What Buttonwood does

Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC is an independent, fee-based boutique wealth management firm headquartered at 3013 Main St in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2003 and operating as an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, the firm serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners in the Kansas City metro and broader Midwest through a "Family CFO" service model that integrates investment management with tax strategy, estate and legacy planning, retirement planning, insurance coordination, business strategy, and multigenerational wealth services. Service intensity is structured around client complexity rather than asset minimums, spanning three tiers — Financial Advisory, Family CFO, and Family Office — and includes dedicated industry verticals for corporate executives, entrepreneurs and business owners, dentists, and engineers.

The firm's core offering rests on a multi-custodian technology stack. Client financial data is aggregated nightly from over 70 custodians — including Charles Schwab (primary custodial partner), Fidelity NetBenefits, Vanguard, Empower Retirement, and state 529 plans — and consolidated through eMoney (forward-looking planning), Orion (backward-looking performance and tax reporting), and ShareFile (secure document exchange). A native mobile app (BFG Family CFO, iOS and Android) and web portal deliver 24/7 client access. An Investment Policy Committee, chaired by Jon McGraw, applies formal rebalancing discipline four to six times per year using a barbell growth/defensive allocation approach. Operations are supported by a 15-person team (12 full-time in Kansas City plus 20+ back-office staff), with women holding six of those roles across operations, marketing, advisory, and client services.

Buttonwood's revenue model combines a flat annual retainer fee with a nominal asset-based fee assessed on assets under management, billed annually and producing recurring subscription-style revenue. Distribution is direct-only: in-person meetings at the Kansas City office, virtual consultations, and phone support, supplemented by content marketing (blog, IPC video updates, podcast/market commentary) and community engagement through the Buttonwood Art Space nonprofit gallery and the Buttonwood Foundation. The firm is explicitly committed to remaining a single-office Kansas City practice with no plans for geographic expansion, and shows no signs of external capital, M&A, or institutional ownership.

Name

Buttonwood

Legal name

Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC

Website

https://buttonwoodfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Buttonwood Financial Group is an independent boutique wealth management firm in Kansas City, Missouri, serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners through a fee-based Family CFO service model integrating investment management, tax, estate, and retirement planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Office Advisory (Single/Multi-Family) (FSAEAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking Advisory (FSAAADAG), Family Office Technology & Data (Portfolio, Reporting, Cybersecurity) (FSAAADAN), Lifestyle, Concierge & Personal Services Management (FSAAADAJ), Family Office Services (Single & Multi-Family Office) (FSABADAF)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Investment management
• Estate and legacy planning
• Retirement planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flat Retainer Fee: Clients pay a flat retainer fee for ongoing advisory and planning services. Combined with a nominal asset management fee for investment services.
2. Asset Under Management (AUM) Fee: A nominal asset management fee assessed on client assets under management, in addition to the flat retainer. Fee structure is transparent and simple.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Buttonwood Financial Group is a boutique wealth management firm operating as a 'Family CFO' for individuals, families, and business owners. It integrates investment management, tax strategy, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance coordination, cash flow management, and business strategy into a single coordinated advisory relationship. Services are delivered through three complexity-based tiers — Financial Advisory, Family CFO, and Family Office — supported by multi-custodian technology aggregation (eMoney, Orion, ShareFile) and 24/7 client access.

Product overview

Buttonwood Financial Group operates as a boutique wealth management firm offering a unified Family CFO service model with three service tiers (Financial Advisory, Family CFO, and Family Office) structured around client complexity rather than product tiers. The core offering integrates investment management with tax strategy, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance coordination, and cash flow management. Additional service modules include business strategy, lifestyle management, and multigenerational wealth services. The firm also offers industry-specific verticals for corporate executives, business owners, dentists, and engineers. Client-facing digital tools include the Client Access Portal with ShareFile, eMoney, and Orion integrations, plus a mobile app. A community program called 'Beyond Wealth: Women, Wealth & Influence' serves women clients. The firm operates Buttonwood Art Space as a philanthropic community gallery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Wealth: Women, Wealth & Influence: A community program launched in 2025 where women explore the intersections of life and money, building financial confidence through discussions and learning opportunities.

