Top Financial Advisors in Kansas City, MO

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Prairie Capital Management's clients are mostly high-net-worth individuals, with the rest being pooled investment vehicles and businesses. The firm doesn't use an asset minimum, but rather a $15,000 minimum annual fee for new clients.  

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 consists of certified financial planners (CFP), certified senior advisors (CSA) and certified trust and financial advisors (CFTA).

Prairie Capital Management Background

Prairie Capital Management was formed in 2010 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 owned by UMB Financial Corporation.

Prairie Capital Management offers pension and profit-sharing plans, estate and trust planning and retirement planning. It serves individuals, businesses and charitable organizations. 

Prairie Capital Management Investment Strategy

Prairie Capital Management offers both traditional and alternative investment ideologies. If you choose to go the traditional route, your money will be allocated to both active and passive fixed investments and equity investments. Opting for the firm’s alternative investment ideology opens the door for your assets to be invested in private equity and hedge funds, as well. 

Aside from investment ideology, your risk tolerance is also a major determinant of how your asset allocations will look. After your portfolio is created, Prairie Capital Management will periodically rebalance your account to ensure it stays aligned with to your original investment plan.

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Sterneck Capital Management primarily works with individuals, though a small fraction of its clients are high-net-worth individuals. It also works with retirement plans, charities and businesses.

The only type of compensation earned by this fee-only firm, which has a $500,000 minimum account size requirement, is what clients pay it - not what third parties pay as, for example, commissions for selling isurance products to clients.

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 aid for individual trusts, traditional and Roth IRAs, 401(k) rollovers, foundation and custodial accounts. 529 college savings plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

Sterneck Capital Management Strategy

Sterneck Capital Management 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. To determine where your assets will ultimately be invested, Sternbeck relies on research, technical analysis and industry journals.

Using what is called the “contrarian approach,” Sterneck will attempt to identify securities that it believes are mispriced at the moment. This might cause your money to end up in places that may not immediately appear profitable. However, Sterneck says that it focuses on what it thinks - based on its experience - are “realistic valuations.”

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Mader & Shannon Wealth Management's advisors hold an impressive array of certifications. The firm has certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered life underwriters (CLU), chartered financial consultants (ChFC), chartered market technicians (CMTs) and chartered financial analysts (CFA) on staff.

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 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 exchange-traded securities that are highly liquid.

Unlike many other firms, Mader & Shannon may make significant changes to your original investment plan. The firm’s advisors make these decisions based on daily evaluations of what’s going on in the market. The firm uses various accounting platforms to monitor the current and projected performance of investments.

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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 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.

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 a range of wealth planning services, including, but not limited to, portfolio management.

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."

Nicholson's financial consulting advice is geared towards estate planning, insurance, retirement and matters other than investments as requested by clients. Fees are based on a rate of $190 per hour, are negotiable, and are due upon completion.