Stadia Financial is all about people.
“It’s what we do,” says Brett Kennelly, Founder and Managing Director of Stadia Financial. “Protecting our client’s capital and helping to make it grow, coupled with exceptional customer service, is our front and center mission. We want to be there for our clients so they can focus on doing what they enjoy.”
Stadia Financial provides wealth management services to individuals from all different backgrounds. Services go beyond investments to include asset management, retirement planning, estate planning, and tax strategies. The goal is to protect and grow clients’ wealth while reducing portfolio volatility.
At Stadia Financial, clients have access to a team of individuals — including Certified Financial Planners, CPA’s, MGA’s, professors of finance and economics, and others — to create a financial plan that matches their needs, dreams and evolving life goals.
Stadia Financial is Kennelly’s response to clients and the community's needs. “What we saw was, our clients had more money than they wanted in one type of investment, so we opened up Stadia Financial to take a more well-rounded approach to financial planning. Serving our clients and taking care of all their financial heavy lifting so they can focus on their careers, families and hobbies is what we live, breathe and eat."
While Stadia Financial is currently exclusive to Hawai’i, the company services individuals worldwide, with clients in California, Chicago and Massachusetts. Founded in 2023, the idea for hands-on wealth management began long ago.
“It started when my uncle died, and my aunt became a widow,” explains Kennelly, who has lived in Hawaii for over 30 years. “Before my uncle passed, he asked me to manage my aunt's portfolio. That triggered what became the core foundation for the company. When my dad passed away, I took care of my mom's portfolio as well. Managing their finances — these two widows — put the focus on what most older individuals need: Capital Preservation, reliable monthly income, and low or no fees.”
When clients walk through the door, they can expect to be greeted with care and respect. “It’s about treating others how you would want to be treated,” Kennelly continues.
For Kari Clark, COO and Investment Advisor Representative at Stadia Financial, business is about embodying the spirit of aloha. Born and raised on the Big Island, Clark believes in becoming part of the community to meet people, understand the economic impacts of living in Hawai’i and develop a sense of ‘ohana (family).
“We want people to know we understand them,” Clark says. “Many of our clients don’t want to work with some bigger finance companies and talk to someone on the East Coast. They want someone they can meet with face to face and work through any fears or concerns they may have.”
Clark notes that having family values and integrity makes Stadia Financial shine. “I have over 20 years of experience in the industry, and I took a sabbatical because so many financial companies were focused on pushing sales and commission, and this was not how I wanted my practice to be. I want to take care of people, and that is why I joined Stadia Financial.”
“My belief is that if you listen to people, understand them, and show you care, they will want your help in making financial decisions. I came on board with Stadia because of Brett’s philosophy of putting the needs of clients first and treating them with aloha.”
Now, Clark is a mother and grandmother on the Big Island and looks to educate youth in Hawai’i about the importance of setting financial goals and strategies. For example, at the STEM Fest last December, Clark and Stadia Financial met with the Hawai’i Island Girl Scouts — ages 6-15 — to discuss financial planning, savings, and the power of earning interest. “I was pleasantly surprised! Everyone there was eager to learn, and they knew a lot about how to start saving money.”
Looking ahead, the company hopes to bring educational seminars into the community and schools.
“We are working on two educational seminar tracks. On Hawai'i Island, we will launch a seminar titled ‘Women & Investing,’ hopefully targeting a date in the first half of the year. During 2025, we hope to have several seminars targeting different age groups, as each age group has different needs and questions. We will also launch an educational 2-day series on O’ahu towards the middle or end of April,” Clark notes.
Stadia Financial supports local organizations such as the Hawaii Prayer Breakfast, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of North Hawai’i, Kahilu Theatre, North Hawaii Hospice and Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation.
Stadia Financial also sponsors World Vision’s Global Water Fund, which is working to provide access to clean drinking water for children and their families. They also support Women’s Economic Empowerment, a new fund that supports the economic advancement of women in countries around the world. Stadia Financial donates to World Vision with every new client.
StadiaFinancial.com.
Many of our clients don’t want to work with some bigger finance companies and talk to someone on the East Coast.
My belief is that if you listen to people, understand them, and show you care, they will want your help in making financial decisions.