Schaeffer Financial provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, educational seminars, business succession planning, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning. Financial planning was provided to 101–250 clients last fiscal year.
Schaeffer Financial reports 247 clients. They include 171 individual clients and 76 high-net-worth individuals. Of its assets, 100.0% ($258M across 247 accounts) are managed with discretion. It advised 247 clients without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 69% | 28% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 31% | 72% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 171 | $73M | 28.3% | $427K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 76 | $185M | 71.7% | $2.43M |
| Total | 247 | $258M | 100% | $1.04M |
- Clients
- 171
- Regulatory AUM
- $73M
- AUM share
- 28.3%
- Avg. per client
- $427K
- Clients
- 76
- Regulatory AUM
- $185M
- AUM share
- 71.7%
- Avg. per client
- $2.43M
Total
- Clients
- 247
- Regulatory AUM
- $258M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $1.04M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 247
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 101–250
Schaeffer Financial charges 0.65%–1.00% a year for its Portfolio Management Fee. The fee is billed in arrears and is negotiable. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial planning
- The initial planning session is a negotiable fixed fee not to exceed $875; further planning is a negotiable hourly rate not to exceed $475 per hour.
Karen Schaeffer owns 50% to 75% of Schaeffer Financial. The leadership team of Schaeffer Financial includes Chief Compliance Officer Kaitlin Yardley. It has 7 employees, 4 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Kaitlin YardleyManaging Member & Chief Compliance Officer
- Karen SchaefferManaging Member
Investment adviser representatives
5 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
- Claire Ramzy Dwyer
- Brandon Keehr
- Karen Patricia Schaeffer
- Richard Wayne Schaeffer
- Kaitlin Yardley
Staff
- 7 employees
- 4 in advisory functions
- 4 state-registered reps
- 1 broker-dealer rep
- 1 insurance agent
- Owns 50% to 75% of Schaeffer Financial LLC
Karen Schaeffer
Control person · since December 2004
- Owns 25% to 50% of Schaeffer Financial LLC
Kaitlin Yardley
Control person · since May 2019
Schaeffer Financial’s regulatory assets grew from $182M (February 2021) to $258M (July 2026); clients fell from 280 to 247 and employees rose from 6 to 7.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $258M | 247 | 7 | 4 |
| June 2025 | $223M | 237 | 7 | 4 |
| March 2024 | $199M | 234 | 7 | 3 |
| March 2023 | $178M | 290 | 6 | 3 |
| March 2022 | $213M | 291 | 5 | 1 |
| February 2021 | $182M | 280 | 6 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Schaeffer Financial has 3 offices (3 private residences, listed without an address), with 1 listed address in Maryland.
Maryland · 1 listed address
- 4612 Great Oak Road, RockvilleHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Schaeffer Financial LLC
- Headquarters
- 4612 Great Oak Road, Rockville, MD 20853
- Website
- Not reported
- Phone
- 301-933-5550
- SEC file
- 801-63790
- Founded
- 2004
- Structure
- Maryland LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Schaeffer Financial uses Charles Schwab ($258M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Schaeffer Financial has custody of $59.9M in client assets for 70 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · San Francisco, CA · $258M100%
At year end, Schaeffer Financial’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (56%) and stocks (42%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $129M across 27 positions; the largest are iShares TR (27.3%), Schwab Strategic TR (20.3%) and SPDR Index Shs Fds (15.0%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks42%
- Funds56%
- Cash2%
Reported 13F holdings
- $129M
- Reported 13F value
- 27
- Positions
- 95.2%
- In the 10 largest
- +8.8%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- iShares TR · Ishs 1-5yr Invs27.3%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Brd Mkt ETF20.3%
- SPDR Index Shs Fds · ST Str MSCI Glb15.0%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Dividend EQ11.8%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Lcap GR ETF11.5%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Mid-cap ETF4.1%
- Invesco Exch Traded FD TR II · S&P500 Low Vol2.1%
- Schwab Strategic TR · US Lcap VA ETF1.7%
- State Str SPDR S&P 500 ETF T · TR Unit0.7%
- Microsoft Corp.0.7%
Together, the ten largest are 95.2% of reported value.
How many clients does Schaeffer Financial have?
Schaeffer Financial has 247 clients and manages $258 million for them, as of July 2026. They include 171 individual clients and 76 high-net-worth individuals.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 14 July 2026
What services does Schaeffer Financial offer?
Schaeffer Financial provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, educational seminars, business succession planning, estate planning, insurance, and tax planning.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4
How much does Schaeffer Financial charge?
Schaeffer Financial charges 0.65%–1.00% a year for its Portfolio Management Fee. The fee is billed in arrears and is negotiable.
Which custodians does Schaeffer Financial use?
Schaeffer Financial’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (San Francisco, CA), with $258M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 14 July 2026
How many financial advisors does Schaeffer Financial have?
Schaeffer Financial has 4 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 7 employees, and 4 perform investment advisory functions. 1 employee is a registered representative of a broker-dealer and 1 employee is a licensed insurance agent.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Schaeffer Financial invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Schaeffer Financial’s separately managed accounts held 56% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 42% exchange-traded equities and 2% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Schaeffer Financial?
Schaeffer Financial’s direct owners are Karen Schaeffer (50% to 75%) and Kaitlin Yardley (25% to 50%).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 14 July 2026
How does Schaeffer Financial get paid?
Schaeffer Financial is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges, fixed fees and other compensation. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is Schaeffer Financial registered with the SEC?
Yes, Schaeffer Financial has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 3 January 2005. Its CRD number is 133697 and its SEC file number is 801-63790.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 14 July 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Schaeffer Financial?
Schaeffer Financial’s main office is at 4612 Great Oak Road, Rockville, MD 20853. Its phone number is 301-933-5550.