What DSF Wealth Management Group does

DSF Wealth Management Group, LLC is a privately-held, CFP® professional-led independent broker-dealer and investment advisory firm headquartered in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, serving individual clients, families, and business owners across more than 40 U.S. states. Founded in 2011 by Peter Diulus, Dennis Spangler, and Ryan Franks, the firm has grown to a team of more than 25 professionals and is described as one of the largest independent financial advising firms operating under the Cetera Wealth Partners umbrella, with securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) and advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC.

The firm delivers financial planning through its proprietary DSF Framework (Dream, Succeed, Freedom) and seven integrated service modules — investment, estate, retirement, insurance, cash flow/budget, legacy, and tax planning — supplemented by the Buckets of Money time-based allocation methodology and the Dream Achiever Process. Client-facing technology consists of the AdviceWorks cloud-based portal with iOS and Android applications for account aggregation, document storage, and goal tracking, alongside a public resource library of calculators, articles, and videos. No proprietary AI/ML, data flywheel, or API platform is disclosed.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring advisory and investment management fees on assets under management, supplemented by fees from securities transactions routed through Cetera and commissions from insurance products. The go-to-market model is a consultative, relationship-driven field sales motion led by CFP professionals, supported by community outreach through the company-founded 4:12 Foundation (over $1,000,000 in grants to more than 100 families since 2020), educational seminars, content marketing, and referrals from coordinated accountants and attorneys. Customer segments are diversified across five primary personas — young professionals, growing families, pre-retirees/retirees, legacy builders, and business owners — with no disclosed enterprise anchor accounts, indicating a low customer concentration profile.

Name

DSF Wealth Management Group

Legal name

DSF Wealth Management Group, LLC

Website

https://dsfwealthgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DSF Wealth Management Group is a privately-held, CFP®-led independent broker-dealer and RIA in Bridgeville, PA, delivering integrated financial planning, wealth management, and investment services to individuals, families, and business owners across more than 40 U.S. states via the Cetera Wealth Partners platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital/Hybrid Robo-Wealth & Retirement Advisory (FSAEABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robo-Advisors & Digital Wealth Managers (FSAAAAAD), Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Retirement income planning
• Estate planning services
• Investment management advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Financial Planning and Wealth Management Advisory Fees: Comprehensive advisory services including investment planning, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, cash flow and budget management, legacy planning, and tax planning. Revenue generated through advisory fees for ongoing financial planning and portfolio management services.
2. Investment Management: Proprietary managed portfolios designed and overseen by the Investment Committee with quarterly performance reviews. Revenue from investment management fees based on assets under management.
3. Insurance Products: Insurance planning services including life, disability, long-term care, and other insurance products. Offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency LLC).
4. Securities and Investment Products: Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DSF Wealth Management Group is an independent, CFP® professional-led financial advisory firm that delivers fully integrated financial planning and wealth management to individuals, families, and business owners. Services span investment planning, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance planning, cash flow and budgeting, legacy planning, and tax planning, organized around the proprietary DSF Framework (Dream. Succeed. Freedom.). The firm offers proprietary investment portfolios managed by an in-house Investment Committee and delivers ongoing advice through scheduled reviews and the AdviceWorks cloud-based client portal.

