At Whitesell Financial Group, LLP, all of us share the same goal: help our clients pursue their passions. This means that we will always work with the end goal in mind to help make sure your wealth is utilized as a tool to live your best life possible.
To put it simply, we help you focus on the future you deserve.
Born at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and later growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota, Kurt learned at an early age that hard work and determination are the keys to success.
As he grew older, Kurt realized the need for an honest and objective resource for people when planning ahead for their futures. In 1987, he became a financial consultant and by 2007, he founded his own independent financial firm, Whitesell Financial Group, LLP.
For more than three decades, he has helped clients work towards achieving their goals according to the belief that a financial professional should be free from Wall Street and corporate influences in order to ensure the highest ethical standards are consistently practiced and upheld.
In addition to his role as president of Whitesell Financial Group, LLP, Kurt has been actively involved in the community:
Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame member for his boxing career of 135 wins and 22 losses.
Younglife Finance Committee board member.
Junior Achievement volunteer within the Rapid City Schools.
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Important disclosure below*
President's Club Advisor — a distinction based on annual production attained by 17 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network (2020).
He and his wife, Suzie, are the proud parents of four children and a grandchild. In his spare time, Kurt enjoys going to the gym and watching his kids play sports.
The 2021 ranking of the Forbes’ Best–in–State Wealth Advisors(1) list was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in–person and telephone due–diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively and on a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria (including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms). Overall, approximately 32,725 advisors were considered, and 5,000 (approximately 15.3 percent of candidates) were recognized. The full methodology(2) that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research is available at www.forbes.com.
(1)This recognition and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Your experience may vary. Winners are organized and ranked by state. Some states may have more advisors than others. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you.
(2)Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
The 2021 ranking of the Forbes’ Best–in–State Wealth Advisors1 list was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in–person and telephone due–diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively and on a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria (including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms). Overall, approximately 32,725 advisors were considered, and 5,000 (approximately 15.3 percent of candidates) were recognized. The full methodology that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research is available at www.forbes.com.
Alisha joined Whitesell Financial Group, LLP in September 2014 as an office administrator. In this role, she works closely with the advisors to prepare investment and insurance product applications, gather research and data for financial plans and provide ongoing support and service to our clients. Her passion to create effective, efficient and accurate administrative processes that offer the highest quality client experience embodies the WFG vision.
Originally from Rapid City, Alisha graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary sciences and an emphasis in business. In 2015, she completed the Series 7 General Securities Representatives Exam and the Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam.
Alisha resides in Rapid City with her husband, Brian, and their two sons, Michael and Alec. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing Bunco and watching Minnesota Vikings football with family and friends.
A Rapid City native, Suzie earned a bachelor’s degree in education and taught for eight years before joining her husband, Kurt, as part of the Whitesell Financial Group, LLP team. In her role, she utilizes her keen attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills to deliver the highest quality client experience.
When she is not at the office, you can find Suzie cheering and volunteering at various kid sporting events. She and Kurt have four children and are grandparents to one adorable little boy. In her free time, Suzie enjoys entertaining family and friends, reading a good book and knitting.
Jerod joined Whitesell Financial Group in November 2019. As an administrative assistant he works closely with the advisors and staff assisting in day-to-day operations. He prides himself in his attention to detail and communication skills, which allow him to provide exceptional service.
Jerod hails from Emery, SD, but has been living in the Black Hills since 2006. He graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Business Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurial Studies.
Jerod resides near Pactola Reservoir with his wife Alana and their three dogs Frankie, Harper, and Love. He spends much of his free time enjoying the beautiful Black Hills while camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing
Putting Relationships Back Into the Picture
Our core beliefs are grounded in an unwavering commitment to helping people just like you move forward with confidence.
Through time-tested investment principles, a research-driven process and a highly-personalized approach, we’re able to offer a comprehensive set of solutions that help foster long-term stability and success for generations to come.
It is not what you know, but what you do that makes a difference.
