Financial Planning for People Who Are Figuring It Out (That's Most of Us)
Salt Lake City's approachable CFP® — and yes, we work with clients everywhere.
The short version:
CFP® credential
Kirstin Chavez holds the Certified Financial Planner™ designation
25 years of real freelance life
she spent them as a professional classical singer before becoming your financial advisor
Fully virtual
Zoom-based, no commute, available wherever you are
You Don't Need a Million Dollars to Deserve Good Advice
Most financial advisors are built for people who already have it figured out. Artfx is built for the in-between — the 30s and 40s phase when you're earning real money, thinking about the future more seriously than you used to, and realizing nobody handed you a roadmap.
We're a small, virtual financial planning practice based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and we work with clients across the country — from Salt Lake City to Kansas, Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon. Kirstin Chavez, CFP®, leads every client relationship. Megan Lederer supports the practice from Oklahoma. There's no massive team, no impersonal handoffs, and no minimum portfolio requirement.
If you've been telling yourself you'll deal with your finances once you have a little more money — that moment isn't coming on its own. This is where it starts.
What We Can Actually Help You With
Whether you're trying to build a retirement you can afford, sort out insurance as a freelancer, or start saving for your kid's college without derailing your own goals — there's a place for that here.
Retirement Planning
Build a realistic retirement income target, reduce what you pay in taxes along the way, and create a withdrawal plan that doesn't fall apart when life gets complicated.
Income Planning for the Self-Employed
Irregular income isn't a problem to apologize for — it's a planning variable. We help freelancers and self-employed professionals build spending strategies, manage taxes, and set up retirement accounts that actually work without an employer doing it for you.
Life & Health Insurance
Coverage that fits your actual life, not a generic checklist. We help you evaluate what you need, what you don't, and what it all costs.
Education Savings
529 plans, UTMA accounts, grandparent strategies — coordinated with your own long-term goals so you're not choosing between your future and theirs.
Estate Planning
Your beneficiary designations, account titling, and wealth transfer strategy need to work together — and they need to reflect your life as it actually is today, not how it looked when you opened the account. We coordinate the financial layer and connect you with the right legal professionals when the situation calls for it.
Here's What Working with a Financial Advisor for People in Their 30s and 40s Actually Looks Like
A lot of people don't know what a financial advisor does day-to-day — or whether the cost makes sense for where they are financially. Fair questions.
At Artfx, the relationship starts with a free consultation. We talk through where you are, what you're trying to accomplish, and whether it makes sense to work together. No pitch deck. No pressure. If you're not ready for ongoing planning, we also offer individual one-time financial plans for people who need a clear picture without a long-term commitment.
From the Artfx Blog
Financial planning questions, answered in plain language. No dense reports, no jargon — just useful content for people who are actively figuring this out.
Few Questions We Hear a Lot
Do I need to live in Salt Lake City to work with Artfx?
No. We're fully virtual and work with clients across the country — including in Kansas, Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon. If you have a Zoom link, you're good.
Is there a minimum portfolio or income requirement to work with you?
There's no minimum. We work with people in the wealth-building phase — which means actively building, not already there.
What does a financial advisor actually do for someone in their 30s or 40s?
Depending on where you are, that could mean building a retirement income target, setting up a Solo 401(k), figuring out life insurance, creating a spending strategy that actually lets you live your life, or planning for a kid's education. Usually a combination.
What does it cost to work with Artfx?
Pricing is discussed during your free consultation — no surprise fees, no hidden structures. We'll tell you exactly what you're getting and what it costs before anything is agreed to.
What's the difference between a CFP® and a regular financial advisor?
A CFP® — Certified Financial Planner™ — has completed rigorous education, passed a comprehensive exam, and is held to a fiduciary standard. That last part means Kirstin is legally required to act in your interest, not in the interest of a product she's trying to sell.
