Business Details
Trusted Financial Planning & Retirement Strategies in Michigan
Custer Financial Advisors is a dedicated team of financial professionals committed to helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals. With decades of combined experience, we specialize in crafting personalized financial strategies that encompass retirement planning, tax optimization, investment management, and Social Security analysis. Our approach prioritizes comprehensive financial education, emphasizing the importance of understanding the 'why' behind every recommendation. As fiduciaries, we operate with full transparency and no hidden fees, ensuring every decision aligns with our clients' unique objectives.Our partnership with LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer, provides access to a wide range of investment solutions tailored to individual needs. We serve pre-retirees, retirees, and Ramsey Solutions followers, focusing on building lasting relationships through ongoing financial guidance and adaptive planning that evolves with changing life circumstances.
Services
Financial Planning
Retirement Strategies
Tax Planning
Investment Management
Social Security Analysis
Roth Conversions
Asset Allocation
Estate Planning
College Savings Plans
Portfolio Management
Highlights and features
- We have over 24 years of combined experience in financial services
- Our advisors operate with fiduciary duty to clients
- We implement proven tax planning strategies for retirement
- Personalized financial education is central to our approach
- Partnership with LPL Financial provides diverse investment options
Services
Retirement Planning
Our retirement planning service helps clients determine their financial needs for retirement through comprehensive analysis of current assets, future goals, and potential risks. We develop customized strategies that consider tax implications, Social Security optimization, and sustainable withdrawal rates. The process includes ongoing portfolio adjustments and regular progress reviews to ensure alignment with evolving life circumstances and market conditions.
Tax Planning Strategies
We implement proactive tax planning strategies designed to minimize lifetime tax liabilities through strategic asset location, Roth conversions, and tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing. Our approach considers current tax laws, individual income levels, and retirement timelines to create optimized tax frameworks that enhance overall financial outcomes while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
Investment Management
Our investment management service provides customized portfolio construction based on individual risk tolerance, time horizons, and financial goals. We utilize diversified investment strategies across multiple asset classes, with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing to maintain target allocations. The service includes access to financial projections and analysis tools to track performance against benchmarks and adjust strategies as needed.
Social Security Analysis
This service evaluates optimal Social Security claiming strategies to maximize lifetime benefits while considering spousal coordination and tax implications. We analyze different claiming scenarios, including early versus delayed benefits, and integrate these decisions with overall retirement income plans to create sustainable cash flow strategies that complement other income sources.
Roth Conversion Planning
Our Roth conversion planning service assesses the potential benefits of converting traditional retirement accounts to Roth IRAs. We analyze current and projected future tax rates, income levels, and retirement timelines to determine optimal conversion amounts and timing. The process includes modeling different conversion scenarios to evaluate long-term tax savings and estate planning benefits.
People
Elizabeth DeKuiper
Registered Financial Planner
With 24+ years in financial services, Elizabeth specializes in retirement plans and investment strategies. She holds Series 6, 7, 63 & 65 registrations through LPL Financial and focuses on objective financial advice for individuals and businesses.
Michael Custer
Certified Financial Planner
CFP professional with expertise in tax strategies and retirement planning. Holds multiple securities registrations and insurance licenses. Focuses on building client relationships and understanding personal financial goals through a holistic approach to wealth management.
Ray Janish
Certified Financial Planner
28-year industry veteran with Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation. Specializes in comprehensive financial planning and investment management. Maintains active professional development through ongoing education programs and industry certifications.
Autumn Wittlieff
Certified Financial Planner
Full-scope financial planner supporting clients and advisors. Graduated from Grand Valley State University with HR management background. Focuses on client support while maintaining professional development through continuing education programs.
Sara Kronlein
Office Manager
Business administration graduate with focus on client service excellence. Provides operational support to financial advisors while maintaining high standards of customer service. Specializes in creating smooth administrative processes for client interactions.
Questions
How much money do I need to retire comfortably?
We conduct comprehensive retirement analyses considering your goals, current assets, and spending patterns to determine personalized retirement needs.
What tax strategies work best for retirees?
We implement tax bracket management, Roth conversions, and strategic withdrawal sequencing to minimize lifetime tax liabilities in retirement.
When should I claim Social Security benefits?
We analyze optimal claiming strategies considering spousal benefits, life expectancy, and tax implications to maximize lifetime Social Security value.
How do you select investments for retirement portfolios?
We use diversified asset allocation strategies tailored to risk tolerance, time horizons, and financial goals with ongoing portfolio monitoring.
Are Roth IRA conversions right for my situation?
We evaluate current and future tax rates, income levels, and estate planning goals to determine if Roth conversions would benefit your retirement plan.
How do you help Ramsey Solutions followers?
We support Ramsey's financial principles while providing advanced strategies for Baby Step 4 and beyond, focusing on tax optimization and investment planning.
Reviews (2)
Jay Smith
Dec 10, 2018
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I was nervous about going to another small financial advising office, but they exceeded my expectations! I am not good with planning for the future or have extensive knowledge of the financial markets, but the people in there made it so easy to understand! My adviser ( Michael) is very enthusiastic and interested how I wanted to plan for my future, and not another cookie cutter plan. The difference I noticed about this comforting family first office is that they really wanted to help me grow my wealth, and didn't discard me because I'm not a "big dog". When I went into the chain financial advisers
Joshua Groenhof
Nov 22, 2018
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Four words Id use to describe Custer Financial Advisors. Knowledgeable, trustworthy, fiduciary, and approachable. The advisors there are happy to answer questions free of charge. They take a holistic approach to your finances and set you up with an individual plan designed best for you. But what I like best about Custer Financial Advisors is that they are very transparent and knowledgeable financial advisors that are there to put you, the customer first. 10/10 would I recommend using Custer Financial Advisors.
