About Mikel
Mikel Van Cleve is an advice director for retirement and complex planning. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Certified Financial Behavior Specialist® and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist®. Mikel is also working on his doctorate at the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
With more than 21 years of experience in financial services, Mikel has served thousands of clients, mentored hundreds of financial advisors and helped develop innovative digital financial planning tools for several Fortune 500 companies. At USAA, he focuses on helping members and their families navigate retirement, estate, and tax planning. He draws on research and behavioral finance theory to translate complex financial issues into practical, actionable advice.
Beyond his corporate role, Mikel is a researcher, guest lecturer and adjunct instructor. His research explores financial well-being in blended families, aiming to help financial professionals understand how evolving family structures impact financial outcomes. He and his wife, Heather, live in Texas with their blended family, including four kids and two pups.