Build Your Financial Future with Confidence

Baxter & Associates has helped the Wichita community build financial security for nearly 50 years. Don Baxter opened our doors in 1976. Since then, we have built a reputation for honest advice and relationships that last. Your financial life is your own story, and you need a partner who listens, understands what matters to you and is with you through it all.

We are independent advisors, and our goal is to give you clarity and confidence as you make large financial decisions. You might be saving for retirement, interested in growing your investments or thinking about your legacy. We are here for all of it. At Baxter & Associates, we tailor our services to fit your life, so you can spend less time worrying about money and more time comfortably living your life.

50 Years of Trust and Local Expertise

Wichita is home!  We are proud to be Wichita local and share the same values and goals as our neighbors. Our reputation was not built overnight - it grew one client at a time, with honest advice and a real commitment to their success. Some families have trusted us for decades, passing that trust down generationally. That loyalty means the world to us, and we do all we can to earn it every day.

When you work with Baxter & Associates, you get a financial partner who knows Kansas and knows what matters. Our team brings years of experience, with CFP® professionals and consider ourselves experts in everything from wealth building to financial preservation to exit planning to insurance. We understand that every family has different financial goals and what matters most is getting to know you and those goals. We take the time to understand your family, career, retirement goals, and concerns. This approach allows us to create a plan tailored to your needs. Managing your finances should be straightforward and manageable.  That is how we build a plan that actually fits your life.

We look at your whole financial picture and how everything connects. From growing your investments to planning your retirement income, we make sure every piece works together for your goals.

What does wealth management look like?

We organize your financial planning, investments, retirement, taxes, healthcare, and legacy wishes into one plan that makes sense for you. We focus on:

* Retirement Income Planning
* Investment Planning
* Tax Planning 
* Health Care Planning
* Legacy Planning
Each category represents a part of your long-term financial health strategy. 

Retirement Income Planning

It is natural to start thinking about retirement and have the immediate concern about your money lasting for as long as you may need it.  Our main focus is helping you retire with a plan to ensure that your money will last. We start by looking at what you will need and what you want your retirement to look like. We then will build a custom plan to cover those costs with steady income. This could mean combining Social Security, pension options and a smart withdrawal plan for your savings. We want your money to last and your retirement to not just feel secure but be secure.

There are so many factors to consider which is why we consider things like inflation and how long you might live. Retirement can last 20, 30, or even more years so your plan has to keep up with rising costs and a long life. If you are married, we ensure both spouses are protected with an income plan that continues for the survivor.

We build your retirement income from different sources, like investments or annuities, so that you get steady paychecks each month.

Investment Planning

Your financial life is full of choices. Some are easy and some keep you up at night. At Baxter & Associates, we take investing seriously, but we know it is personal. There’s no cookie-cutter plan built for everyone - we build a custom plan that actually fits your needs both in the short and long term.

First, we get real about risk. How much can you handle? If the market takes a hit, what does that do to your peace of mind? After we establish that, then we talk about what you want out of life. That seems like a simple question, but it is complex.  It maybe means a comfortable retirement, sending your kids to college or finally building that dream house.

Once we fully understand what you care about, we put together a portfolio that is actually yours. We mix things up from stocks, bonds, funds - so your money has a chance to grow, but you are not left exposed if things get rough. It is important to diversify your investment strategy focused on long term results.

We do not just set things up and walk away because long term success requires active monitoring. It is our job to watch your portfolio and the markets and to be prepared to make changes if life throws you a good or bad curveball. If that happens, we will sit down and make sure your plan still makes sense. It’s not about chasing the biggest returns. It’s about growing your wealth in a way that actually works for you and is steady year after year.

Tax Planning

Taxes can take a big bite out of your wealth if you are not careful and plan ahead. That’s why tax planning is part of everything we do. Our goal is simple: help you keep more of what you earn, now and in the future.

It starts with choosing the right accounts and investments. We may recommend increasing contributions to tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs or utilizing Roth accounts for tax-free growth. We also clarify the tax implications of selling investments to help you avoid unexpected liabilities at tax time. If you’re close to retirement or already retired, we will build a withdrawal plan that helps you pay less in taxes on your income.

We work with your tax preparer or CPA, or connect you with someone we trust, to handle the tough stuff. Capital gains, RMDs and estate taxes are all part of your plan.

By planning ahead, we help make sure taxes don’t take more than they should from your savings. That means more money in your pocket to invest, spend, or pass on the way you want.

Health Care Planning

Healthcare costs worry a lot of retirees and families. Medical care keeps getting more expensive and people are living longer. That’s why health care planning is vital in any real financial plan. We help you get ready for these costs, so an illness or long-term care need doesn’t put your finances at risk.

If you are getting close to retirement, Medicare can be confusing. We walk you through the basics, what each part covers and when to sign up, so you don’t get hit with penalties. We will also talk about Medigap or Medicare Advantage and help you find coverage that fits your health and your wallet.

Your health insurance covers a lot, but it does not always cover the care you might need later in life. If you ever need help at home or in an assisted living facility, you want to know you can afford it. We can talk about long-term care insurance, life insurance that helps with care costs or even building up savings specifically for this. It is about making sure you have options.

We know it is not easy to think about needing care someday. But if you have a plan, your family will not have to worry, and your savings will be safer. You deserve to feel confident that you will get the care you need, and your loved ones will not have to carry that weight.

Legacy Planning

You work hard for your family and the people you love. Legacy planning is how you make sure everything you have built lands where you want it. We do everything possible to keep it simple, so your money goes to the people and causes that matter to you.

We team up with estate planning attorneys to set up or review your wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. We do not draft the legal paperwork, but we make sure your financial and legal plans work together.

When you plan ahead, your family keeps more of what you worked for. It is important to create a strategy that helps them avoid the extra taxes and seemingly endless amounts of paperwork. Creating the plan helps maintain your legacy which is what matters. We want to help you get started, so your hard work keeps making a difference, just the way you want.

Your Partners in Financial Success

Financial security takes planning, action, research and tailored advice to meet your specific needs.  At Baxter & Associates, we want to help you reach your goals and we know the importance of understanding those goals prior to developing a plan. 

There is never a perfect time to begin focusing on your financial future, but it is important to take that first step.  As a client of Baxter & Associates we will learn about your specific needs and goals and develop a realistic plan focused on those specifically. 

Give our Wichita office a call and set up a meeting. We want to hear your story and help you turn all your hard work into the future you’ve earned.