Benchmark Financial

The firm charges a flat dollar fee for project-based financial plans, typically between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on complexity. For ongoing wealth management, it uses a tiered annual advisory fee that starts at 0.85% for the first $500,000 and drops to 0.20% on assets between $10 million and $25 million. As a fee-only firm, Benchmark Financial does not collect commissions or sell proprietary products.

The firm emphasizes low-cost index funds as a core strategy, guided by the idea that fund expense ratios are a dependable predictor of future performance. Portfolios are diversified across US stocks, international stocks, and bonds. The focus is on long-term, goal-driven allocation rather than short-term market timing.

Benchmark Financial organizes its services around three life stages: young professionals building savings and managing debt, mid-career clients handling college planning and tax strategies, and retirees or pre-retirees focused on Social Security, Medicare, and estate planning. The firm works with clients across the United States, not just those in Iowa.

No. Benchmark Financial is a registered investment advisor providing personal financial planning and investment management to individual clients. There is no indication that it functions as a family office structure — it does not consolidate family wealth, manage operating businesses, or coordinate intergenerational governance.

There is no evidence that the firm participates in direct private investments, venture capital, or real-asset funds. Its published investment approach centers on publicly traded securities through standard retirement and brokerage accounts, using a diversified buy-and-hold framework.