Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Refreshed weekly • Updated today.
About
Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, with particular experience serving young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. Services described in the brochure include integrated planning across investments, tax, estate, insurance, retirement, education funding, and small-business needs, delivered under written retainer agreements tailored to client objectives.
The firm’s investment approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation implemented primarily with low-cost, passive index mutual funds and ETFs and global diversification, with discretionary trading conducted through custodians such as Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and TIAA. Bluestem offers ESG fund options when directed by clients, uses fundamental research sources (e.g., Morningstar and financial publications), and discloses that it acts as a fiduciary for retirement accounts.
Bluestem’s practice differs from many peers in how it bills and bundles services: its ongoing retainer is calculated on the client’s overall net worth rather than being limited to a simple percentage of investable assets, and tax preparation is routinely included in the comprehensive retainer for many clients. The firm relies on custodian statements for performance reporting rather than producing quarterly performance reports itself, participates in Schwab’s institutional program, and states that it does not accept commissions or performance-based fees.
Client services
Expertise
Occupation focus
Demographic focus
Fee options
Financial Review fee: minimum $1,350 for a single 2-hour meeting engagement; $250 to amend tax returns; $250 per dependent for tax preparation
$0 - $1,000,000: $5,000 plus 0.80% of net worth over $625,000 $1,000,000 - $3,000,000: $8,000 plus 0.65% of net worth over $1,000,000 $3,000,000 - No Maximum: $21,000 plus 0.40% of net worth over $3,000,000
Up to $275 per hour for specified projects not covered in other engagements; $175 per hour for additional complexity tax preparation
Minimum fee: Minimum base fee for Open Retainer services is $5,000 annually Fee-only: Open Retainer and Financial Review contract fees only; no commissions accepted
Main office
1809 Woodfield Drive, Suite A
Savoy IL 61874
Advisors at this office
7
Most active in
Arizona · Illinois · Texas
Disclosures
Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.
Business activities & affiliations
Is not active or affiliated with:
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Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
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Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
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Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
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Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
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Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
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Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
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Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
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Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
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Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
Quick links
Advisors at this firm
Timothy L
CFP®
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Timothy Lee is a CFP® professional with three years of experience at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC and previous work experience at Costco Wholesale and Chipotle. He is based in Savoy, Illinois. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm providing comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, focusing on young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, offers ESG investment options, and includes tax preparation in its comprehensive retainer agreements.
Nicholas V
CFP®, Series 65
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Nicholas Vogel is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC since 2018. Prior to this, he worked at Martin Hood LLC for six years. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm providing comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, including young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach using primarily low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, offers ESG fund options upon client request, and acts as a fiduciary for retirement accounts under written retainer agreements.
Jacob K
CFP®, Series 65
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Jacob Kuebler is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC since 2011. He is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, focusing on young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, offers ESG options, and delivers integrated planning across multiple financial areas under retainer agreements tailored to client objectives.
Johnathan F
CFP®
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Johnathan Frerichs is a CFP® professional with experience at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC and Busey Wealth Management. He has a background that includes work at the University of Illinois - Champaign-Urbana and Rantoul City Schools. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm serving individuals and families, particularly young professionals, pre-retirees, and university staff. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing strategic asset allocation with low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs.
Joshua C
CFP®, Series 66
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Joshua Cutler is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC since 2014. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, focusing on young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, offers ESG options upon client request, and delivers integrated planning across multiple financial areas through tailored retainer agreements.
Samuel W
CFP®, Series 65
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Samuel Wesley is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC. He has experience in financial services roles since 2020, including positions at Safe Retirement Systems, Inc. and Tammy Goodman Financial. Wesley’s background also includes four years at the University of Illinois and prior work at St. Joseph - Ogden High. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm offering comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, including young professionals, pre-retirees, and university staff. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation primarily via low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, and provides integrated planning services covering investments, tax, estate, insurance, retirement, education funding, and small-business needs.
Joseph M
CFP®
Savoy, IL
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC
Joseph Miebach is a CFP® professional with nine years at Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC and two years of industry experience. Before joining Bluestem, he worked at Common Ground Publishing for one year. Bluestem Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm offering comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals and families, focusing on young professionals, pre-retirees, and university professionals. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation with low-cost, passive index funds and ETFs, providing integrated planning services under written retainer agreements.
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