Derek Lawson

About Derek Lawson

I’m a CFP® professional and co-owner of Priority Financial Partners, where I help near-retirees turn decades of saving into a clear, confident retirement strategy. My work centers around retirement income planning, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, investment management, and personalized financial decision-making, all designed to help clients retire on their terms. I have also spent seven years in academia as an Assistant Professor and the last three years as Director of the undergraduate financial planning program at K-State. I hold a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning and bring an evidence-based, research-driven lens to the real-world complexities our clients face every day. While my primary focus is helping individuals and couples preparing for retirement, I also work with families navigating the “messy middle”… those who are managing competing priorities like debt, college savings, career changes, and long-term goals, all at once. Whether a client is five years from retirement or knee-deep in family logistics, I aim to bring clarity and calm to their financial life. Outside of my professional work, I now live in Cumming, IA (Des Moines area) with my two young daughters, having moved from Manhattan, KS this summer. I am a lifelong hockey fan (yes, the Frozen Four weekend is basically a holiday in my house and the NHL playoffs are the most wonderful time of the year!) and love finding ways to blend structured planning with a life that leaves room for fun, flexibility, and meaning.

Experience

1. Partner, Chief Compliance Officer

   Priority Financial Partners

   Jun 2020 — Present

Education

• The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Finance

  2006 — 2011

• Kansas State University

  Master of Science (M.S.), Personal Financial Planning, Family Studies & Human Services

  2012 — 2014

• Kansas State University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Personal Financial Planning: Financial Therapy & Physiological Stressors

  2015 — 2019

Skills

• Scheduling
• Budget Development & Analysis
• Event Planning
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Sports Management
• Cost Accounting
• Process Scheduler
• Non-Profits
• Problem Solving
• Business Planning
• Social Media Strategist
• Strategic Planning
• Nonprofits
• Problem Analysis
• Analysis
• Budgets
• Retirement Planning
• Time Management
• Hockey
• Accounting
• Research
• Management
• Leadership
• Coaching
• Social Media
• Forecasting
• Training
• Public Speaking