Product overview

DSF Wealth Management Group offers a unified financial planning and wealth management platform built around its proprietary DSF Framework (Dream, Succeed, Freedom). The core offering integrates seven service modules: Investment Planning, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Insurance Planning, Cash Flow and Budget, Legacy Planning, and Tax Planning. The firm provides clients with the AdviceWorks client portal, a cloud-based platform with mobile apps for account viewing, goal tracking, and document management. Additional resources include financial calculators, educational articles, and video content covering various financial planning topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AdviceWorks Client Portal All-in-one cloud-based client portal providing clients with a holistic view of their finances, including account aggregation, goal tracking, secure document storage, and direct collaboration with advisors. Includes mobile app access via iOS and Android for clients served across 40+ states.
• DSF Framework (Dream. Succeed. Freedom.) Proprietary three-stage financial planning framework guiding clients through Dream (envisioning future and building wealth), Succeed (maintaining momentum and protecting/growing wealth), and Freedom (creating sustainable retirement income and legacy). Aligned with the Seven Pillars of Financial Planning approach.
• Investment Planning Diversified investment strategies aligned with time horizon, risk tolerance, and income needs, incorporating the proprietary Buckets of Money approach for short- and long-term growth with ongoing monitoring, quarterly performance reviews, and rebalancing.
• Retirement Planning Customized income strategies that balance reliability and growth for pre-retirees and retirees, using tax-efficient withdrawal planning and Social Security optimization to deliver sustainable retirement income.
• Estate Planning Coordination with attorneys on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and charitable giving strategies to ensure assets are protected and distributed according to client wishes.
• Insurance Planning Analysis of existing insurance coverage and gap identification for life, disability, long-term care, and other insurance needs, serving as a foundational element of clients' financial resilience. Insurance products are offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGAN Insurance Agency LLC).
• Cash Flow and Budget Planning Income and expense tracking with strategies for saving, emergency funding, and major life purchases, building financial structure and accountability for clients.
• Legacy Planning Strategies for preserving wealth, supporting charitable goals, and preparing heirs through education savings, gifting, and philanthropic giving.
• Tax Planning Proactive tax analysis and planning including Roth conversions, coordinated with tax professionals to optimize tax efficiency across all client financial decisions.
• Financial Calculators Suite of interactive online calculators covering retirement savings, college savings, mortgage payments, debt payoff, life insurance needs, long-term care, and Social Security benefits, supporting client financial planning engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ families supported with over $1,000,000 in grants through 4:12 Foundation since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• 4:12 FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Company-founded nonprofit providing financial support to families facing hardship in Western and Central Pennsylvania. Founded by Kyle Kyper with wife Carly and co-workers Bridget Fouse and Ryan Franks. The foundation has provided over $1,000,000 in grants to 100+ families since inception in 2020.
• Cetera Wealth Services, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDSF advisors are registered representatives offering securities through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. The firm operates under separate ownership from Cetera, providing regulatory oversight and platform infrastructure for securities and investment products distribution.
• Cetera Investment Advisers LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvisory Services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. This partnership provides regulatory framework and investment advisory infrastructure for DSF's wealth management services.
• Accountants and Attorneys (Client-coordinated)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDSF coordinates directly with clients' tax, legal, and insurance professionals to ensure every piece of the financial plan works together seamlessly. This integrated approach eliminates silos and bridges advice across disciplines.
• Make-A-WishminorOthersDSF supports Make-A-Wish through birthday donation program. Example: A birthday donation helped support Isaac, a teenager with lymphoma, receive custom golf clubs through Make-A-Wish.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Creative Planning: Large independent RIA offering integrated wealth management, financial planning, and tax services to mass-affluent and high-net-worth clients. Comparable in offering breadth and CFP-led model, but at substantially greater scale.
• Edward Jones: Large retail-focused wealth advisory firm with branch-based advisor model and integrated financial planning. Comparable in targeting mass-affluent individuals and families with relationship-driven planning.
• Northwestern Mutual: Comprehensive financial services firm offering wealth management, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance planning through a CFP-style advisor network. Comparable in integrated planning breadth and life-stage orientation.
• Ameriprise Financial: Large diversified financial services firm with extensive independent advisor channel offering comprehensive financial planning, investment, insurance, and retirement planning. Comparable in integrated-services retail wealth management positioning.
• Raymond James Financial Services: Independent contractor B-D and RIA network providing wealth management, financial planning, and investment services to individuals and families. Similar channel model to Cetera and DSF's hybrid independent structure.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National independent wealth advisory firm providing comprehensive financial planning, investment management, estate, tax, and retirement planning. Same integrated-services positioning as DSF, but at multi-billion AUM scale.
• Baird (Robert W. Baird & Co.): Employee-owned wealth management and investment firm with strong private wealth management practice serving individuals and families. Comparable in mid-market financial planning focus and CFP-led advisor model; notable as previous employer of several DSF advisors.
• Cetera Advisor Networks: Parent B-D/RIA network under which DSF operates. Direct structural peer as the umbrella organization providing securities, advisory, and compliance infrastructure to hundreds of independent advisory firms like DSF.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Investment Research: Independent B-D supporting independent financial advisors with planning-centric practice model. Direct peer to Cetera-affiliated firms like DSF, with similar advisor recruitment and multi-channel wealth management focus.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Independent B-D and RIA serving independent financial advisors with similar relationship-based, planning-focused model. Most direct structural comparable to DSF's Cetera-affiliated independent advisory model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DSFWealthGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dsf-wealth-management-group-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 DSF Wealth Management Group