Q Financial & Insurance Solutions

What Q Financial & Insurance Solutions does

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions is a privately held financial advisory and tax-planning firm founded in 2004 by Kevin Brunner and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The firm specializes in tax-optimized retirement income planning, Roth conversions, Section 453 Installment Sale Trust administration, and business-exit / capital gains mitigation strategies for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and real estate investors. Its core product platform is the trademarked Model Q® suite — comprising Model Q® Strategy, Model Q® Roth Conversion, and Model Q® Flex Strategy — combined with the Q Tax Plan service line; underlying 'technology' is a codified advisory methodology rather than a software platform, supplemented by affiliated fiduciary entities (CB Administrative Services, IST Admin Services) that administer the trusts.

The firm operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market model: prospects are acquired through content marketing (books, PDFs, Forbes features, the KABC 'Smart Money Hour' radio show, webinars) and converted via toll-free phone outreach and free initial consultations into quote-based, multi-year advisory engagements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is tailored to client complexity. A distributed network of licensed financial advisors operates across at least 12 U.S. cities, with multi-state insurance licensing (CA, MO, FL, AZ evidenced). Revenue is generated through professional advisory fees, ongoing managed-services revenue from trust administration, and ancillary book/licensing royalties. The firm claims $1.52B+ in lifetime client tax savings across 3,800+ transactions with an average of $400K savings per client, and operates as part of a broader 'The Q Companies' ecosystem of 8+ affiliated entities spanning RIA, 1031 exchange, hedging, trust administration, and business-sale marketplaces.

Name

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions

Legal name

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions

Website

https://q-financial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions is a privately held financial advisory firm that provides tax-optimized retirement planning, Roth conversions, Installment Sale Trust administration, and business-exit strategies to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and real estate investors across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Risk Management & Insurance Advisory for Families (FSAAADAK), Main Street Business Brokerage (SMB/Owner-Operated) (FSAEAIAA)

Keywords

• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Business exit planning
• Installment sale trusts
• Wealth management

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory Services: Personalized financial planning and advisory services including retirement planning, tax strategy, and business exit consulting. Revenue generated through advisory fees for comprehensive financial plans tailored to individual client situations.
2. Installment Sale Trust Management: Management and administration of Installment Sale Trusts under Section 453 IRC for clients selling appreciated assets, providing tax-deferred wealth transition solutions.
3. Educational Products and Resources: Revenue from published books including 'Just Say No to Bad Financial Advice' and educational PDFs. The company also offers Kevin Brunner's book 'How to Beat the IRS, Legally: The CTBA Guide to Paying Less Tax' as a lead generation tool.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions provides personalized financial advisory and tax planning services for high-net-worth individuals and business owners through proprietary Model Q® strategies, Roth conversion planning, 537 Installment Sale Trust administration under Section 453 of the IRC, and comprehensive business exit planning. Services are delivered through scheduled consultations with a distributed team of financial advisors across roughly 12 U.S. cities, supported by a client portal for ongoing account management.

Product overview

Q Financial & Insurance Solutions offers a unified platform of financial planning products centered around the Model Q® suite of strategies. The core offerings include the Model Q® Strategy (retirement income optimization), Model Q® Roth Conversion (tax-deferred to tax-free conversion), and Model Q® Flex Strategy (personalized tax-free income planning). These are complemented by the Q Tax Plan for comprehensive tax reduction and Business Exit Planning services for capital gains mitigation through installment sale trusts. The products work together to address retirement income, tax efficiency, and wealth transition needs for high-net-worth individuals and business owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Model Q Strategy: A series of financial planning tools and investments designed specifically to increase retirement income while lowering overall brokerage fees.
• Model Q Roth Conversion
• Model Q Flex Strategy
• Q Tax Plan

