President E. Ronald Lara, CFP® (pictured right) founded LSM in 1981 to serve affluent individuals and businesses in the DC metropolitan area. He and partner Frank T. Shull, IV share a vision of providing sound, honest financial advice while building each clients' lifelong aspirations into the equation.

Solid Foundation

Since 1981, Lara, Shull & May (LSM) has provided investment, tax and estate planning services to a wide variety of our nation's elite including corporations, professional associations, non-profits and generations of high net worth individuals. With headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia and a branch office in Frisco, Colorado, the LSM team manages assets estimated at one-half billion dollars.

In 2007, Focus Financial Partners (Focus) recognized LSM's impressive history and extended an invitation for partnership. Focus is the world's leading independent wealth management organization, uniting 17 outstanding partner and affiliate firms from across the US and UK to form a single, synergistic and entrepreneurial partnership.

By joining this partnership and re-forming as Lara, Shull and May, LLC, the firm became part of an organization that boasts a distinguished collective expertise in the independent wealth management arena. Facilitated by Focus, the members remain autonomous while gaining new opportunities for growth, financial stability and ensured continuity.

Comprehensive Planning

At LSM, we carefully consider your goals and risk tolerance before making recommendations concerning your financial plan. LSM's proprietary Success Solutions® provide a thorough and carefully structured process that makes it easier for you to evaluate your current situation and define your immediate and long-term goals. Once this initial phase is complete, your LSM advisory team works closely with you to construct a well-defined strategy for allocating, managing and distributing your wealth. Following the implementation of your plan, your LSM team will continually monitor, rebalance and/or revise the plan as your situation or external market conditions change.

Unbiased Advice

LSM is an independent registered investment advisory and broker/dealer firm regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc (FINRA) respectively. LSM is also a Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) member and registered with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). LSM is not restricted in its offerings by a third party or banking organization. Our advisors are free to explore a variety of options available in the marketplace before carefully selecting those investments best suited to meet your individual needs. LSM advisors take great pride in implementing the highest standard of fiduciary management. 

Exceptional Service

LSM combines the best of both worlds - the competence and sophistication of a large, metropolitan enterprise and the personal care and discretion of a small, private firm. While your LSM advisor will work hard to build a close working relationship with you, behind the scenes is a team of highly respected financial professionals who work in close collaboration achieve a common goal:
That every client's plan is executed with the utmost care and attention.

We believe strongly in maintaining a high level of transparency. Clients receive monthly and/or quarterly account reports, transaction confirmations, prospectus and fund updates directly from the custodian. Firm disclosures, annual financials, important notices, state registrations, consumer information and important industry resources are published and available on our public website, www.lsmfinancial.com.

LSM's clearing firm and primary custodian for client accounts is RBC Capital Markets (Royal Bank of Canada), rated one of the safest banks in the world by Global Finance in February 2009. Through RBC's Investor Connect you can access your accounts in a convenient, safe and intuitive environment 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week. And, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact your advisor or any member of the LSM team at your convenience. We are always happy to hear from you.

At LSM, Our Mission is Simple:

Provide comprehensive planning, unbiased advice and exceptional service so our clients can focus their time and energy on the things they value most. That's why when you engage LSM you can feel confident that our only interest is looking after your best interest.