Laura West has been Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer of West Financial Advisors since April 2006, is a control person of the firm and directly owns between 25% and 50% of it. Laura West holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Iowa and a Master of Family and Consumer Sciences in Family Financial Planning from Iowa State University.
West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. is a Des Moines, IA firm with $674M under management, 305 clients and 6 advisers across 2 offices, as of its February 2026 filing.
Laura West is Senior Advisor and Managing Partner of West Wealth Management. She focuses on capturing opportunities to enhance client results and on mitigating risks that can take them off track of their plan. Before starting the firm, she worked as a CPA for KPMG and directed the financial planning and reporting activities for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
- – present · 19 yearsDes Moines, IA · Adviser representative · Firm CRD 142265
Professional designations
Listed by West Financial Advisors
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
Investment adviser representative registrations
Laura West is registered as an investment adviser representative in 2 states. The first approvals date from October 2006; the most recent is Arizona, in February 2026.
- ArizonaSince 9 February 2026
- IowaSince 30 October 2006
Examinations
| Exam | Name | Passed |
|---|---|---|
| Series 65 | Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination | 5 October 2006 |
- Name
- Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination
- Full name
- Laura Kay Brannen West
- CRD
- 5236631
- Firm
- West Financial Advisors · CRD 142265
- Role
- Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer
- Office
- 111 EAST GRAND, SUITE 412, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Registration
- Investment adviser registration
- In the industry since
- October 2006
- Disciplinary history
- Not yet shown here · SEC record
- Firm bio
- westwealth.com
Where does Laura West work?
Laura West has been Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer of West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. since April 2006, and is a control person of the firm.
Is Laura West a financial advisor?
Yes. Laura West has a current investment-adviser registration in Arizona and Iowa, through West Financial Advisors since October 2006.
How many years of experience does Laura West have?
Laura West has 19 years in the financial industry, since October 2006, across 1 adviser firm.
What exams has Laura West passed?
Laura West passed the Series 65 in October 2006.
Where is Laura West based?
Laura West’s registered office is in Des Moines, IA.
Is Laura West registered with FINRA?
No. Laura West has no current broker registration.
Is Laura West a CFP?
West Financial Advisors lists Laura West with the CFP credential (“CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)”) on its website. CFP Board confirms certification status.
How can I verify Laura West’s record?
Search CRD 5236631 on the SEC’s adviser search (adviserinfo.sec.gov), which publishes Laura West’s full registration record.