KeatsConnelly

What KeatsConnelly does

KeatsConnelly is a privately held cross-border wealth management firm founded in 1990 by Robert F. Keats and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with additional US offices in Florida and Michigan. The firm specializes in financial planning, tax strategy, investment management, and trust services for Canadians and Americans living a cross-border lifestyle, and self-describes as the largest such firm in North America. Its core technology is a five-step financial planning process (Assessment, Goal Setting, Plan Creation, Implementation, and Monitoring) delivered by a team of cross-border specialists, underpinned by a fee-only compensation model that eliminates commission-based conflicts of interest.

The business model is fee-only advisory revenue, with compensation paid solely by clients and no commissions or product-based fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are structured as multi-year contracts. Distribution is sales-led, combining direct expert teams with a professional referral network that includes NAPFA, the Cross-Border Financial Planning Alliance, and the Canada Arizona Business Council. Trust and custodial services are delivered through National Advisors Trust Company — a federally chartered trust company with $10B+ in assets that KeatsConnelly co-founded — while brokerage and execution leverage partnerships with Charles Schwab and Fidelity.

The firm supplements its core services with thought-leadership content, including The Border Guide (12th edition, 80,000+ copies sold) and Take Your Money and Drive, plus periodic cross-border workshops and an active social media presence. The leadership team is anchored by founder/Chairman Robert F. Keats (CFP in both the US and Canada) and CEO Dale A. Walters (CPA, PFS, CFP). The company is founder-owned, privately held, bootstrapped, and has no documented institutional investors, acquisitions, or change-of-control events.

Name

KeatsConnelly

Legal name

KeatsConnelly and Associates LLC

Website

https://keatsconnelly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KeatsConnelly is a fee-only cross-border wealth management firm founded in 1990, serving Canadians and Americans living a US/Canada cross-border lifestyle. It delivers integrated financial planning, tax, investment, and trust services through dedicated cross-border specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Border Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Tax-Focused Wealth Management RIAs (FSAAACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tax-Aware Investment Planning (FSAEAAAE), Fee-Only Advisory (FSAEAAAL), Private Banking Cross-Border & International Wealth Services (FSABADAL)

Keywords

• Cross-border financial planning
• Wealth management services
• Tax planning advisory
• Investment management
• Estate planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-Only Financial Planning Services: KeatsConnelly operates as a Fee-Only financial planning firm, compensated solely by clients without accepting commissions or compensation based on products recommended. This model enables the firm to promote clients' best interests while avoiding conflicts of interest with commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KeatsConnelly is a Fee-Only cross-border wealth management firm that delivers integrated financial planning, tax planning, investment management, and trust services to Canadians and Americans living a cross-border lifestyle between the US and Canada. The firm coordinates US and Canadian tax, investment, estate, and immigration considerations into unified wealth strategies for individuals and high-net-worth families. Trust and custodial services are delivered in partnership with National Advisors Trust Company.

