O'Brien and Associates, Inc.
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Refreshed weekly • Updated today.
About
O’Brien and Associates provides personalized, fee-only investment management to individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations, serving both high‑net‑worth and non‑high‑net‑worth clients. The firm delivers portfolio management and ongoing supervision tailored to each client’s financial goals, tax situation, and investment preferences.
The adviser primarily recommends mutual funds and ETFs and uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, supplemented by historical quantitative data and a computerized portfolio model to inform asset selection. Services are delivered on a non‑discretionary basis, meaning clients are asked to approve trades, and accounts are reviewed at least quarterly with rebalancing when appropriate.
Notably, the firm manages roughly $49.4 million under non‑discretionary authority, a practice that is uncommon among comparable supported advisers and results in clients retaining trade approval for most activity. The firm discloses a custodial relationship that provides institutional services and operational support, does not accept referral fees, typically does not vote proxies on client securities, and maintains written policies for trade errors, privacy, and client reporting.
Client services
Expertise
Fee options
$0 - $500,000: 1.25% $500,001 - $1,000,000: 1.00% $1,000,001 - $2,000,000: 0.80% $2,000,001+: 0.60%
Fee-only: Annual fees based on tiered percentage of AUM: 1.25% up to $500,000; 1.00% $500,001-$1,000,000; 0.80% $1,000,001-$2,000,000; 0.60% over $2,000,000. Fees billed quarterly in arrears.
Main office
West Union IA
Advisors at this office
2
Most active in
Iowa
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:
-
Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
-
Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
-
Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
-
Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
-
Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
-
Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
-
Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
-
Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
-
Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
Forms ADV
Advisors at this firm
Valerie E
West Union, IA
O'Brien and Associates, Inc.
Valerie Ehler is a financial advisor at O'Brien and Associates, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. She has been with O'Brien and Associates since 1999. O'Brien and Associates provides personalized, fee-only investment management to individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations, serving both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients. The firm offers portfolio management and ongoing supervision tailored to clients’ financial goals, tax situations, and investment preferences, primarily recommending mutual funds and ETFs through a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.
Bruce E
Series 65
West Union, IA
O'Brien and Associates, Inc.
Bruce Ehler is a financial advisor at O'Brien and Associates, Inc. with five years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked for North Fayette Valley Community School District for 24 years. O'Brien and Associates provides personalized, fee-only investment management to individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations, serving both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis along with quantitative data and a computerized portfolio model to guide asset selection, offering services on a non-discretionary basis with regular portfolio reviews and rebalancing.
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)