Kansas City fee-only early adopter focused on providing comprehensive financial planning on an hourly, as-needed basis, and flat-fee / commission-free investment management
Financial Avenues LLC (Financial Avenues), a fee-only (commission-free) financial planning and investment advisory firm, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. Over the past fifteen years, Financial Avenues has grown from a staff of just one to over half a dozen that has served more than 350 financial planning and investment advisory clients in the Kansas City area. Founder Tracy St. John, RICP® (St. John) is one of the first female financial planners in Missouri and Kansas to serve clients on a fee-only fiduciary basis, a business model that reduces conflicts of interest and clearly aligns client/advisor goals and priorities.
The firm’s focus on providing services on an hourly, as-needed basis, or on a continuous basis makes it possible for people from all walks of life to receive support. Managing assets is not the focus or requirement; however, it is an option, and this service is not a percentage of assets under management (AUM) and instead, charged on a flat fee basis. This service structure, which is not the norm in the financial services industry, has contributed to the firm’s ongoing success.
Reflecting on why she founded Financial Avenues, St. John shared, “My vision has always been to empower people seeking financial advice without the pressure of being sold products or the requirement to manage money. I’m deeply passionate about helping individuals who want to learn but often feel overwhelmed by the jargon used in the financial industry. My goal is to make personal finance accessible and understandable for everyone.”
As the summer and fall months unfold, celebratory open houses will be held at each office location, providing an opportunity to interact with the firm’s local teams—and most recent new employee—and to donate to the Rose Brooks Center and Synergy Services, local organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, abuse, and homelessness. Kids are welcome and attendees will also have the opportunity to congratulate financial planner Beth Watts on earning the CFP® marks of distinction.
Later this year, the firm will be offering “Ask an Advisor” events. There will be a special blog series focused on personal finance and business success, and corresponding webcasts.
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
Leawood Office: 4701 College Boulevard, Suite 214, Leawood, Kansas 66211
Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Liberty Office: 8 Westowne Drive, Suite 801, Liberty, Missouri 64086
Thursday, August 28, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
15 YEARS / 15 INSIGHTS
To mark fifteen years of empowering individuals and professionals with professional, fiduciary financial guidance, Founder Tracy St. John will be developing “15 Years, 15 Insights,” a special blog series that will distill over a decade and a half of business insights and personal financial planning experience into actionable advice for readers.
This series is designed to offer something for everyone—from individuals and families seeking to build a secure financial future to business professionals and entrepreneurs looking for fresh perspectives. Each post will deliver concise, practical insights that reflect the core principles of Financial Avenues: simplicity, clarity, and empowerment. Topics will range from effective budgeting techniques to strategies for navigating investments in uncertain markets to retirement planning essentials, ensuring readers gain valuable knowledge applicable to their unique financial goals.
The blog series will be capped with special webcasts. Hosted by St. John, the virtual presentation will expand on each of the fifteen blog posts, providing insight with practical tips—plus an opportunity to participate in a live Q&A.
Members of the press and interested others are invited to explore the blog series and register for the webcasts by emailing Connect@MyFinancialAvenues.com.
ABOUT ROSE BROOKS CENTER
Over the past 46 years, Rose Brooks Center has offered domestic violence services and programming in the Kansas City Metro area and beyond. While hundreds of individuals and pets find safety in the emergency shelter, thousands more are served outside of shelter through groundbreaking community programs. Their mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence so that individuals and families can live free of abuse. In 2024 alone, Rose Brooks Center served over 14,000 victims of abuse and violence. In recognition of their work, Rose Brooks Center has maintained their designations as both a Platinum-level and 4-star charity through Guidestar and Charity Navigator. Rose Brooks continues to be there at every point of a survivor’s journey, both behind their shelter walls and throughout the entire Kansas City community.
ABOUT SYNERGY SERVICES
Synergy Services, Inc. began in 1970 as Synergy House, the only shelter for runaway and homeless youth in western Missouri. Synergy now provides a full continuum of nationally accredited care to assist children and families with immediate respite from violence, and services which empower clients to find and choose good options for future safety and success. In addition to their work to treat the effects of violence, Synergy provides supportive services to families in crisis in an effort to prevent violence. They also focus on community education to build a safer society. Their programs include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs throughout the greater Kansas City area.
ABOUT TRACY ST. JOHN AND FINANCIAL AVENUES
Founded by Tracy St. John, RICP®, in 2010, Financial Avenues, LLC, is an independent, fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. With a mission to provide transparent and compassionate financial guidance, the firm offers customized planning services without the pressure of product sales or asset minimums. Emphasizing education and empowerment, Financial Avenues ensures clients receive clear, jargon-free advice tailored to their unique financial journeys.
St. John entered the financial planning field after a career in the retirement plan industry, consulting on corporate retirement plans and providing employee education and investment advice. She holds a Master’s Degree in Family Financial Planning from Kansas State University in 2004. This degree represents two years of study, which included family economics, real estate, behavioral psychology and financial counseling. In addition, she earned a Certificate in Personal Financial Planning through Kansas State University in 2002, including study in the core topics of insurance, taxes, retirement, estate planning and investments, including the required courses to qualify for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam. She received the Retirement Income Certified Professional RICP® through the American College of Financial Services in 2018. St. John also served as Director of Public Awareness for the Kansas City Financial Planning Association (FPA) from 2010 to 2014.
With two locations currently established (Leawood and Liberty) from which to meet with and serve clients as well as offering virtual meetings, the firm is happy to schedule a confidential get-acquainted conversation with anyone interested in exploring options and opportunities. For more information, visit www.MyFinancialAvenues.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250710615410/en/
“I’m deeply passionate about helping individuals who want to learn but often feel overwhelmed by the jargon used in the financial industry. My goal is to make personal finance accessible and understandable for everyone.”
Contacts
Media Contact
Dori Thomas
Impact Communications, Inc.
913-649-5009
DoriThomas@ImpactCommunications.org