The team at Kelly Financial is like a family — we take care of each other while we're taking care of you!
Here's a look into our world.
Remembering Our Founder
Bill Kelly, 65, left this world too soon.
The president of Kelly Financial Services and an esteemed financial professional, philanthropist, radio host, gifted public speaker, author, visionary and family man died of a heart attack on Oct. 15, 2017, while visiting the Dominican Republic with his family. He left behind his adoring wife, Kelly, and their two loving children, Mary Madeline and William Jr., as well as extended family in Rhode Island and Georgia, plus thousands of clients and colleagues grateful to have known this kind, generous man.
Bill co-founded Kelly Financial Services with his wife, Kelly, in 2003. Four years later, Bill began hosting a Saturday morning radio show called “Safe Money Strategies™” on WRKO. He used the call-in show as a forum to discuss financial matters, the economy, politics and cultural issues. He often talked about the lessons he learned growing up on a farm in Rhode Island and believed it his calling to openly share his Christian faith and values.
In 2015, Bill wrote his autobiography,
“Bailey Brook Farm,” a collection of essays inspired by his childhood memories and conversations from his radio show. Bill also penned such investment guides as Safe Money Strategies: Retirement Survival for Seniors (2005) and The Stock Market Heart Attack (2010).
A great philanthropist, Bill supported many charitable and religious organizations, particularly those serving veterans, minorities, the elderly and children.
“Bill was an ardent and tireless advocate for the poor, the needy and the downtrodden,” said Ray Flynn, former Boston mayor and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. “He just didn’t talk the talk. He walked the walk, each and every day.”
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Bill graduated from Middletown High School in 1970, where he was a National Merit Scholar. While attending the University of Rhode Island, he served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1975. He later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served another four years as an avionics engineer, pioneering computer guidance systems for the F-15 jet fighter.
Bill continued his engineering work with the Bendix Aerospace Corporation. In 1984, he founded computer software company Viking Technologies, exercising the formidable leadership and business skills he would subsequently perfect in the financial services industry.
One of Bill’s dear friends was Jeff Kuhner, host of “The Kuhner Report” on WRKO, and someone who referred to Bill as “a giant of a man.”
“What I admired most about Bill was that he never forgot where he came from,” Jeff said. “He knew the value of money, and never lost connection to his hardscrabble childhood. He was very generous with his employees and staff. He believed in the Catholic principle of paying a living wage. He was a Christian businessman who understood that, along with wealth, there was a responsibility to care for one’s workers and fellow citizens — especially the poor and most vulnerable.”
Although Bill’s family, friends and clients miss him terribly, they are committed to moving forward with their lives, as Bill would have wanted. Bill also would have been immensely proud of his wife and children, who are working hard every day to carry on his legacy of faith, family and helping people be the best they can.
| Read Ambassador Ray Flynn's articles here and here.
| Read more of Jeff Kuhner’s moving tribute to Bill Kelly here.
| Read Bill's Eulogy by John Budris here
Our History
Kelly Financial Services, LLC, is an independent registered investment adviser (RIA), with its principal operating business — asset management and wealth preservation — now exceeding $500 million. Our firm is a fiduciary, wherein we put our clients’ interests ahead of our own, with a duty to preserve good faith and trust.
Since our founding, we have valued establishing long-term relationships with our clients. We help provide solutions to people seeking a desired lifestyle in retirement. And we believe that retirement planning is more than just portfolio performance.
Our experience has taught us that growth in family, friends and faith also play an integral part of one’s golden years and are the fruits of a lifetime of labor. We find that that is the definition of a satisfied client. We aim to help our clients attain this level of happiness — that’s been our goal from day one.
The earliest iteration of our family-owned business can be traced back to 1993, when Bill Kelly began identifying insurance needs for his clients. An entrepreneur in the classic sense, and recognizing changes in the marketplace, Bill expanded his offerings to include investment management to meet the growing needs of his clients.
Soon, he was among the first financial advisors in the Greater Boston area to market his business on the radio. In 2006, the “Safe Money Strategies™” radio show was born on WRKO, a station that has been broadcasting continuously since 1937. Bill became a unique voice and spoke directly to his generation of baby boomers. His calm demeanor and steady timbre recalled Sunday dinners with his family, the value of his newspaper route, and growing up on a New England farm. He also addressed the retirement challenges to boomers, America’s largest demographic group, 76 million strong. His eclectic blend of cultural and financial commentary became legendary — a "must-listen" in the midst of weekend chores.
His message resonated with his listeners. A plaque in our office commemorates the staggering number of calls he generated from people seeking inquiring about his services. It is worth a look.
Business was itself booming. Bill and his wife Kelly never lost sight of their vision: an integrated financial services company built upon, and dedicated to, the powerful concept of sound advice combined with financial knowledge forged with family values. That core philosophy powered an engine of remarkable growth.
Meanwhile, Bill also became a noted author and speaker. He penned the flagship “Safe Money Strategies Workbook” along with the companion volume “Retirement Survival for Seniors.” And “Bailey Brook Farm” was an autobiographical expose that had universal connection to people recalling simpler times. His breakfast, lunch and dinner seminars drew legions of his loyal listeners, too. New followers experienced firsthand his wit and wisdom. Something was going on…
To say Bill’s impact was prolific would be an understatement: 50,000 radio calls received; 14,000 event attendees seated; and more than 40,000 books distributed.
The firm served thousands of clients who entrusted the team with their retirement needs and family wealth. All one individual at a time.
When Bill passed away unexpectedly in the fall of 2017, Kelly Kelly remained steadfast in her determination to continue their original mission of serving those in need of retirement advice.
Today, Kelly Financial Services has fully functioning offices in Braintree and Burlington, Massachusetts. The firm also continued to adopt its service delivery and evolve with the times. With a nod to the future, it began welcoming the next generation of retirees to provide custom solutions for their singular circumstances. This is being done in the same manner and with the same zest that Bill did with his generation.
It's still very much a family business. Bill and Kelly’s daughter, Mary Madeline, is a full-time member of the team. And William Jr., as he has since he could first talk, it seems, continues making regular appearances on the radio show. Kelly published her first book, “Retire Your Fear, Plan Your Future," in early 2023.
Today’s company prides itself on a fusion of technology and people. The talented and friendly professionals use state-of-the-art technology to help clients make better informed decisions about their financial future. The firm is also expanding its planning practice, utilizing an ever-growing suite of products and services to meet the demands of a complex world. The advisors also facilitate relationships between clients and strategic partners in matters relating to estate planning and accounting, among others, to ensure a well-rounded approach to retirement planning.
In carrying on with the grandest traditions of Bill, we began offering financial literacy courses called “The Masters Series,” where we dive deeper into retirement issues to help educate clients and prospective clients and provide as much objective and actionable information as possible. And, in the midst of a memorable year, 2020, we launched our own podcast called, appropriately so, “Kelly Advisor,” held weekly video conference calls in the midst of the global pandemic and began our newsletter. It is remarkable the ways in which we are connecting with clients, ways that seemed unimaginable 30 years ago.
And now?
We continue to evolve and adapt to the times and the curveballs and cannonballs that life throws at us.
Bill’s spirit and vision continue to be sources of inspiration for all of us. We are mindful of one of his signature, folksy aphorisms that became a staple of his radio show and still has profound meaning now.
“When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When is the next best time? Today.”
