Mark D. Arlen, MBA, CFP®

Certified Professional Profile | CFP - Let's Make a Plan

For over four decades, I’ve dedicated my career to helping individuals and families take control of their financial lives, guiding them toward clarity, confidence, and long-term financial security. My journey began in an unexpected but pivotal way: an internship ad for MBA students at Case Western Reserve caught my eye and led me to Lincoln Financial Advisors. What started as a summer internship turned into a 43-year career of advising, coaching, and building lifelong client relationships.

In 2024, when Lincoln Financial Advisors transitioned to Osaic Wealth, I saw an opportunity to reinvent our brand in a way that better reflected our mission. GPS Financial Planning: Goals, Plans & Solutions captures how we guide clients — with direction, purpose, and a clear path forward.

Growing up with a psychiatrist father, I admired not only his ability to help people navigate emotionally challenging moments, but also his love for adventure, particularly his hobby as a private pilot. For years, I never mustered the courage to pursue flying myself. That changed on my 40th birthday when my sister-in-law gifted me a demo flying lesson. One lesson was all it took. I kept going, earned my pilot’s license, and found a passion I never expected: planning flights, charting courses, and taking on new adventures from the cockpit. It became a perfect metaphor for how I approach financial planning—prepare well, trust the process, and enjoy the journey.

My passion for helping others was shaped early on. With a mind for finance and a heart for people, financial planning became the ideal blend. I’ve always believed that renowned planning is more about behavior than numbers; relishing when helping clients make thoughtful, informed decisions rather than emotional ones. That’s where real change and financial freedom begin.

I’ve been married to my wife, Patty, for more than 39 years. She has pushed me, encouraged me, and inspired many of the biggest and best decisions in our lives, including relocating our family from Cleveland to Denver in 2004. That move changed everything: new opportunities, new perspectives, and ultimately new levels of success. Today, our “second-home journey” continues with our transition from one coastline to another, Newport Beach to Boca Raton, a place that brings us closer to the ocean Patty loves.

We’re proud parents of four incredible children:

• Zak, an executive recruiter in Austin

• Logan, a labor attorney in New York City

• Heather, who leads our New Client Experience and marketing at GPS

• Chandler, who has joined GPS as a Client Service Associate and is on the path to becoming a second-generation advisor

Having Heather and Chandler join the firm has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career.

Outside the office, tennis has always been a primary passion, giving me both competitive energy and social enjoyment. I’m also a longtime sports enthusiast and memorabilia collector, with treasured pieces from icons like Muhammad Ali and LeBron James. And for over 25 years, I’ve proudly held my spot in a fiercely competitive fantasy football league.

Whether in flying, sports, or financial planning, I believe success comes from preparation, discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right team. That philosophy is at the heart of GPS Financial Planning—helping clients stay on course, make smart decisions, and confidently enjoy the life they’ve worked so hard to build.