— Kurt W. Whitesell
More About Us
Family-Oriented
In addition to our president and client relations manager being married, all of us are friends — rather than just coworkers — and we extend the same friendliness, warmth and compassion towards our clients.
Innovative
We’re always looking for new ways to better serve our clients. From providing ongoing financial education, valuing client feedback and providing easy-to-use integrated software, we are life-long learners — passionate about bridging the gap and bringing new ideas to the table.
Accountable
Integrity is important to us. We understand that you have a choice in whom you do business with, and we are honored that our clients have chosen us to serve them. We understand that life is busy; that’s why we take the extra step to ensure you receive the maximum value out of the time you spend with us.
Future-Focused
We want the best for our clients. We work hard to ensure we’re always planning for your future, your family and generations to come.
Commonwealth Financial Network, our Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and broker-dealer, was founded with the objective of creating an open and supportive environment, providing advisors with everything they need to serve their clients.
This goal is as clear today as it was when the firm first opened its doors in 1979. The culture Commonwealth has created over the years — along with the dedicated, friendly support it provides — is one of the reasons we chose to partner with them, and why you can always expect to receive the prompt, attentive service you deserve.
Benefits of Our Partnership
Investment Choice
Commonwealth offers robust, independent market research and a wide universe of third-party investment options — from individual stocks to mutual funds.
Service
Staff members answer our calls promptly, execute transactions quickly and offer our firm the same first-class treatment we strive to give you.
Technology
Commonwealth's integrated web-based systems allow us to manage your portfolio and overall financial picture more efficiently.
services
Aligning Your Passions
With Our Solutions
We believe curating a wealthy life means to live a life rich with experiences — spending time with loved ones, balancing work and play, enjoying holistic wellness and reaching financial independence — so you can live your best life and achieve everything you've ever imagined.
In today’s world, there are common needs and desires people seek to accomplish. To protect their ability to earn and accumulate wealth, many people choose to hold insurance — as well as maintain an emergency fund — to guard against depleting savings that are intended for other goals.
Accumulation planning covers your individual investment needs, asset allocation and the suitability of basic securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Separately managed accounts, indices, option strategies, short-term assets and annuities are also used to optimize your portfolio.
Some situations require different expertise than typical stock and bond portfolio implementation. These situations usually pertain to employer-related retirement plans and stock options, margin strategies and real estate exchanges.
Most investors understand that as risk increases, the potential for return also increases. But there is a point for every individual where the level of risk is not worth the potential of return. The goal of asset allocation is to provide you with the risk/return scenario that is most comfortable for you.
At Whitesell Financial Group, LLP, we’ve found that most people are not concerned with being wealthy — they simply want to avoid ever being broke. Our goal is to help make sure your retirement wishes are fulfilled — as well as protected — from any unexpected ailments or obstacles.
The distribution of accumulated assets is at the heart of any retirement plan. By implementing an individualized distribution method, we’ll help make sure your retirement savings last beyond your lifetime.
From premature distribution options to products that provide stable monthly payments, distribution planning is a key way we’ll help you build a successful plan for your exit from the workforce.
Estate planning creates a master plan for the management of your property during life and the distribution of that property after death.
Estate planning will:
Give you more control over your assets.
Provide care as you age.
Enable wealth transfer.
Our process does not end with estate planning, but rather coordinates with your comprehensive financial plan for your business(es), investments, insurance policies and more.
Asset protection planning manages risks to your wealth. Lawsuits, accidents, property damage and other financial risks are facts of everyday life, and asset protection planning looks to transfer the risk of these events through:
Insurance.
Repositioning asset ownership.
Other protections available under the law.
Business risk management carries its own set of risk exposures. Certain factors can have a huge impact on how safe your personal and business assets are from risk. These include:
The type of business entity you choose.
The state you choose to do business in.
How you manage your business.
Your human resources.
Your taxes.
