Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel

What Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel does

Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP (KEB) is a privately-held, employee-owned regional CPA and advisory firm founded in 1931 and headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. The firm operates eight offices across three Midwestern states (Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin) and employs 31 partners/principals alongside more than 200 professionals. KEB serves businesses, individuals, nonprofits, religious institutes, government entities, and financial institutions through four core service lines: Audit, Assurance & Accounting; Tax Services; Management Consulting (specializing in religious institutes, nonprofits, and public agencies); and Wealth Management, delivered through the KEB Wealth Advisors sub-brand with fiduciary standing. The firm maintains 17+ industry specializations including agribusiness (via its AgGroup practice in Litchfield), financial institutions, healthcare providers, gaming, manufacturing, dealerships, construction, and religious organizations.

The firm's underlying technology stack consists of standard professional services and accounting software (audit, tax, financial planning) supplemented by client-facing portals (one per office) and integrations with Orion Advisor for wealth management client access, Charles Schwab for custody-linked account visibility, and Box for document exchange. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or patents are disclosed. KEB is registered with the PCAOB (most recent inspection report dated November 21, 2024) and undergoes regular AICPA peer review, supporting its audit credentials.

KEB's business model is professional services fee-based engagement work, with quote-based pricing tied to scope, complexity, and client size rather than disclosed fee schedules. The firm follows a sales-led, relationship-based go-to-market, with client acquisition driven primarily by reputation, word-of-mouth referrals, and community engagement (board service, volunteering with organizations such as United Way and Ronald McDonald House) rather than paid digital marketing. Growth has been executed through organic office openings (Columbia, Litchfield, Harrisburg, O'Fallon, Marion between 2013-2018) and selective acquisitions of regional firms, most recently the May 2025 acquisition of Fleming Tawfall & Company. The firm also generates recurring fee revenue from its affiliated asset management subsidiary, KEB Asset Management LLC (formed 1999), and from year-round outsourced accounting engagements.

Name

Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel

Legal name

Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP

Website

https://kebcpa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kerber, Eck & Braeckel is an employee-owned Midwest CPA and advisory firm founded in 1931, serving businesses, individuals, nonprofits, and government entities across Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin through audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting & Advisory Services

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121), Other Accounting Services (541219), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)

Keywords

• Audit assurance services
• Tax planning compliance
• Business valuation advisory
• Wealth management advisory
• Management consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Audit, Assurance & Accounting Services: Provides audit, assurance, and accounting services including financial statement audits, compilations, reviews, benefit plan audits, and outsourced accounting functions. Services are delivered year-round to clients ranging from small businesses to large organizations.
2. Tax Services: Comprehensive tax department providing business tax compliance and strategy, individual tax planning and compliance, IRS and regulatory examinations, merger and acquisition planning, construction tax benefit planning, and tax forecast and projections. Also includes employee benefit plan administration, business valuation, and estate planning.
3. Management Consulting: Strategy and guidance services for religious institutes, nonprofits, and public agencies. Includes strategic planning, organizational change, policy and governance, board development, and communications services.
4. Wealth Management: Financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and retirement planning services delivered through KEB Wealth Advisors. Acts as fiduciary to clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KEB is a regional CPA and advisory firm providing audit, assurance, and accounting services; tax compliance, planning, and preparation; management consulting for religious institutes, nonprofits, and public agencies; and wealth management through KEB Wealth Advisors. Services are delivered by 31 partners and over 200 professionals across eight offices in Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, with industry specializations spanning agribusiness, financial institutions, healthcare, government, gaming, dealerships, and religious organizations.

