Molly Balunek, CFP^®, AEP^®
Founder and President
Laurel Tree Advisors
Cleveland, Ohio

Molly Balunek, CFP^®, AEP^® currently serves on the board of directors for the Financial Planning Association^® (FPA^®), the principal membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™​ professionals and those who support the financial planning process.

Balunek is president of Laurel Tree Advisors in Cleveland, Ohio, and believes that striving to help clients make smart money decisions begins with building a foundation based on an understanding of what truly motivates each client and the individual core values and beliefs which drive their goals. She founded Laurel Tree Advisors with the belief that there is a growing need for values-based financial planning for people who seek financial freedom.

Balunek has been an active participant in FPA for over 20 years. She served as co-host of the Business Success FPA Knowledge Circle from 2014-16, served seven years on the Board of the FPA of Northeast Ohio (president in 2012), and developed content/presented at the President-Elect track at the annual OneFPA Chapter Leaders Conference from 2011 to 2013. She also serves on the programming committee of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, the Estate Planning Advisory Council at Case Western Reserve University, and the Diamond Advisory Group of University Hospitals. 

With a Bachelor's degree from John Carroll University, she has earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP^®) designation from the College of Financial Planning and the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP^®) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.​