Personal risk management identifies your options for handling these risks. Both genetics and lifestyle affect your risk profile. Being overweight, eating poorly, failing to exercise, smoking, driving unsafely and not wearing a seatbelt will increase your insurance premiums. On the other hand, making healthier lifestyle decisions can help reduce your insurance premiums.
Although you have no control over your genetics, you do have control over how you live your life. Educate yourself on how making healthy choices can not only improve your general health and wellness, but can also have a direct impact on your healthcare costs.
Succession planning focuses on issues specific to business owners and shareholders. At Whitesell Financial Group, LLP, we believe, morally and ethically, that a business should be prepared for the disability or death of its owner(s). If you, as an owner, become unable to operate your company, do you know what would happen? Would your family, co-owners and/or employees know what to do? Would your business survive without a succession plan?
For most business owners, the business is their most significant asset, and the financial success of that business has an immediate impact on the economic security of their family. Without proper planning, you may have difficulty tapping into the value of your business to support your retirement, or your family may lose the value of your business at your death.
Succession planning is a key aspect of our business. Our goal is to help business owners just like you to identify possible risks and develop strategies to reduce or alleviate those risks.
A major goal of tax planning is to minimize federal and state income tax liability. This can be achieved by:
Reducing taxable income through income deferral or shifting.
Deduction planning.
Investment tax planning.
Year-end planning strategies.
If you give away wealth, during life or after death, you may incur federal taxes — and possibly additional state taxes. These taxes include gift, estate, income and inheritance taxes. You can help protect the assets you transfer from excessive depletion by understanding these taxes and the various strategies you can use to minimize them.
Tax issues are never far from the mind of the business owner, and it's likely that many of the decisions you make will be tax-based. It all starts with the formation of your business and continues throughout the sale. The type of business entity, how you pay out profits to the company owners and your accounting decisions all affect your tax liability.
Our brother in-law, Jeff started noticing symptoms in the summer of 2019. His right bicep muscle would twitch periodically and over time it got worse. My sister is a nurse and she was suspicious and asked him to see their primary care provider. His doctor said the muscle fasciculations were noticeable and he had a marked weakness in his right arm. It didn't take long to arrive at the diagnosis of ALS. The first test was an EMG (electromyography) which quickly came back suggestive of MND (motor neuron disease). They were able to get an appointment at Barrows with Dr. Ladha and within a week and a half they knew it was ALS but needed to hear it from a specialist.
October 7th, 2019 is the day our lives would change. How do we tell our kids, family and friends? How long do we have together? Where do we want to travel? This can't be the correct diagnosis...we need a second and third opinion. All our thoughts were totally normal. This is really where the grieving process starts. Jeff started to see worsening muscle fasciculations in his right arm, moving to his forearm and hand then progressed to his left arm and chest. It progressed very rapidly. By February 2020 he was no longer able to safely drive his garbage truck for the City of Mesa which was a devastating realization for him. Life was changing rapidly now add the pandemic. We spent all of our time with family and friends, checking items off his bucket list including skydiving. We lived life in the moment doing the things Jeff loved, trying not to have any regrets.
My sister's fondest memories are dancing with Jeff or listening to music and watching him laugh. He was always joking around and getting people to laugh. My advice is to love, laugh and live as long as possible. Don't let a moment go by without telling the people you love how much they have meant to you. Jeff made videos for people while he was still able to talk...which became priceless after he was gone. Don't waste time, our last year and a half together passed so quickly. I wish I could get some time back.
Jeff passed away on April 28, 2021 surrounded by his loving family and friends.
vision board
Get Inspired
It isn't about what you know, it's about what you do that determines your outcome. — Kurt W. Whitesell
As wealth managers, we focus on the bigger picture — experiences over numbers — because we believe at the heart of money is the opportunity to live out your dreams, fulfill your life’s purpose and tap into your innate passions and desires.
We've created a vision board to showcase some of our clients' adventures.
The difference between knowledge and understanding is experience.
The best time to invest is when you have the money and you are thinking about it.
OUR STORY
