What High Lift Financial does

High Lift Financial is a fee-based financial advisory and exit planning firm that exclusively serves owners of independent collision repair and auto body shops in the United States. The firm is a DBA for DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC, headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and delivers all advisory services virtually, enabling national reach from a single-office base. Its core offerings include financial planning and advisory services, business transition planning, retirement planning (including a proprietary "Self-Buyout Program"), and tax planning, structured around a proprietary five-step transition planning methodology. Investment advisory services are delivered through a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC, an SEC-registered independent advisory firm.

The firm is differentiated primarily through the credentials of its owner, Matt DiFrancesco, who holds the Certified Exit Planner (CExP) designation and is reported as the only CExP globally dedicated to the collision repair industry, out of 134 holders worldwide. A second credentialed team member, Hannah Chalker, holds the CEPA and CVGA designations and serves as Director of Business Development and Exit Planning Advisor. Service delivery is supported by Planning and Investment Specialists and Client Support Specialists sourced through the Cornerstone Planning Group relationship.

High Lift Financial generates revenue through ongoing fee-based advisory engagements (multi-year contracts), with an initial free 20–30 minute consultation used as the top-of-funnel conversion mechanism. The firm employs a content-led go-to-market strategy anchored on the "Your Business, Your Life" podcast (100+ episodes), the DiFran Digest blog/newsletter, a YouTube channel, and active participation in industry conferences including SEMA, the Texas Auto Body Trade Show, and the Music City Collision Conference. Customer acquisition is further supported by referral networks of CPAs, attorneys, M&A advisors, and peer shop owners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the firm has not raised external funding.

Name

High Lift Financial

Legal name

DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC

Website

https://highliftfinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

High Lift Financial is a fee-based financial advisory firm exclusively serving collision repair and auto body shop owners, specializing in exit planning, succession, retirement, and tax planning, delivered virtually from Johnstown, PA via a DBA of DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory & Exit Planning Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB)

Keywords

• Exit planning services
• Business transition planning
• Retirement planning services
• Tax planning services
• Financial advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-Based Financial Advisory Services: High Lift Financial provides fee-based financial planning and advisory services to collision repair shop owners. Services include financial planning, business transition planning, retirement planning, and tax planning solutions. Investment advisory services are provided through Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC. The firm operates as a virtual one-stop financial concierge service, coordinating with clients' existing CPAs, attorneys, and tax planners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

High Lift Financial provides fee-based financial advisory services exclusively to owners of collision repair shops, covering financial planning, business transition planning, retirement planning, and tax planning. The firm coordinates investment advisory delivery through Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC (an SEC-registered independent advisor) and operates as a virtual one-stop financial concierge that works alongside clients' existing CPAs and attorneys. Owner-based planning is delivered through a proprietary five-step transition methodology and a self-buyout program tailored to the auto body collision industry.

Product overview

High Lift Financial offers a suite of financial advisory services specifically designed for collision repair business owners. The core offerings include Financial Planning and Advisory Services, Business Transition Planning, Retirement Planning, and Tax Planning Services—all delivered as consultative advisory engagements rather than a software platform. The firm also operates the DiFran Digest/Your Business, Your Life (YBYL) Podcast as a content and education platform. A Client Portal provides existing clients with access to their financial information. The firm is a DBA for DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC, with investment advisory services provided through Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC. All services are tailored to the collision repair industry with a focus on exit planning, succession, and multi-generational wealth creation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Planning and Advisory Services Comprehensive financial planning and advisory services for collision repair business owners, covering financial forecasting, business financial management, and bookkeeping to help owners maximize business growth and achieve their financial goals. Delivered virtually as a fee-based advisory engagement.
• Business Transition Planning Strategic roadmap service for smoothly transferring ownership and management of a collision repair business, ensuring continuity, preserving value, and aligning with owner goals through succession, sale to a third party, or merger. Built on a proprietary five-step methodology.
• Retirement Planning Retirement planning service tailored to auto body and collision repair shop owners, addressing pre-retiree challenges and business transition strategies, and including a 'self-buyout' program for multi-generational wealth creation.
• Tax Planning Services Tax planning and mitigation service for collision shop owners that helps them manage income, maximize savings, comply with tax laws, and structure assets for long-term wealth management. Delivered in coordination with the client's own tax planner or one from the High Lift Financial team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced owner dependency: businesses that operate without the owner commanding constant attention command higher sale multiples
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cornerstone Planning Group, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone Planning Group, LLC is an independent advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It provides investment advisory services for High Lift Financial (a DBA for DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC). This is the registered entity through which all investment advisory services are delivered to clients.
• DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLCcoreOthersHigh Lift Financial operates as a DBA (Doing Business As) for DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC. This is the parent legal entity under which the advisory practice operates.
• M&A Partners (Unnamed)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh Lift Financial connects clients who are in the best position to sell to third parties with M&A partners who guide them through the sale process. After the sale, High Lift Financial assists with structuring assets and building estate plans. These are unnamed industry M&A advisory partners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wealth Enhancement Group: National RIA platform acquiring independent wealth management firms and offering financial planning, tax, and retirement services. Comparable business model offering comprehensive financial advisory services to business owners and individuals.
• Kestra Financial: Wealth management platform supporting independent RIAs and financial advisors with technology, compliance, and consulting services. Comparable structure as an advisor-support platform, but generalist rather than vertically specialized like High Lift Financial.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Independent broker-dealer and RIA supporting thousands of financial advisors with practice management and back-office services. Comparable business model as a platform serving independent advisors, but without industry-vertical specialization.
• Carson Group: Large RIA platform supporting independent financial advisors with business coaching, technology, and back-office support. Comparable to High Lift Financial as an advisor-support ecosystem, but operating across all verticals rather than specializing in collision repair exit planning.
• Sanctuary Wealth: Wealth platform partnering with elite independent advisors and RIAs, providing compliance, technology, and investment capabilities. Comparable as an RIA-support model, though serving generalist advisors across multiple verticals.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large national RIA providing financial planning, tax, estate, and exit planning services to high-net-worth individuals and business owners. Comparable in offering exit and succession planning for business owners, though at much larger scale and across all SMB verticals.
• Focus Financial Partners: Leading RIA aggregator partnering with independent, often boutique, wealth management firms. Highly comparable as both a peer and a potential acquirer of vertically specialized RIAs like High Lift Financial.
• Cetera Financial Group: Wealth management platform supporting thousands of independent financial advisors with compliance, technology, and investment solutions. Comparable as an advisor-support platform, though serving generalist advisors rather than vertical specialists.
• Creative Planning: One of the largest independent RIAs in the U.S. offering comprehensive financial planning, tax, and wealth management. Comparable in offering breadth (financial planning, tax, retirement) but vastly larger scale and not industry-verticalized like High Lift Financial.

Emerging players

• Exit Planning Institute: Education and certification organization for Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA), the broader credential ecosystem that includes the CExP designation held by High Lift Financial's founder. Comparable as the credentialing and methodology backbone of the exit planning space High Lift Financial operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@highliftfinancial
• Facebookfacebook.com/difranFC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/highliftfinancial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 High Lift Financial