Who we are
Come explore who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. With us, you can trust that you are in good hands.
About Our Firm
Our Philosophy
Our Mission
Our Process
We use an established process called 3D IMAX to help us learn more about what’s most important to you and to craft a unique strategy that focuses on your goals and needs.
Discovery
The first step is DISCOVERY. This is a very conversational meeting where we are learning and uncovering information to better assist in your financial planning.
Design
The second step is DESIGN. We take the information from the Discovery step and go behind the scenes to craft a set of potential solutions that will help you reach your goals.
Delivery
The third step is DELIVERY. We present and educate you on the various solutions that will help you achieve your goals and any costs or fees associated with those solutions.
MeetKevin Chancellor
CEO, Financial Advisor & Certified Social Security Claiming Strategist
Kevin Chancellor embarked on his journey in the Financial Services Industry in 2015 with Edward Jones, transitioning from an 11-year tenure in the teaching field. At Edward Jones, Kevin was pivotal in setting up and expanding the sole branch located in Palm Bay, FL, an endeavor Edward Jones had been pursuing for years. Due to his expertise and success, he was entrusted with various leadership roles, mentoring both new and struggling advisors to thrive in their communities and establish successful practices.
In January 2021, Kevin founded Black Lab Financial Services. He believed in an approach that was unrestricted in serving and educating his clients. Placing an emphasis on financial education and planning, Kevin has been recognized and featured in numerous local and national media outlets including Yahoo Finance, CNN Business, U.S. News and World Report, Sound Dollar, Money Geek, and Employee Benefit News. These platforms have showcased his insights on retirement planning, high net worth investing strategies, market news, estate planning, among other subjects.
At his core, Kevin possesses a genuine commitment to community service and an unwavering loyalty to his clients — a dedication reminiscent of the bond he shares with his Black Lab, Olivia. His belief in giving back is evident in his role as the Chair of the Board of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce and his participation in its Executive Committee. Additionally, Kevin continues to support several charitable organizations in Brevard County.
Beyond his professional life, Kevin showcases his musical prowess with solo acoustic, ukulele, and singing performances at various local eateries under the banner of “Kevin Ray Acoustic.” These performances are more than just shows; they serve as fundraisers that have generated thousands for organizations like St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Crosswinds Youth Services, and Children’s Home Society of Brevard, among others.
On a personal note, Kevin found love with Sybil in 2014, and by July 2016, they united their families. Together, they are blessed with five children, a granddaughter, and two rescue dogs, Olivia (Livi) and Sophie. Beyond his musical and professional pursuits, Kevin’s passions lie in nature parks, fishing, and gardening.
With a heart full of gratitude, Kevin looks forward to welcoming more individuals into the Black Lab Financial family, ensuring they receive the utmost care and expert guidance.
MeetMarilyn Gifford
Senior Financial Advisor & Author
Do unto others as you’d have done to you,” is an ethical principle that Marilyn Gifford lives by, particularly when it comes to investing a client’s money. She believes that to truly serve a client’s needs, it’s crucial to deeply understand their unique goals, tax situations, health conditions, family dynamics, and the level of risk they are comfortable with. Only when she’s fully attuned to a client’s priorities can she offer the level of care and commitment she would extend to her own investments.
Marilyn’s aim is to collaborate closely with her clients and help them attain their long-term financial aspirations. By joining forces with a comprehensive team of experts, including the client’s accountant and attorney, as well as tax strategists and insurance specialists, she can craft a bespoke strategy tailored to each client’s specific objectives. As she often says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Whether a client is preparing for retirement, saving for higher education, dreaming of buying a sailboat, seeking protection for loved ones, or in need of sophisticated wealth management strategies, Marilyn is there to assist.
Having devoted the majority of her adult life to the financial sector, Marilyn is consistently committed to delivering the highest quality of service to her clients. Before inaugurating the New Smyrna Beach branch of Black Lab Financial Services, she held the position of Vice President at the West Coast’s oldest brokerage firm, specializing in extensive corporate 401(k) plans. More recently, she has been known for her innovative approaches in working with individual clients.
On a more personal note, Marilyn hails from Boston, and one might catch a hint of her accent when she’s particularly enthused. She is an alumnus of Suffolk University on Beacon Hill and has earned recognition as a published author and lecturer. She’s also a fervent advocate for autism awareness. On weekends, the beach is her sanctuary, as she cherishes the feeling of sand between her toes. Among her varied interests, she’s a Kiwanian, an avid reader with a keen interest in neuroplasticity, and, above all, the incredibly proud mother of her remarkable son, Kordell.
Marilyn looks forward to the prospect of working closely with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to review your strategy we have the answers for all of your questions today.
Is working with an Independent Financial Advisor safe?
An independent financial advisor is governed by the same laws and regulations that govern advisors at large firms. Independent advisors must meet the same compliance standards with their firm AND the custodian/company that they are using to manage client assets. Many independent advisors use the larger financial institutions as the custodians for a client’s assets, which may have additional compliance requirements to the advisor specific to their organization.
What is a custodian?
A custodian is a firm or bank, such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Raymond James, etc. that holds a client’s securities to safeguard them from being lost or stolen. They also do the reporting on accounts that is required by the IRS.
How do we work together?
At Black Lab Financial we use an established process to help provide the resources and solutions our clients need to help them reach their goals. The initial Discovery meeting is very conversational where we first get to know one another, establish financial goals, review documents, as well as determine if we would be a good fit to work together. Our team takes all the data from the Discovery meeting to draft an initial financial plan. We then schedule a second appointment to present the plan to the prospective client and discuss any potential solutions that would improve the client’s situation as well as all costs associated with those solutions.
Is there a fee for a consultation?
Is there a fee for a consultation? The first two appointment consultations, including any communications in between, are completely complimentary. There is only a cost when we decide to work together and all fees and commissions are 100% transparent to you, the client.
Is Black Lab Financial Services a Fiduciary?
Yes. A fiduciary is a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or persons, putting their clients’ interests ahead of their own, with a duty to preserve good faith and trust. We offer Fiduciary fee-only accounts to all of our clients, however, we do also offer commission-based strategies if it is a better fit for the client and they choose that over a fiduciary account after weighing the pros and cons of both.
How can I meet with my advisor?
We offer office, home visits*, phone, and web conferencing appointments to fit our clients’ needs.
How are you paid for your services?
We collect fees from managed accounts and commissions from products/services outside of a fee-based accounts such as insurance strategies. We also collect financial planning fees for individuals that prefer to make investment choices themselves.
What products and services do you offer?
What products and services do you offer? Being a part of an independent firm allows Black Lab Financial to utilize numerous Custodians, Third Party Money Managers, and other financial companies as well as all of their resources to create a tailored plan to help you reach your goals. This includes, but not limited to most all public investment offerings, private equity and debt solutions, alternative investments, insurance premium financing, fixed and variable annuities, life insurance, and comprehensive financial planning for all our individual, business owner, and corporate clients.
What is the best way to set up an appointment?
You may reach out to us via e-mail at info@blacklabfs.com, by phone at 321-987-0138, or simply schedule a time on our calendar.
What happens if I lose money in my portfolio?
Unfortunately, we cannot control what the markets do, we can only control how we prepare and react to it. We do our best to protect our clients from the downside with flexibility and capture as much as possible on the upside with strategic investing. We sincerely believe in a well-diversified and flexible portfolio to help us accomplish this goal.
*Home visits are offered only to local prospective clients within 20 miles from our office location.