Michelle Cortés-Harkins has built a financial planning career rooted as much in empathy as in expertise. A Fee-Only Financial Planner and Divorce Specialist at HARKINS WEALTH MANAGEMENT, she brings a blend of analytical rigor and human understanding to clients navigating life’s most complex transitions. Her work centers on helping individuals, couples, and organizations make confident, values-driven financial decisions at pivotal moments. Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser.
Before entering financial services, Michelle spent more than a decade in social work as an English as a Second Language teacher and community organizer. Those years on the front lines continue to shape her client-centered approach. She witnessed how financial uncertainty affects families and communities and carries that perspective into every planning conversation. “Money is never just about numbers,” she says. “It’s tied to values, relationships, and the choices people make at critical points in their lives.”
At Harkins Wealth Management, Michelle specializes in guiding clients through complexity, including business ownership, executive compensation, concentrated equity positions, inheritance, and major transitions like divorce or remarriage. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst CDFA®, she helps clients understand the long-term impact of settlement decisions, evaluate trade-offs, and plan intentionally for life after divorce with independence and resilience in mind. Her broader planning approach integrates tax-aware investment strategy, long-term risk management, and responsible, impact-focused investing.
A graduate of Rhode Island College, Michelle holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work, along with the CRPC®, CSRIC®, and CPFA® designations. She serves on the Women’s Council at Commonwealth Financial Network and helped lead its ESG Impact Committee, supporting thoughtful leadership, inclusion, and sustainable financial practices across the industry. Her family-owned firm recently earned B Corp re-certification, reflecting a deep commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys long-distance biking and hiking with her spouse and business partner, Rick, having completed routes such as the West Highland Way and Skye Trail.
206 Gano Street,
Providence, 401-278-4049,
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