Red Kennedy Financial
Celebrating nearly two decades as an Advice-Only Financial Planner, I am deeply fulfilled by helping families realize their dreams. Distinct from a broker, I adhere to a strict Fiduciary Standard, ensuring my sole commitment is to the interests of the families I serve.
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My Story
Hi! I’m Red Holzbach. I am celebrating near 20 years as a Fee-Only Financial Planner.
I help people make smart decisions with their money to make a powerful difference in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
No kidding. I’m not driven by either you or I having the biggest banking account in our old age homes. Money is the fuel in your rocket ship, and you need fuel. But I’m most interested in you getting your ship to your destination, and daring to dream of further destinations.
A professional code of ethics governs everything I do. "Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people." – Spencer Johnson
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Economics and Philosophy, then the London School of Economics with a Masters in Economics and Philosophy. I am a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional focusing on advising motivated DIY clients who want to change their lives.
I am known for honesty and care toward my own family and I bring those personal values forward to all the families I serve. Honesty requires the continual pursuit of Truth, so my philosophy background is put to use every day of my life, especially the value of epistemological humility, or keeping the ability to change my beliefs when the evidence changes.
Who I Really Am
I’m from Canfield, Ohio. My Mom sold antiques and my Dad was a dentist. My Dad’s business model was simple; you paid him to fix your teeth. If dentists charged the way financial advisors charge, they would fix your teeth, then demand a bite of every sandwich you eat for the rest of your life. My Fee-Only practice operates on my Dad’s model of simple and transparent fees.
I met my wife Ana in a German immersion summer program near Freiburg. We spent two years apart, as she worked on her PhD in Astrophysics in Paris. Meanwhile, in grad school in London, I found that having a girlfriend made me far more interested in earning income to begin life with her than finishing an economics PhD.
I love sharing ideas. Our daughters will tell you that I over communicate.
"Homeschooling Got Me Into Harvard", From Boston Magazine, Aug 2015
Some conversations may not reach a perfect solution, but I’m relentless until we break through to a better solution.
My grandfather Red said, “I don’t need more money, I need more friends”. I make friends by helping people with their money. But, like him, I’m not driven by money in itself. I’m driven by how much my actions can matter in the lives of others.
Here's how I found that out. In 2001, I was leading my Accenture Capital Markets team at the Nasdaq. In 2002, I was making $12/hr at H&R Block in a rough neighborhood. It was a step up. I reached a new level of professional fulfillment when I saved a single Mom $1,200 on her taxes.
25 Years in Boston
I am extremely privileged to have homeschooled all 4 of our daughters, as featured in Boston Magazine. I coached the first two to over $361,000 in scholarships (so far) and admission to highly selective schools. One daughter even had the pleasure of turning down an Ivy.
Caring for their education and welfare every day has reconfirmed that I’m more passionate about helping others succeed than my own success. Or, rather, helping others succeed is my success.
Let’s create your plan together.
How I got here
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and the London School of Economics with an MSc in Economics and Philosophy in 1994. I went on to work as a manager in the Financial Markets group of Accenture. But, while working at the NASDAQ, I noticed my friends and family taking on much more financial risk during the dot-com bubble than they realized. Through working with them, I discovered that what I most enjoyed was helping other people succeed. While starting my practice, I worked for several tax seasons at H&R Block, gaining a deep appreciation for tax planning.
Red Kennedy Financial is a Registered Investment Advisor with the state of Massachusetts. As a Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioner, I take pride in my membership with NAPFA, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, an organization renowned for setting the industry's highest standards in objective and family-first financial advice. I am also a member of the Garrett Planning Network, a pioneer in putting client's interests first.
