Financial planning in Wilton is evolving — thanks to a new initiative that goes beyond numbers and charts. Brian and Miki Lasher, longtime Wilton residents and co-creators of The Pathfinder Program at Euclid Harding, are introducing a fresh, holistic approach to wealth planning. Their model combines traditional financial planning with behavioral psychology and a deep focus on personal values, helping individuals and families make decisions that reflect what truly matters.
“We’re not just talking about money,” said Brian Lasher, a seasoned wealth management professional who began his career in the early 1990s, spending 11 years advising a Forbes 400 family office. “We’re talking about what matters most — relationships, purpose, legacy. Pathfinder is designed to help people make financial decisions that support the life they truly want to live.”
The Pathfinder journey begins with a thoughtful conversation designed to uncover a client’s values, priorities, and aspirations — including any lingering financial concerns that may have gone unspoken or unresolved. From there, the process unfolds through a series of strategy sessions that incorporate both financial data and personal context. Miki Lasher, a licensed psychologist and strategic partner of Euclid Harding, brings a distinctive perspective — helping clients explore the emotional dynamics around money that are often underestimated in conventional planning.
“People often know what they should do,” Miki explained, “but something gets in the way. Pathfinder helps them recognize and address those roadblocks — whether it’s fear, guilt, uncertainty or past experiences — and we work through them together.”
Total Wealth
At the heart of Pathfinder is the concept of Total Wealth — a broader, more human-centered definition of what it means to be truly well-off. It goes beyond financial assets to include health, relationships, purpose and the impact one has on others. Brian shares the story of a friend who left a high-paying finance job to become a charter schoolteacher in the South, spending summers near his grandchildren in the Northeast. “He may not be ‘traditionally’ wealthy,” Brian said, “but he’s living a life full of purpose and connection. That’s real wealth.”
The Pathfinder Program is designed for a wide range of clients, including:
- Gen X professionals preparing for a career pivot or lifestyle shift in the next 8–10 years
- Individuals nearing retirement who want to coordinate resources and plan their next chapter with confidence
- Business owners and entrepreneurs navigating succession, growth or exit strategies
- Multi-generational families working to balance diverse needs, values and long-term goals
- Anyone seeking to align financial decisions with personal values and life goals
Euclid Harding emphasizes that its approach is fundamentally different from traditional financial planning, which often feels formulaic and transactional. “We’re not here to hand you a plan and say goodbye,” Brian said. “We’re here to walk with you, help you make sense of your goals and challenges, and build something that truly reflects your values.”
Wilton, with its blend of prosperity and authenticity, is the perfect place to launch such a program. “We’ve lived and worked here for 16 years,” Miki said. “Wilton families deserve thoughtful tools and conversations to help them thrive.”
The program also supports CPAs, estate attorneys and other advisors. By integrating values into planning, Pathfinder helps professionals design strategies clients are more likely to follow — enhancing trust and long-term outcomes.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
For those who feel overwhelmed by financial and wealth planning, Miki offered simple advice: “Start by naming the concern that’s been lingering. Then find someone you trust — a thinking partner — to help you look at it. It’s rarely as scary as you think.”
“People think it’s all about numbers and spreadsheets, but true financial confidence doesn’t begin with a spreadsheet. It begins with clarity about what matters most,” Brian added.
The couple’s collaboration is rooted in both professional experience and personal insight. When working with clients, Brian noticed that sometimes knowing the numbers wasn’t enough to help them move forward. Conversations with Miki about how emotional challenges can influence financial decisions led them both to the realization that a program integrating behavioral finance with practical strategy better fit clients’ evolving needs.
“We’ve been thinking about Pathfinder, as a concept, for a while now,” Brian said, “but it’s just been recently that we’ve started to formalize the program. That’s included refining our process and approach, and Miki pursuing specialized training in financial psychology to bridge the gap between emotional insight and financial decision-making.”
“We realized that people don’t change when they’re told what to do,” Miki said. “They change when they feel understood, supported and empowered.”
“We want people to feel confident about their future,” Brian added. “Whether they’re planning for college, caring for aging parents, or thinking about legacy, we help them move from hesitancy to clarity. It’s work we care deeply about, and we’re honored to walk alongside our clients on their journey once the initial path is set.”
Brian and Miki can be found at Euclid Harding online.
