Who Is Peter Lazaroff and What Does He Specialize In?

Peter Lazaroff is a recognized financial expert known for his insights into wealth management and investment strategy. His work focuses on helping individuals make informed financial decisions with an emphasis on long-term planning and evidence-based investing. Through his writing, speaking engagements, and advisory role, he has built a reputation as a trusted voice in the financial industry.

Professional Background

Peter Lazaroff is the Chief Investment Officer at Plancorp, a wealth management firm overseeing billions in client assets. He develops investment strategies, manages portfolios, and ensures clients receive data-driven financial guidance tailored to their long-term goals.

Before joining Plancorp, he worked in asset management, analyzing market trends and constructing diversified portfolios. His early career involved researching equities, fixed income, and alternative investments, giving him a broad understanding of asset performance in various economic conditions. This experience shaped his disciplined approach, prioritizing risk management and long-term growth.

Beyond Plancorp, Lazaroff contributes to financial publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Bloomberg, translating complex financial concepts into practical advice. He is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences, sharing insights with financial professionals and individual investors.

Areas of Specialization

Lazaroff specializes in behavioral finance, which examines how psychological factors influence investment decisions. Many investors make emotional choices—such as panic selling during downturns or chasing high-performing stocks—that can hurt long-term returns. By applying behavioral economics principles, he helps clients recognize cognitive biases like loss aversion and overconfidence, encouraging disciplined decision-making.

He also focuses on tax-efficient investing, employing strategies such as tax-loss harvesting, asset location, and strategic withdrawals to minimize tax liabilities and improve after-tax returns. For example, placing high-growth assets in Roth IRAs allows for tax-free withdrawals, while tax-loss harvesting offsets capital gains. These techniques require careful planning, particularly with evolving IRS regulations.

Estate planning and wealth transfer are central to his work, particularly for high-net-worth individuals. He advises on trusts, charitable giving strategies, and gifting allowances to reduce estate tax exposure. With the federal estate tax exemption set at $13.61 million per individual in 2024, strategic planning ensures assets are transferred efficiently. Tools like irrevocable trusts and donor-advised funds offer tax advantages while maintaining control over wealth distribution.

Financial Planning Strategies

Lazaroff emphasizes creating a flexible financial framework that adapts to changing circumstances. A key step is establishing a cash flow strategy that ensures income is allocated efficiently, including setting savings targets, managing expenses, and maintaining an emergency fund with at least three to six months of essential living costs. Keeping liquidity accessible in high-yield savings accounts or short-term Treasury bills allows individuals to handle unforeseen expenses without disrupting long-term investments.

Retirement planning is another focus, emphasizing early and consistent contributions to tax-advantaged accounts. Utilizing 401(k) plans, IRAs, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) provides long-term benefits, particularly with employer matching contributions. In 2024, the 401(k) contribution limit is $23,000, with an additional $7,500 catch-up provision for those aged 50 and older. Strategic Roth conversions in lower-income years allow individuals to prepay taxes at a lower rate and enjoy tax-free withdrawals in retirement.

Debt management is essential, particularly with rising interest rates. Prioritizing high-interest debt, such as credit cards, prevents excessive interest costs from eroding wealth. Refinancing options for mortgages or student loans should be considered when favorable rates are available. Understanding debt-to-income ratios and credit utilization rates helps individuals make informed borrowing decisions.

Investment Philosophy

Lazaroff’s investment approach is based on discipline, adaptability, and empirical research. He emphasizes diversified asset allocation across equities, fixed income, and alternative assets to balance risk and return. His philosophy aligns with modern portfolio theory, which focuses on optimizing risk-adjusted returns rather than chasing short-term market movements.

He advocates for low-cost, passively managed funds to enhance portfolio efficiency. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds minimize expense ratios, ensuring compounding benefits the investor rather than being diminished by high fees. Research from S&P Dow Jones Indices consistently shows that most active fund managers underperform their benchmarks over extended periods, reinforcing the case for passive investing.

Lazaroff also avoids market timing, as predicting short-term fluctuations often leads to poor outcomes. Instead, he advocates for systematic investing through dollar-cost averaging, which spreads purchases over time to reduce the impact of volatility. This strategy prevents emotional decision-making and ensures continued market participation.

Educational Contributions

Beyond wealth management, Lazaroff is committed to financial education. His ability to simplify complex investment principles has made him a respected voice in personal finance. Through books, articles, and speaking engagements, he provides individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions.

His book, Making Money Simple, offers a step-by-step guide to building a strong financial foundation. It covers automating savings, constructing a diversified portfolio, and developing a long-term mindset. By focusing on simplicity and consistency, he encourages readers to take control of their finances without being overwhelmed by technical jargon or short-term market noise.

Lazaroff delivers keynote speeches and participates in financial literacy initiatives. His presentations at industry conferences and corporate events focus on behavioral finance, retirement planning, and investment strategy. He also contributes to financial education through podcasts and webinars, discussing market trends and personal finance best practices. By leveraging multiple platforms, he ensures his insights reach a broad audience, from seasoned investors to those just beginning their financial journey.