Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right
Loading
Tap on the profile icon to edit
your financial details.

Key Financial Review

Your Details Done
by Updated

This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Operating out of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Key Financial, Inc. has a variety of compensation arrangements, but it mainly uses a fee-based fee structure. The firm’s client base includes a nearly even split between those who do and don't have a high net worth. The firm currently has a sizable advisory staff, some of which are representatives of broker-dealers and/or are insurance agents. 

Key Financial Background 

Key Financial has been in business since 1997. Founder Patricia Clark Brennan serves as president, CEO and chief compliance officer (CCO). 

The firm’s team holds certifications like certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified fund specialist (CFS), accredited asset management specialist (AAMS), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), certificate in investment performance (CIPM) designation holder and more.

Key Financial Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes 

Key Financial serves individuals and high-net-worth individuals, non-high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, state and municipal government entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. 

The firm imposes a $500,000 minimum account size requirement over all of its services. However, the firm may be willing waive this requirement at its own discretion.

Services Offered by Key Financial

Key Financial’s clients have access to an array of advisory services. These include:

  • Portfolio management 
  • Financial planning
    • Cash flow planning
    • Income tax planning
    • Asset allocation and diversification
    • College education and funding alternatives
    • Retirement planning 
    • Asset protection
    • Estate planning
    • Charitable giving 
    • Family planning
  • Educational seminars

Key Financial Investment Philosophy

Key Financial will customize asset allocations to clients' goals and profiles, typically constructing portfolios with stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In evaluating investments, it relies on fundamental analysis. Its strategies include long- and short-term purchases, trading, margin transactions and option writing.

Fees Under Key Financial

Key Financial is generally compensated for its investment advisory services through asset-based fees, fixed fees and commissions. For initial financial planning, the firm charges a flat fee that is agreed upon between the advisor and client. When it comes to financial planning and asset management, the firm charges asset-based fees, though there may be other investment-related charges involved as well.

Clients may incur other fees and charges that are exclusive of Key Financial’s fees. These include deferred sales charges, custodial fees, odd-lot differentials, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, taxes on certain transactions and mutual fund and ETF internal management fees.

Key Financial Awards and Recognition

Several news outlets have recognized Patricia Brennan as one of the top financial advisors in the financial services industry. In recent year, Forbes and Barron’s have both featured Brennan across different iterations of their top advisor lists. 

What to Watch Out For 

Some of the advisors at this firm may receive commissions for the sale of insurance or investment-related products. This may create a potential conflict of interest. That said, as an investment advisor registered with the SEC, the firm is bound by the fiduciary duty to put clients' interests before its own.

How to Open an Account at Key Financial

To open an account with Key Financial, fill out your information on the firm's website or call the firm directly.

Tips to Help You Save for Retirement

  • financial advisor can help you figure out how much you need in retirement and how to get there. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • Seeing how other people with the same income spend their money can help you identify areas in your budget that you could trim. Get benchmarks for people in your area and with the same size family by using SmartAsset's budget calculator

All information was accurate as of the writing of this article.

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research