Product overview

KeatsConnelly is a unified cross-border wealth management firm providing comprehensive financial services to Canadians and Americans living a cross-border lifestyle. The company offers an integrated suite of services including cross-border financial planning, private client services, tax planning, investment management, and trust services. The core offering is built around personalized, comprehensive financial planning that addresses the unique complexities of living, working, and investing across the Canada-US border. As a Fee-Only financial planning firm, services are compensated solely by client fees without commissions. The company also publishes educational resources including The Border Guide book (12th edition) and Take Your Money and Drive. Trust and custodial services are delivered through National Advisors Trust Company partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cross-Border Financial Planning Comprehensive cross-border financial planning services for Canadian and American citizens and families living on both sides of the border, including wealth management, tax planning, and investment advisory.
• Private Client Services Comprehensive personal services for high net worth individuals and families providing access to expert cross-border professional services in financial planning, tax and accounting, and wealth management through an expert team of cross-border specialists.
• Tax Planning Expert tax planning and strategy services to reduce tax liability in the US and Canada, including tax compliance, tax saving strategies, and coordination with immigration planning.
• Investment Management Investment management services providing references to managers who follow their investment philosophy, focusing on protecting existing wealth, earning reasonable returns, keeping taxes low, and providing unbiased advice.
• Trust Services Trust and custodial services offered through National Advisors Trust Company, including Revocable Trust, Charitable Remainder Trust, Irrevocable Trust, and custodial account services.
• Moving to the US Services Expert services helping Canadians navigate the complexities of moving to the United States, including financial planning, tax strategy, and guidance through immigration processes.
• Moving to Canada Services Expert services helping Americans navigate the complexities of moving to Canada, whether for the first time or as returning Canadians, including financial planning and tax savings opportunities.
• The Border Guide A definitive guide to living, working, and investing across the Canada-US border, written by Robert Keats, CFP, covering cross-border tax planning, immigration, real estate, and investment topics.
• Take Your Money and Drive A Canadian's Best Tax Haven: The US - a guide helping Canadians determine if moving to the US with lower taxes and cost of living is right for them, now in its 2nd edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Border Guide has sold over 80,000 copies, estimated read by 240,000+ Canadians
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Advisors Trust CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationNational Advisors Trust is an independently owned federally chartered trust company with over $10 billion in assets and over 160 RIA shareholders. They provide first-class trust and custodial services. Bob Keats serves as a board member. KeatsConnelly was one of the founders. The partnership enables nonresident clients to keep portfolio assets in the US and provides tax advantages for cross-border estate planning.
• MTFX Foreign Exchange SolutionsminorOthersMTFX is the preferred currency exchange provider for KeatsConnelly clients. They provide non-corporate client foreign exchange and international payment services designed to assist people in exchanging money securely and cost-effectively.
• Dircks Moving and LogisticsminorOthersDircks Moving, part of the Mayflower network, is KeatsConnelly's Preferred Moving Partner. They assist clients with the moving process between Canada and the US.
• Canada Arizona Business Council (CABC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCABC is a non-profit Arizona Corporation sanctioned by both the State of Arizona and Canadian Government. Its mission is to promote increased trade and investment between Arizona and Canada, serving as the voice of Arizona businesses in Canada and vice versa.
• Crossborderplanning.com / Cross-Border Financial Planning AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of the Cross-Border Financial Planning Alliance, the first international network of independent international financial planning firms and specialist advisors. Provides resources to find qualified advisors.
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNAPFA is the nation's leading organization dedicated to the advancement of Fee-Only comprehensive financial planning. KeatsConnelly is listed as a member, providing referral access to Fee-Only planners.
• Cross-Border Tax & Accounting (CBTA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCross-Border Tax & Accounting is a referral partner for tax preparation services. Not affiliated with KeatsConnelly. Clients seeking tax-only services are referred to CBTA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coldstream Wealth Management: Bellevue-based wealth management firm specializing in cross-border financial planning for US/Canadian clients, overlapping directly with KeatsConnelly's core niche of US/Canadian HNW families.
• Cardinal Point Wealth Management: Seattle-area RIA providing personalized financial planning with a recognized US/Canada cross-border practice targeting expat and dual-jurisdiction families, similar in scale and service mix to KeatsConnelly.
• Creative Planning: Large fee-only RIA providing comprehensive wealth management to HNW individuals, with a comparable fee-only fiduciary model and similar personalized planning-led approach.
• Carson Group: Fee-only RIA platform serving HNW clients through partner advisors with fiduciary-only compensation; a comparable fee-only comprehensive planning competitor.

Broad incumbents

• RBC Wealth Management (US): Large US-based wealth manager owned by a Canadian chartered bank, with established cross-border capabilities for Canadian clients living in the US — a scaled incumbent in the same niche.
• BMO Wealth Management: Cross-border US/Canada wealth management division of BMO, providing integrated banking and wealth services that overlap with KeatsConnelly's cross-border planning offering.
• TD Wealth (TD Bank): TD Bank's US wealth arm offers cross-border financial planning for Canadians in the US, directly overlapping with KeatsConnelly's primary value proposition.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large national RIA delivering comprehensive wealth management, tax planning, and trust services to HNW clients — competitive across planning, investment, and trust dimensions.

Regional players

• CI Assante Wealth Management: Canadian wealth management firm with a network of advisors providing comprehensive financial planning; competes in the Canadian-source half of the cross-border market KeatsConnelly addresses.

Others

• National Advisors Trust Company: Federally chartered trust company co-founded by KeatsConnelly providing trust and custodial services to RIA shareholders; ecosystem partner rather than competitor, but adjacent infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/keatsconnelly
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KeatsConnelly?feature=mhee
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Keats-Connelly-and-Associates-LLC/229341174906
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/companies/keats-connelly-and-associates-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about KeatsConnelly