Access Financial Services
Access Financial Services is a privately held, SEC-registered investment adviser in Bloomington, Minnesota, providing integrated financial planning, investment management, and risk management services to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, executives, physicians, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $362 million in assets under management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersBloomington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Access Financial Services does
Access Financial Services, Inc. is a privately held, SEC-registered investment adviser (RIA) headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, providing comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and protection-and-risk-management services to a clientele of high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, executives, physicians and dental professionals, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm was founded in 1990 by Stephen E. Kairies and operates as a boutique, independently owned practice with no proprietary products, no broker-dealer affiliation, and no outside institutional investment.
The firm's core delivery rests on three integrated service areas: Financial Planning (continuous planning covering retirement income, estate, and tax planning), Investment Management (discretionary portfolio management using a flexible, value-oriented, top-down global multi-asset class approach), and Protection and Risk Management (insurance analysis including life, disability, property/casualty, long-term care, and employer benefits). The underlying technology stack is third-party: Schwab Institutional provides custody and brokerage, and Addepar powers the AFS Client Investment Reporting Portal, supplemented by an internal Document Vault and downloadable planning tools. As of December 31, 2023, the firm managed approximately $362 million in assets under management.
The revenue model is dominated by AUM-based advisory fees billed quarterly in arrears on a tiered schedule that ranges from 1.00% on the first $500K down to 0.20% on assets above $5M, with a $625 quarterly minimum. A separate financial-planning fee schedule charges $1,000 for the initial analysis and ongoing fees equal to the greater of 0.5% of household net worth or 1% of household income, bounded by a $1,200-$3,600 annual range, plus hourly rates of $100-$400. Insurance commissions and referrals constitute a smaller third revenue stream. The firm does not retain 12b-1, commission, or transaction fees, which are kept by the custodian. The go-to-market motion is relationship-led, drawing new clients from referrals, professional-adviser networks (estate attorneys and CPAs), community engagement, and content marketing rather than paid acquisition.
Access Financial Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access Financial Services
- Legal name
- Access Financial Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://accessafs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Access Financial Services is a privately held, SEC-registered investment adviser in Bloomington, Minnesota, providing integrated financial planning, investment management, and risk management services to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, executives, physicians, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $362 million in assets under management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Access Financial Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers (FSAAACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB), Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI)
Keywords
Where Access Financial Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bloomington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Access Financial Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Advisory Fees (AUM-based): Fees charged as a percentage of assets under management, charged quarterly in arrears. The firm manages approximately $362 million in assets. Advisory fee schedule: First $500,000 at 1.00%, Next $500,000 at 0.85%, Next $1,000,000 at 0.70%, Next $1,000,000 at 0.60%, Next $2,000,000 at 0.40%, Over $5,000,000 at 0.20%. Subject to $625 minimum quarterly fee. Fixed-income portfolios are charged at one-half these rates.
- Financial Planning Fees: Initial financial analysis and projections: $1,000. Ongoing comprehensive financial planning: Annual fee equal to the greater of 0.5% of household net worth or 1% of annual household income, subject to $1,200 minimum/$3,600 maximum annual fee. Hourly fee ranging from $100 to $400 per hour. Project and limited-scope planning available at hourly rates.
- Insurance Commissions: When insurance products are recommended and purchased, commissions are received by licensed representatives of the firm who sell life and health insurance products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Quarterly | First $500,000 in assets under management |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Next $500,000 in assets under management |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Next $1,000,000 in assets under management |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Next $1,000,000 in assets under management |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Next $2,000,000 in assets under management |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Assets over $5,000,000 |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Minimum quarterly fee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Initial financial planning |
| Subscription | Monthly | Ongoing financial planning - net worth or income based |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly financial planning |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Access Financial Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access Financial Services, Inc. is an independent, fee-based registered investment adviser (RIA) headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, providing comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and protection/risk management services. The firm manages approximately $362 million in assets for individuals, families, business owners, executives, physicians, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations, integrating wealth accumulation, retirement income, estate planning, and insurance strategies under a unified advisory relationship.
