my clients. I take complex strategies and break them down into clear, actionable steps, handling the heavy lifting so my clients don’t have to. This allows them to focus on what they do best and enjoy their lives, confident in their decisions and knowing I've got their backs.
I made the shift to finance after a rewarding career as a synthetic chemist, discovering new pharmaceuticals. After my husband completed his medical residency and started working as an internist, we began seeking financial advice, only to be turned away by traditional firms because our assets were just starting to grow. The more I looked into it, the more I saw an opportunity to apply my scientific background to finance. I realized that my experience teaching students and young scientists could easily translate into helping clients understand and take control of their money.
My husband and I are originally from Georgia, but now call Tucson, Arizona home, where we raise our two kids. As a family, we’re big fans of football, baseball, and tennis, and we love to camp, hike, and ski whenever we can. We're passionate about the environment and human rights, and we’re always striving to find the balance in life that I encourage my clients to seek as well.
My History
My first "money memory" came at age 5 when my family moved from a suburb of Dallas, Texas to the small tourist town of Helen, Georgia. My parents bought a rundown go-kart track, and turned it into a thriving amusement park. Watching them build a small business from scratch and retire by 50 had a powerful impact on me. Their hard work and determination inspired me to believe that big dreams are possible when broken down into actionable steps.
That inspiration led me to pursue science—first earning my bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Georgia, followed by a master’s in biophysics at the University of Virginia, and a doctorate in medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan. I worked as a synthetic chemist discovering and developing pharmaceuticals for nearly a decade at both the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona.
However, my career took a turn when my husband and I struggled to find financial advice that met our needs. As a newly-minted M.D. and Ph.D. couple, we were often dismissed by traditional financial advisors who weren’t interested in working with us unless we had large assets to invest. Frustrated by the lack of support, I decided to dive into financial planning myself. I quickly realized that financial management could be approached with a scientific, data-driven mindset.
I became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and an Enrolled Agent, gaining experience with while helping friends and colleagues, especially physicians. When these engagements turned into paid opportunities, I launched my own firm to provide flexible and tailored financial solutions that make sense for my clients.
I love that every client brings unique challenges, whether it’s a move, career change, or a new business. These complex puzzles are what excite me, and I thrive on solving them!