Investing is much more complicated today than it was several years ago. The variety of mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and international securities continues to grow. With so many choices and increasingly volatile financial markets, it has become more difficult for individual investors to monitor their own portfolios and make timely investment decisions. However, the decisions an investor makes today and in the future can significantly affect his or her long-term financial security.
Mainstay Capital Management, LLC (MCM) was founded to help investors who do not have the time or inclination to give their retirement savings accounts and other investments the thorough research and analysis they require. Through our portfolio development and management process, MCM takes full advantage of the investment options available in a client’s 401(k), 403(b), IRA, or other type of managed account to meet his or her long-term goals and tolerance for risk. Additionally, with our staff of Senior Wealth Advisors, Mainstay Capital Management can offer counsel and develop comprehensive solutions for any financial aspect of your life.
Mainstay Capital Management is an independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor. MCM has no ties to, nor receives commissions or compensation from any broker, mutual fund company, banking institution, or insurance company. 
David Kudla is founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Strategist of Mainstay Capital Management, LLC, a fee-only, independent, Registered Investment Advisor. He is also President and Executive Editor of FIA Publishing, LLC, which publishes the “401k Investor” series of investment advisory newsletters. David is ranked by Barron’s* as one of the “Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors” in the country for the past fifteen years (2009–2023) and in the top 25 the past ten years (2014–2023). He is also a member of the Barron’s* Advisors Hall of Fame (2019). David is ranked among the top 100 in Forbes* “Top Wealth Advisors” (2020-2023) and Mainstay Capital Management is ranked among the top 50 in Forbes* “Top RIA Firms” (2023). David speaks at national conferences, conducts educational seminars, writes articles about retirement planning and investing, and has advised thousands of workplace savings plan participants. David is a contributing writer for Dow Jones MarketWatch and Forbes. His insights into investments, the financial markets, and retirement planning have been sought out by Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business, CNN, other networks, and in prominent print media. David has earned his Certificate in Financial Planning and two postgraduate degrees, including a Masters Degree in Management at Stanford University. As part of his philanthropic activities, David serves as the Executive Advisor and Sponsor for the ENGAGE® Undergraduate Investment Conference, an annual international student stock pitch competition and conference. David has served on several university and financial services industry advisory councils.
At Mainstay Capital Management we are committed to providing exceptional, personalized service. After a thorough analysis, Mainstay will manage a portfolio designed to meet your specific needs. Whether you have a long-term time horizon and are looking to maximize gains, or would like to generate current income and minimize volatility, our team will manage your portfolio and handle all of the day-to-day investment decisions.
Community Involvement
*DISCLOSURE INFORMATION - RANKINGS AND AWARDS
Barron’s Magazine –Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors, Top 1,200 Financial Advisors, Hall of Fame
The selection methodology described below is for Barron’s which is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P.. Mainstay Capital Management, LLC (“Mainstay”) is not affiliated with Barron’s or Dow Jones & Company, L.P.. “Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors” and “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” bases the rankings upon data provided by individual advisors and their firms, including submissions by Mainstay. Barron’s confirms that data via regulatory databases, crosschecks with securities firms and conversations with individual advisors. Mainstay applied for consideration, and the result was independently granted. Advisors’ who wish to be ranked fill out a survey about their practice. Barron’s then verifies that data with the advisors’ firms and with regulatory databases and then applies its rankings formula to the data to generate a ranking. The formula Barron’s uses to rank advisors is proprietary. It has three major components: assets managed, revenue produced and quality of practice. Investment returns are not a component of the rankings because an advisor’s returns are dictated largely by the risk tolerance of clients. In addition, Barron’s also considers a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisors’ experience, their advanced degrees and industry designations, the size and shape of their teams, their charitable and philanthropic work and regulatory compliance records.