Products and services

• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management service encompassing taxes, insurance, estate planning, cash flows, multigenerational planning, retirement, business planning, and education planning coordinated through a single advisory relationship for individuals and families.
• Financial Advisory Services Advisory service providing strategic financial guidance integrated with investment management, tax planning, and estate coordination for clients.
• Family CFO Services Comprehensive financial strategy and oversight service functioning as a dedicated Chief Financial Officer for clients' personal financial lives, including cash flow management, tax coordination, insurance and estate planning coordination, and ongoing financial decision support.
• Family Office Services Holistic wealth management for individuals and families with financial complexity beyond Family CFO services, including advanced investment allocation, tax, legacy planning, philanthropic advisory, risk management, multigenerational financial literacy, and concierge services.
• Investment Management Portfolio management service governed by an Investment Policy Committee that adjusts allocations based on economic and business cycle conditions, utilizing a barbell approach balancing growth and defensive positioning with formal rebalancing discipline.
• Tax Strategy Tax planning and optimization services including tax-loss harvesting, deduction and depreciation planning, investment tax planning, and coordination with CPAs for both business and personal tax situations.
• Retirement Planning Retirement strategy development including retirement cash flow planning, optimization of employer plans (401k, 403b, IRAs), Social Security optimization, and Medicare planning.
• Estate & Legacy Planning Estate planning coordination including will and trust planning, business succession planning, asset protection trusts, and multigenerational wealth transfer strategies.
• Insurance Strategy Risk management and insurance planning coordination, working with multiple insurance firms to pair clients with tailored solutions focused on specific needs.
• Business Strategy / Small Business Planning Comprehensive business planning including employee benefits coordination, business expansion strategy, succession and exit planning, and coordination of business finances with personal wealth management.
• Lifestyle Management Financial coordination service helping clients manage the complexities of wealth including cash flow, lifestyle expenses, and ongoing financial decisions.
• Multigenerational Wealth Services Planning services focused on transferring wealth across generations, including financial literacy, legacy planning, and coordination of complex family financial situations.
• Financial Planning for Corporate Executives Specialized wealth management for corporate executives addressing ESOP, stock options, RSUs, deferred compensation, bonus planning, and career transition planning.
• Wealth Management for Business Owners Tailored financial planning for entrepreneurs addressing tax complexity, cash flow management, investment decisions, employee benefits, succession planning, and business valuation.
• Financial Planning for Dentists Specialized services for dentists including practice expansion, employee benefits coordination, succession planning, retirement optimization, and real estate investment analysis for practice owners.
• Financial Planning for Engineers Customized financial planning for engineers addressing complex income structures, stock options, tax implications of variable income, and retirement planning with employer plans.
• Client Access Portal 24/7 online access platform providing clients secure access to financial tools including ShareFile for document management, eMoney for financial planning views, Orion for performance reporting, and custodial direct login links.
• BFG Family CFO Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android providing 24/7 access to financial information and account management capabilities for clients of Buttonwood Financial Group.
• Beyond Wealth: Women, Wealth & Influence A community initiative launched for women to explore intersections of life and money, providing a space for discussion, learning, and building financial confidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million returned to local artists and nonprofits through Buttonwood Art Space nonprofit arm
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShareFilecoreTechnology or IntegrationSecure file sharing, document upload and signing, form completion, and PDF scanning through ShareFile and its mobile app. Used as the primary client document exchange platform, enabling clients to securely share files with Buttonwood and other professionals.
• eMoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationComprehensive forward-looking financial planning platform providing a consolidated view of a client's entire financial life — investments, cash flows, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and goals — in a single location. Available 24/7 via web and mobile.
• Orion (Orion Advisor Solutions)coreTechnology or IntegrationBackward-looking comprehensive performance reporting and tax reporting across all investment accounts. Aggregated nightly from custodians, providing consolidated portfolio reporting and benchmarking.
• Charles SchwabcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary custodial partner providing brokerage services. Clients access accounts through Schwab Account View and Schwab Alliance. Buttonwood operates under a Schwab advisor agreement for account management services.
• Buttonwood Art SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe firm's nonprofit community art gallery operated within its Kansas City office building. Showcases regional artists with art sales benefiting local nonprofit charities. Through this initiative, the firm has returned over $1 million to local artists and nonprofits, serving as a unique community engagement and brand differentiation mechanism.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fee-only RIA offering integrated financial planning, investment management, and tax strategy to HNW households. Like Buttonwood, it emphasizes fiduciary advice over product sales and operates on a retainer-plus-AUM economic model.
• Creative Planning: Also headquartered in the Kansas City metro area, Creative Planning is a fee-only RIA serving many of the same HNW individuals, families, and business owners. The two firms share the same talent pool, customer base, and fiduciary-fee-only philosophy, making them the most direct local competitor to Buttonwood.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Fee-only RIA offering comprehensive wealth planning, investment management, tax, and estate services to HNW clients via a Family CFO-style model. Comparable in service mix and household-tier focus, though at substantially greater scale than Buttonwood.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA providing family office services including investment management, tax, estate, and financial planning for HNW households. Comparable in fee model and family-office service tier, though built via M&A roll-up rather than organic growth.
• Carson Group: RIA platform that supports advisor-led practices serving HNW clients with holistic wealth, tax, and business planning services. Comparable in its integrated Family CFO-style value proposition and vertical specialization strategy.

Emerging players

• Facet Wealth: Tech-enabled RIA offering flat-fee financial planning paired with investment management for HNW households. Comparable in its flat-fee pricing philosophy but distinct in its digital-first delivery model that competes for the same customer profile.
• Personal Capital (now Empower Personal Dashboard): Digital wealth management platform combining aggregation tools with advisor-led wealth management for HNW clients. Comparable in its multi-custodian aggregation and integrated planning experience, but delivered via a primarily digital model.

Broad incumbents

• Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management: Wirehouse-affiliated wealth management arm targeting HNW individuals and families with comprehensive planning and investment services. Comparable in the Family Office / Family CFO service tier, but anchored by a large brand and balance sheet.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national fee-only RIA combining traditional advisor-led planning with digital tools for HNW clients. Comparable in fiduciary positioning and retainer/AUM economics, but operates at much greater scale and across geographies.
• Wells Fargo Private Bank: Large incumbent private bank offering integrated wealth planning, investment management, and credit services to HNW households. Competes with Buttonwood for the same client profile, especially in Kansas City where Wells has a strong retail banking presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ButtonwoodFG

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Buttonwood