Product overview
Access Financial Services offers a unified, integrated financial planning and investment management service delivered through three core offerings: Financial Planning, Investment Management, and Protection and Risk Management. The firm manages approximately $362 million in assets under management for individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations as of December 31, 2023. Supplementary client-facing tools include the Addepar-powered Client Investment Reporting Portal and a secure Document Vault. The company provides fee-based advisory services with financial planning fees ranging from $1,000 for initial analysis, ongoing fees of 0.5% of net worth or 1% of income (with $1,200-$3,600 annual bounds), and investment advisory fees ranging from 1.00% on the first $500,000 down to 0.20% on assets over $5 million.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Planning Comprehensive, customized, and integrated financial planning service delivered as a continuous process addressing both wealth accumulation and financial security. Encompasses retirement income planning, estate planning, tax planning, and coordination with clients' outside professional advisors (attorneys, CPAs) for individuals, families, physicians, business owners, and executives.
- Investment Management Discretionary portfolio management service that builds individualized portfolios aligned with each client's investment objectives. Implemented under a flexible, value-oriented, risk-averse, top-down, global, multi-asset class investment style with no proprietary products, serving HNW individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations.
- Protection and Risk Management Insurance and risk management advisory covering analysis of life insurance, disability insurance, property/casualty insurance, employer benefits, and long-term care insurance to ensure clients maintain appropriate coverage types and amounts. Includes licensed representatives who can place insurance products and earn associated commissions.
Companies that use Access Financial Services
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Access Financial Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Access Financial Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.coreSchwab provides custody services for client accounts. Access Financial Services has agreements with Schwab under which Schwab provides services related to client accounts. Clients can access their brokerage accounts directly at Schwab.com. The firm uses Schwab Institutional as their account custodian.
- AddeparcoreAddepar provides the AFS Client Investment Reporting Portal where clients can view information about their investments managed by Access Financial Services.
- Estate Planning Attorneys and Certified Public AccountantscoreAt different stages of financial planning, the firm partners with clients' other professional advisers such as estate planning attorneys and certified public accountants. They have built a network of trusted individuals for clients not currently working with such advisers.
- Summit Academy OICminorCommunity-based vocational training and job placement program in North Minneapolis. Access Financial Services supports the organization and founder Steve Kairies serves on the board.
- Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning CenterminorEnvironmental learning center in Minnesota. The firm provides community support.
- University of Minnesota FoundationminorSupports students, faculty research and patient care. Access Financial Services currently supports medical research in the areas of leukemia, cancer and diabetes.
- Minneapolis Institute of ArtsminorFine arts museum in Minneapolis. The firm supports the museum through community involvement.
- Mayo FoundationminorCharitable, not-for-profit healthcare corporation with mission to provide quality care. The firm supports Mayo Foundation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Access Financial Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Access Financial Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Access Financial Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access Financial Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Access Financial Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access Financial Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Access Financial Services
What does Access Financial Services do?
Access Financial Services, Inc. is an independent, fee-based registered investment adviser (RIA) headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, providing comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and protection/risk management services. The firm manages approximately $362 million in assets for individuals, families, business owners, executives, physicians, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations, integrating wealth accumulation, retirement income, estate planning, and insurance strategies under a unified advisory relationship.
Is Access Financial Services a public or private company?
Access Financial Services is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Access Financial Services founded?
Access Financial Services was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Access Financial Services based?
Access Financial Services is headquartered in Bloomington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Access Financial Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Investment Advisory Fees (AUM-based) is the primary driver. The others are financial Planning Fees and insurance Commissions.
Does Access Financial Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access Financial Services.
What industry is Access Financial Services in?
Access Financial Services's product category is Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAACAA, Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers, with a secondary code of FSAAACAB, Financial Planning–Led RIAs. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.