Top Financial Advisors in Kansas City, MO

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Prairie Capital Management is the No. 1 firm on our list of the top-rated financial advisors in Kansas City. Its clients are mostly high-net-worth individuals, with the rest being pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations and businesses. The firm doesn't use an asset minimum, but rather a $30,000 minimum annual fee for new clients. As a result, a client would need to have $3 million in assets under management (AUM) in order to receive advisory services for the standard asset-based fee of 1%. 

Prairie Capital Management is a fee-only firm, which means all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees. This differs from a fee-based firm, which is one that can receive commissions from third-party sales. Besides its Kansas City headquarters, this firm has offices in Chicago and Dallas. The staff includes advisors with certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified trust and financial advisor (CFTA) designations.

Prairie Capital Management Background

Prairie Capital Management traces its roots back to 1995. It was founded by managing directors Brian Kaufman, Curtis Krizek and Rob Schneider. The firm’s team averages about 20 years of experience in personal finance. The firm is a part of Focus Financial Partners, which owns a network of independent registered investment advisor (RIA) firms. As a result, Prairie Capital Management is indirectly owned by funds affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and Stone Point Capital LLC through their ownership of Focus. 

Prairie Capital Management's services comprise wealth management, investment selection and financial planning. 

Prairie Capital Management Investment Strategy

Prairie Capital employs a comprehensive investment strategy that includes investment charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. For accounts utilizing a multi-manager, multi-strategy approach, Prairie Capital conducts quarterly evaluations of investment managers, analyzing their performance and style index results. The firm’s process involves direct contact with managers, reviewing their materials and holding personal meetings with key principals and portfolio managers.

Prairie Capital allocates client assets into separate investment portfolios managed by selected portfolio managers, investing in registered and private investment companies or individual accounts. The firm continuously monitors and adjusts these allocations, maintaining regular communication with Portfolio Managers to assess performance. While Prairie Capital strives for successful outcomes, they caution that investment activities carry risks, including potential losses, especially with private funds, which are less regulated and may be illiquid and higher in fees.

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Atwood & Palmer, the No. 2 firm on our list, operates on a fee-only basis and caters to a diverse clientele including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, trusts and other business entities.

Notably, the firm does not require a minimum account size to engage their services. The Atwood & Palmer team features at least three chartered financial analysts (CFAs). It also has the largest individual client base of all six firms on this list.

Atwood & Palmer Background

Atwood & Palmer was founded in 1990 by the late Bill Atwood and Steven Palmer, who remains with the firm today. Palmer, who has over 50 years of financial experience, remains a minority owner of the firm. Steven Franke, Spencer Jones and Peter Sowden are the firm's principal shareholders, along with Palmer.

The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet various financial needs, including retirement planning, risk management, college savings, cash flow analysis, Social Security optimization, debt management, charitable giving strategies, work benefits coordination and estate and incapacity planning.

Atwood & Palmer Investment Strategy

Atwood & Palmer relies on a diverse set of investment strategies to cater to various investor needs, including long-term and short-term purchases, options strategies and exposure to international and emerging markets.

Typically, the firm invests in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and fixed income securities. However, they offer alternative investments such as private equity funds, hedge funds, commodity pools and other alternative investment vehicles and private placements of securities.

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Sterneck Capital Management is a fee-only practice that primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. It also works with charitable organizations and businesses.

Because advisors at Sterneck Capital do not early sales commissions when recommending certain products and services, the firm is considered fee-only. Fee-only firms typically have fewer conflicts of interest than fee-based firms, whose advisor may earn third-party compensation on certain transactions. 

There is a $500,000 minimum account size requirement at Sterneck Capital. However, this minimum is negotiable. The small staff of advisors includes at least one Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®).

Sterneck Capital Management Background

Sterneck Capital Management has one of the longest histories of any firm on this list. Frank Sterneck started the firm in 1989. Today, the staff at Sterneck averages around 30 years of experience in finance.

The list of account services offered by Sterneck is extensive. The firm provides investment management and financial planning services, retirement plan rollover recommendations, as well as complimentary executive coaching.

Sterneck Capital Management Investment Strategy

Sterneck Capital typically invests its client assets in stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), master limited partnerships (MLPs), real estate investment trusts, bonds and mortgage-backed and index-linked notes. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis, focusing on acquiring fundamentally sound companies at the right price, with a long-term investment approach. SCM often buys on weakness and sells on strength. The firm's investment committee manages a structured security selection process, using a variety of information sources, including equity screens, industry journals, independent research, sales brokers, watch lists and technical analysis, to make buy, sell or hold decisions.