Product overview

KEB is a Midwest CPA and advisory firm offering a unified portfolio of professional services organized into four core service lines: Audit, Assurance & Accounting (including audit, assurance, and outsourced accounting); Tax Services (compliance, planning, business valuation, estate planning, employee benefit plan administration); Management Consulting (specializing in religious institutes, nonprofits, and government entities); and Wealth Management delivered through KEB Wealth Advisors (financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, retirement planning). The firm also operates AgGroup, a specialized agricultural consulting practice. Services are delivered across 8 offices in 3 states through proprietary client portals and third-party platforms (Orion Advisor, Box).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEB Asset Management, LLC: Affiliated entity formed in 1999 providing asset management services.
• AgGroup

Products and services

• Audit, Assurance & Accounting Comprehensive audit, assurance, and accounting services including financial statement audits, benefit plan audits, fraud assessment, and outsourced accounting/bookkeeping. KEB serves as external accounting department for many clients across multiple industries.
• Tax Services Strategic tax solutions including business and individual tax compliance, tax planning, tax preparation, merger and acquisition planning, IRS examinations, construction tax benefits, and tax forecasting. Includes employee benefit plan administration, business valuation, business advisory, and estate planning.
• Management Consulting Strategy and guidance for religious institutes, nonprofits, and public agencies. Includes strategic planning, organizational change, policy and governance review, board development, and communications consulting.
• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth advisory through KEB Wealth Advisors, including financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and retirement planning. KEB Wealth Advisors acts as fiduciary for clients.
• AgGroup (Agribusiness Specialization) Specialized agricultural consulting team based in Litchfield, IL serving medium to large farms across multiple states. Services include organizational tax planning, succession planning, farm mergers, and family/advisory board creation.

Named customers1 record

Segments16 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fleming Tawfall & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired by KEB in May 2025. The acquisition expands KEB's Litchfield office presence and brings together two experienced local accounting firms, enhancing capabilities and reach in the Litchfield area and surrounding communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plante Moran: Large Midwest-based CPA and advisory firm headquartered in Michigan with similar integrated audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management offerings serving closely-held businesses and middle-market clients. Direct competitor in the regional Midwestern CPA space.
• Wipfli LLP: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong Midwest presence (Wisconsin headquarters) providing audit, tax, consulting, and technology services to middle-market and closely-held businesses. Closest direct peer in geography and service mix.
• Forvis (formerly BKD CPAs & Advisors): Major Midwest-headquartered CPA firm (Springfield, MO origins) formed from the BKD–DHG merger, serving closely-held businesses, financial institutions, healthcare, and government. Highly comparable in vertical mix and regional footprint.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Top-10 U.S. accounting and advisory firm focused exclusively on private middle-market businesses, with strong Midwest presence. Comparable in client base (closely-held, agribusiness, healthcare, financial institutions) and integrated service model.
• Eide Bailly LLP: Top-25 U.S. accounting firm with significant Midwest and Plains states presence, offering audit, tax, consulting, and wealth services to closely-held and mid-market clients. Direct peer in scale, geography, and vertical focus.
• Crowe LLP: Major U.S. accounting firm (Chicago/South Bend roots) with audit, tax, advisory, and consulting practices serving financial institutions, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. Comparable scale and Midwest base.
• Anders CPAs + Advisors: Mid-sized Midwest CPA and advisory firm (St. Louis) with similar integrated tax, audit, technology, wealth, and consulting services to closely-held businesses, nonprofits, and financial institutions. Smaller-scope direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• Baker Tilly US: Top-10 U.S. advisory, tax, and assurance firm with strong Midwest presence offering services to closely-held businesses, financial institutions, government, and nonprofits. A larger incumbent that overlaps with KEB's verticals.
• RSM US: Global Top-10 audit/tax/consulting firm with major U.S. operations headquartered in Chicago. Overlaps with KEB on middle-market audit, tax, and advisory work; broader incumbent competing for similar client profiles.

Emerging players

• Kemper CPA Group: Growth-oriented regional CPA firm based in Illinois/Indiana/Missouri offering tax, audit, and advisory services to closely-held and mid-market clients. Smaller and emerging peer that is geographically adjacent and a potential consolidator competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kebcpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerber-eck-and-braeckel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel