Traditional financial advisory firms—like large national firms—typically manage your money for you and charge a percentage of your assets every year, often 1–2% annually.

At Kiefer Financial Advising, we believe there’s a better way.

Instead of taking control of your money or charging ongoing percentage-based fees, our focus is on education, simplicity, and empowering you to stay in control.

Most traditional advisors earn more as your account grows, regardless of how much work is actually being done. Over time, those fees quietly compound against you.

Example:
A 1.5% annual fee on a $500,000 portfolio is $7,500 every year — often for the same basic allocation and periodic check-ins. Over decades, this can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost growth.

Our approach:

• One-time planning fee
  Designed to get everything organized, optimized, and clearly explained.

• Optional low flat-fee subscription
  For clients who want continued guidance, ongoing check-ins, and easy access to advice — without giving up control or paying a percentage of assets.

No asset-based fees.
No hidden incentives.
No conflicts of interest.

We do not take custody of your assets.
Your money stays with you — in accounts you control.

Our role is to:

• Understand your full financial picture

• Build a clear, simple investment strategy

• Educate you so you understand exactly what you own and why

• Give you the tools and confidence to manage everything yourself

You’re never locked in, and you’re never wondering where your money is or how it’s being used.

We believe you should understand your investments, not just trust someone else with them.

That means:

• Plain-English explanations (no jargon)

• Clear reasoning behind every recommendation

• Empowering you to make confident financial decisions

Our goal isn’t to make you dependent on us — it’s to help you feel confident managing your financial life.

The traditional advisory model hasn’t changed much in decades. Technology, access to information, and low-cost investment tools have.

Kiefer Financial Advising was built to reflect that shift:

• Less complexity

• More transparency

• Lower costs

• More control for you

Investment returns aren’t just about performance — costs matter. Many traditional portfolios include actively managed mutual funds that charge higher internal fees, creating a drag on returns year after year.

While some active funds may outperform for short periods, most struggle to do so consistently. Higher expenses, frequent trading, and changing market conditions make sustained outperformance rare — even for skilled managers.

At Kiefer Financial Advising, we prioritize low-cost index funds whenever appropriate. Index funds are designed to track broad areas of the market rather than trying to predict winners, which helps keep expenses low and strategies simple.

This approach offers:

• Lower expense ratios, reducing long-term cost drag

• Broad diversification across markets and asset classes

• Transparency, so you understand what you own and why

• Consistency, without relying on manager selection or market timing

By minimizing internal investment costs and avoiding unnecessary complexity, this strategy focuses on long-term efficiency and clarity, helping more of your money stay invested and working toward your goals.