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Mader & Shannon Wealth Management, the next firm on our list of the top advisors in Kansas City, is a fee-based practice with several credentialed advisors on staff. These certifications include the Certified Financial Planners (CFP), chartered life underwriter (CLU), chartered financial consultants (ChFC) and chartered market technician (CMTs) designations. 

Mader & Shannon does not require a minimum amount of assets to open an account. It primarily serves non-high-net-worth individuals. However, the firm does also serve high-net-worth clients, other investment advisors, those with pension and profit-sharing plans as well as other businesses or corporations.

This is a fee-based firm, so be aware that you may encounter insurance offers when working with Mader & Shannon. Any sales may result in extra earnings for the firm’s advisors. However, this firm is a fiduciary, which means it must act in your best interest at all times. 

Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Background

Mader & Shannon Wealth Management was founded in 2005 by James Mader and George Shannon. Today, the firm is run by its principal owners, Kyle Sanders and Bret Guillaume. 

Mader & Shannon provides a wide range of services. Its offerings include complete portfolio analysis, financial planning, retirement cash flow planning, as well as advice on pension plans, 529 plans, IRAs and 401(k) plans for businesses.

Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Mader & Shannon Wealth Management uses historical and technical charting, financial publications, research materials, annual reports, corporate rating services and more to determine which undervalued investments are worth investing in. Mader & Shannon says it typically invests its clients’ assets in mutual funds and exchange-traded securities that are highly liquid.

Mader & Shannon may make significant changes to your original investment plan. The firm’s advisors take an active approach to portfolio management. The firm states on its website that this approach allows them to "mitigate risk during overvalued bull markets and seize opportunities during undervalued bear markets."

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Craft & Sage Wealth is a fee-based firm whose advisors may earn commissions when advisory clients purchase insurance through them. While this is a conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in the client’s best interest.

As for its client base, Craft & Sage works with individuals, trusts, estates, corporations and various other business entities. While the firm itself does not impose a minimum account size, third-party managed programs may have varying minimum requirements depending on the manager.

The firm’s team of advisors holds several financial credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered life underwriter (CLU), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA) designations.

Craft & Sage Wealth Background

Craft & Sage was founded in 2012 by John T. Christy, a CFP® professional. Christy remains the primary owner of the business, while Megan Brenner – who also holds the CFP® designation – owns a majority stake.

The firm offers a variety of services and can advise clients on a number of topics, including retirement planning, wealth management and investment analysis, real estate, estate planning, education planning, insurance and risk management, employee benefits and business continuation planning.

In addition to its office in Kansas City, Craft & Sage has an office in Topeka, Kansas.

Craft & Sage Wealth Investment Strategy

Craft & Sage employs a variety of investment strategies, including long-term purchases, short-term purchases and strategic asset allocation. When crafting a portfolio, the firm takes into account the client's current financial situation, their goals, and their risk tolerances. This personalized approach ensures that each investment plan is tailored to meet the unique needs and objectives of the client.

The firm typically invests in a diverse range of assets such as stocks, bonds, cash equivalents, ETFs, and fixed income investments. Additionally, they offer opportunities in real estate investments, Regulation D private placements, and privately held investment real estate.

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Nicholson Capital Management concludes our list of the top advisors in Kansas City. According to recent SEC filings, Nicholson Capital Management (NCM) has a small number of advisors who provide investment advisory functions. However, the firm has accumulated hundreds of millions in assets under management (AUM).

It provides wealth management and consulting services to individuals, as well as trusts, estates, government entities and charities. Most of its individual clients falls outside the scope of high-net-worth. You’d generally need a minimum account size of $400,000 to recieve investment advisory services.

Fee-only NCM serves as an independent advisory firm and doesn’t sell any investment products. Nor does it collect compensation from the recommendation of any particular investments. The firm has a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and a certified investment management analyst (CIMA) on staff. 

Nicholson Capital Management Background

NCM can trace its history back to 1988, making it the longest-running firm on our list. Today, the firm’s sole owner Jennifer D. Nicholson, who also serves as its president and chief compliance officer (CCO). 

The firm provides investment management and financial planning services, as well as retirement solutions to corporate retirement plans and plan sponsors. Nicholson's financial consulting advice is geared toward investment planning, tax planning, asset allocation, risk management, retirement planning and other areas. 

Nicholson Capital Management Investment Strategy

Based on a client’s risk tolerance and financial goals, the firm primarily builds portfolios with stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. The firm may also consider specific investments based on a screening process that considers factors like performance, internal fees and manager tenure.  

The firm generally makes long-term security purchases, but makes short-term purchases when deemed appropriate. NCM states, "Because some of these investment strategies involve certain additional degrees of risk, they will only be recommended when consistent with the client’s stated tolerance for risk."