Brian Kelly - Financial Finesse Planner

Brian Kelly, CFP®

Personal Financial Coach

Omaha, NE

My Story

Brian loves to ask people the thought-provoking questions in life. His favorite is, “What advice would you give to your 18-year old self?” This has earned him the nickname of “Deep Thoughts” on the Financial Finesse team. A Cornhusker fan born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Brian met his wife in high school when they both worked at a grocery store. Married for 25+ years now, they have two sons and a daughter, all of whom are on the cusp of fleeing the nest and adulting on their own.

Brian recently reached a milestone age, which had him contemplating the number of summers he has left to engage in the outdoor activities he loves including backpacking, extreme mountain biking and playing hockey. This realization helped him and his wife to re-prioritize spending so that they can have the experiences they value now, while they are still able-bodied, without compromising the ability to retire comfortably when they’re ready.

When working with people on their money questions, Brian motivates them by helping to reframe financial decisions. For example, he’ll say, “In the next 5 years, you’ll earn approximately 130 paychecks. How will each of those paychecks help you to achieve your goals?” He’s big on helping people get a sense of where they currently stand, as he doesn’t see another way to get where you’re going without knowing where you are now.

If Brian could have a megaphone that reached everyone in the world, he would tell people that no matter what their circumstances, who they hire to help or what decisions they’ve made in the past, THEY are in charge of their money and their financial futures. No one else.

Some Key Life Milestones I’ve Crossed:

  • Married for 25 years
  • Raised 3 kids
  • Put a nice roof over our heads

Things I’m Focused On:

  • Planning for retirement while still enjoying life in the meantime
  • Sending my youngest off to college

Years of Experience

20

Specialty Areas

Money Management
Retirement
Investing

Education

B.S. in Psychology, Grace University
Former U.S. Army Reservist