Mainstay is unaware of the number of nominees considered for the award rankings. Barron’s does not require membership or payment in order for award participants and/or applicants to be considered for an award designation. Moreover, neither Mainstay nor any other participating advisors paid a fee to be eligible for the “Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors”, "Barron’s Hall of Fame", and/or “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors.” However, Mainstay may pay a fee in exchange for plaques, logo licensing, a web link, or article reprints commemorating the designation. Mainstay would pay this fee only after receiving the designation and not as a condition precedent to receiving it. The fact that Mainstay pays any fee with respect to its receipt of the designation should be considered if such designation is a factor in a client’s or prospective client’s evaluation of whether to initially engage or continue to engage Mainstay for investment advisory services. Barron’s ranked advisors may pay Barron’s a separate fee for special advertising to publish their contact information including applicable phone numbers, email addresses, and website addresses. This publication option is offered on an annual basis and is limited to Barron’s ranked advisors for that respective year. After receiving the respective award designations, Mainstay may pay a separate fee to Barron’s in exchange for publication of this information. It should be noted that this type of payment creates an inherent conflict of interest because it provides the awarding entity with a monetary incentive to grant such ranking, recognition, or designation to participating advisors that submit such forms of consideration. Barron’s does not publish, nor is Mainstay aware of the percentage of other advisors that received the applicable rankings. Mainstay is unaware of any undisclosed facts that could potentially invalidate the appropriateness of the ranking. By virtue of disclosing this ranking, Mainstay is disclosing favorable ratings (to the extent that David Kudla or Mainstay is ranked above other advisors) and unfavorable ratings (to the extent that David Kudla or Mainstay is ranked below other advisors). By considering the compliance record, eligibility to appear on the rankings seeks to ensure that a participating advisor has an established and significant history and record free from regulatory sanctions. The rankings are not representative of any one client’s experience because of the way in which it is calculated. Inclusion on the above list is absolutely not indicative of Mainstay’s future performance, or any future performance pertaining to its clients’ investments; should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if Mainstay is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; and should not be construed as a current or past endorsement of Mainstay by any of its clients.
“Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranks all advisors regardless of whether they are considered independent or not. The financial results used in the calculations are as of September 30, 2022, and appeared in Barron’s on March 13, 2023.
“Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors” only ranks advisors they consider “independent”. The data is as of the end of the second quarter ending, June 30 2023, and appeared in Barron’s on September 18, 2023.
"Barron’s Hall of Fame" is an award honoring advisors who have appeared in 10 or more of Barron’s annual Top 100 Advisor rankings. Barron’s awarded David Kudla this honor in 2019, which first appeared September 16, 2019.
Forbes – America’s Top Wealth Advisors, America’s Top RIA Firms, and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
“Forbes” is a registered mark of Forbes, LLC. Mainstay Capital Management, LLC (“Mainstay”) is not affiliated with Forbes or SHOOK Research. Data for the Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors”, “America’s Top RIA Firms”, and “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” are developed by SHOOK Research. Each advisor considered for the award was nominated by their respective firm, then vetted and ranked by SHOOK Research. David Kudla or Mainstay applied for consideration, and the result was independently granted. The Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors,” and “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” rankings are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. An advisor would meet basic requirements for consideration based on having a minimum of seven years’ experience, a minimum of one year at the current firm (with exceptions based on acquisitions, etc.), being nominated and recommended by a firm, completion of an online survey, over 50% of revenue / production must be with individuals, and an acceptable compliance record. The algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance record, industry experience, and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. In developing its applicant pools for “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” and “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors,” SHOOK sets thresholds to limit nominations for consideration. For “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” and “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” Forbes and SHOOK may receive thousands of nominations (based on SHOOK thresholds), invite thousands of candidates to complete the online survey, conduct a lesser number of telephone interviews, and conduct a smaller sample of in-person interviews virtually or at the Advisor’s location. Forbes recognizes a couple hundred wealth advisors. Forbes generally recognizes around one hundred wealth advisors from Michigan. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee or require membership in exchange for rankings. Accordingly, neither David Kudla nor Mainstay, or any other participating advisors paid a fee to be eligible for the “America’s Top Wealth Advisors”, “America’s Top RIA Firms”, or “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” rankings. Based on its stated methodology, SHOOK does not name advisors if the ratings are not statistically valid; and there are no facts that would call into question the validity of the inclusion on the “America’s Top Wealth Advisors”, “America’s Top RIA Firms”, and “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” rankings or the appropriateness of Mainstay advertising the same. By considering the compliance record, eligibility to appear on the rankings seeks to ensure that a participating advisor has an established and significant history and record free from regulatory sanctions.
Mainstay is unaware of any undisclosed facts that could potentially invalidate the appropriateness of the above rankings. By virtue of disclosing the rankings, Mainstay is disclosing favorable ratings (to the extent that David Kudla or Mainstay is ranked above other advisors) and unfavorable ratings (to the extent that David Kudla or Mainstay is ranked below other advisors). The ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience because of the way in which it is calculated. The ranking is absolutely not indicative of Mainstay’s and its advisors’ future performance, or any future performance pertaining to its clients’ investments, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement by any of its clients.
The “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” data is as of June 30, 2022 and appeared in the 2023 April/May issue of Forbes Magazine.
The “America’s Top RIA Firms” data is as March 31, 2023 and appeared on Forbes on October 10, 2023.
The “Best-In-State” data as of June 30, 2022 and appeared appeared in the 2023 April/May issue of Forbes Magazine.