Products and services

• Model Q® Strategy A financial planning strategy designed to increase retirement income while lowering overall brokerage fees by focusing on income payments rather than account withdrawals, with planning for economic downturns.
• Model Q® Roth Conversion A tax-optimized approach that transforms taxable retirement savings (Traditional IRA, 401(k), SEP IRA) into tax-free income through Roth conversion, including Q Tax Plan integration to minimize tax impact during conversion.
• Model Q® Flex Strategy A personalized strategy for generating tax-free passive retirement income, evaluating current financial picture, projected capital needs, and long-term plans for families.
• Q Tax Plan Tax planning service that helps businesses and individuals reduce federal income taxes through customized strategies, targeting business owners paying over $100,000 in taxes.
• Business Exit Planning Capital gains tax mitigation and installment sale trust services for business owners and real estate investors selling businesses or property portfolios, including 537 Installment Sale Trust structures under Section 453 of the IRC.
• Retirement Planning Comprehensive retirement account strategies including income planning, tax minimization, and sustainable withdrawal strategies for individuals approaching or in retirement.
• Tax & Business Strategy Consulting tax services providing tailored solutions to minimize tax burdens and maximize growth for businesses paying over $100,000 in federal income tax.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.52B+ in client tax savings
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Q Exchange (Q-1031.com)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Exchange (q-1031.com) is a strategic partner for business exit planning and capital gains tax mitigation. The partnership provides clients with access to 1031 exchange services and 537 installment sale trust administration. Q Exchange helps clients mitigate capital gains tax while developing income plans for business and real estate exits.
• Excel EmpirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExcel Empire is a partner providing certified tax and business advisory services. Through this partnership, Q Financial works with businesses to show how to keep money paid to the government, efficiently use it to increase revenues, enhance business value, and create tax-free retirement income.
• Christian Ramsey (Co-Author)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian Ramsey co-authored 'Just Say No to Bad Financial Advice' with Kevin Brunner. The book serves as a comprehensive guide for investors navigating complex financial transactions.
• CB Administrative ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCB Administrative Services is a fiduciary entity within The Q Companies ecosystem that supports administrative functions for installment sale trusts and financial operations.
• IST Admin ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIST Admin Services is a fiduciary entity specializing in administration of Installment Sale Trust (IST) structures, part of the Q Companies ecosystem providing trust administration services.
• Pacific Way Wealth ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPacific Way Wealth Management is shown as a related or partner entity on the Q Financial website, potentially referring clients or sharing distribution channels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Avantax (Cetera Wealth Management): Tax-focused wealth management and broker-dealer platform historically built around CPAs and tax professionals serving HNW clients. Highly comparable to Q Financial's tax-and-business-owner-led GTM, but operates as a large IBD/wealth platform rather than an independent advisory firm.
• H.D. Vest Financial Services: Wells Fargo-owned broker-dealer and wealth platform focused on tax professionals and their HNW clients, offering investment, retirement, and tax planning services. Directly comparable tax-led advisory model to Q Financial, though delivered through a scaled IBD rather than an independent RIA.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National RIA providing wealth advisory, tax planning, retirement, and estate services to HNW individuals and business owners. Comparable client persona and integrated tax-and-investment approach to Q Financial, with substantially larger advisor headcount and AUM.
• Creative Planning: One of the largest U.S. independent RIAs offering comprehensive wealth management, tax planning, and retirement income strategies to HNW individuals and business owners. Overlaps with Q Financial's Model Q retirement-income and tax-planning positioning but operates at materially greater scale and AUM.

Direct peers

• IPX1031: Leading national 1031 exchange administrator facilitating tax-deferred real estate exchanges for investors and business owners. Comparable to Q Financial's Q-1031.com affiliate and broader installment-sale/1031 exchange strategy stack for appreciated-asset sellers.
• Carson Group: Large RIA platform serving HNW clients with holistic wealth, tax, and retirement planning including business exit support. Comparable to Q Financial's integrated advisory-plus-tax model and advisor-led delivery, but at significantly greater scale with a technology and partnership-driven operating model.
• Equity Advantage 1031 Exchange: Specialist 1031 exchange qualified intermediary serving real estate investors and business owners deferring capital gains. Operates in the same Section 1031/453 tax-deferred exchange niche that Q Financial's Business Exit Planning and Q-1031.com address.

Others

• Commonwealth Financial Network: Large independent broker-dealer supporting thousands of financial advisors serving HNW individuals and business owners. Comparable client base and tax-aware advisory positioning to Q Financial, but provides advisor infrastructure (technology, compliance, products) rather than direct-to-consumer advisory.
• IRA Financial Trust: Self-directed IRA custodian enabling alternative-asset retirement accounts, including real estate and business holdings subject to capital gains planning. Relevant ecosystem adjacency to Q Financial's Model Q Roth Conversion and installment-sale retirement-income strategies, though operating as a custodian rather than an advisor.

Emerging players

• Ed Slott and Company: Specialist education and advisory firm focused on retirement tax planning, IRAs, and Roth conversion strategies for HNW clients and the advisors who serve them. Directly comparable to the Model Q Roth Conversion and retirement-tax specialization that underpins Q Financial's HNW offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qfis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Q Financial & Insurance Solutions