VoyageKC Hidden Gems: Meet Jon McGraw of Buttonwood Financial Group

Thank you VoyageKC for a great interview with Buttonwood Financial Group President, Jon McGraw!

“Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon McGraw. He and his team share their story with us below:

Born in Boulder and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jon McGraw has led a life of leadership and positive impact. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado, McGraw began smart investing at a young age. It didn’t take long to realize his passion for starting and growing businesses.

Fast-forward a few years and McGraw joined Quick & Reilly, where he focused on servicing high net worth clients, their cash flows, and bond portfolios. McGraw transferred to Kansas City, Missouri in 1996 and quickly moved into the role of Area Manager for the midwestern region until the firm’s merger with Bank of America in 2002.

While his talent was incredibly valuable to the firm, he realized the “quantity over quality” game was not for him. Rather, McGraw sought to provide real value and service to families who had a need for simplification and coordination of their financial life: Families seeking a firm who could serve as their Family CFO. Thus, Buttonwood Financial Group was born.

In the beginning, Buttonwood Financial and McGraw focused on a few families with significant wealth. He knew as wealth and success continued to build, life doesn’t get simpler, as many believe, it becomes significantly more complex. McGraw followed his passion and vision. He, along with the growing staff at Buttonwood was fulfilling a unique niche; serving as the Chief Financial Officer for multigenerational affluent families.
Today, thanks to McGraw’s leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, the Team at Buttonwood Financial Group manages about $600 Million for more than 375 families across the country and Europe. Additionally, Jon McGraw dedicates a significant amount of time serving on nonprofit Boards, volunteering, and providing significant financial support to a range of nonprofit organizations in Kansas City and beyond.

Any entrepreneur knows the road to a successful business is anything but smooth.

But Buttonwood is a reflection of my passion for building, organization, and process. With a culture of support and service at the core, the Team at Buttonwood and our clientele is truly my extended “family.” There have been plenty of 16+ hour days, and there is always something new to learn; both in the business of wealth management and about serving as a leader of a business.

More than two decades ago, I recognized the need for an affordable Family CFO to coordinate families’ financial lives. Since then, we have focused on consistent, steady organic business growth rather than rapid growth through acquisition. We are excited to celebrate 20 years of Buttonwood Financial Group in 2022 and will reflect on how far we have come.

We have an incredible Team and Buttonwood wouldn’t be what it is today without each of them. For that, I am thankful every day.

Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC, is a comprehensive wealth management firm located in Midtown Kansas City. At Buttonwood, we believe in the fact that as wealth builds, life doesn’t get simpler – it gets more complex. Our goal is to simplify the financial process for families who would like to protect and grow their money.

Today, many individuals spend a significant amount of personal time managing the various aspects of their financial lives, or they simply aren’t sure what they should be doing to maximize savings and growth opportunities. We ask, what if, like a business, you could have your own Chief Financial Officer?

This is the role Buttonwood fulfills for families and individuals every day! As your Family CFO, we focus on the creation, implementation, and ongoing strategy in your financial life. We provide comprehensive tax, insurance, estate planning, investments, cash flow, retirement, education, and business strategies – all integrated into your life and based around your specific goals.

As fiduciaries, we always advise our clients and implement strategies with their best interests at heart. We don’t sell products; we provide comprehensive solutions to families and individuals. Other financial advisors often focus only on investments, rather than looking holistically at each of the details that make up the big picture.
We have a strong reputation for serving our clients efficiently, effectively, and kindly. We are fortunate to work with such wonderful clients. We are also proud of our reputation in the KC community. Through our Team’s time serving on nonprofit Boards, volunteerism, and through our community-focused art gallery, Buttonwood Art Space, our team loves to give back.

Our office serves as a community-focused art gallery, Buttonwood Art Space. Hosting multiple art exhibitions each year, Buttonwood Art Space gives back to support local artists and nonprofits. Each exhibition hosted at Buttonwood generally provides 50% of sale proceeds to artists and the remaining 50% directly to a partner nonprofit organization.

A few organizations we have partnered with include: Ronald McDonald House Charities of KC, Great Plains SPCA, Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Jewish Family Services, Halo Foundation, Reconciliation Services, Kansas City Community Gardens, and many more. In 2021, Buttonwood Art Space reached a major milestone; $750,000 raised for artists and nonprofit organizations since its start in 2005!

Because we are unique in our industry there aren’t many mainstream feeds that we rely on to continue to develop the Buttonwood model. We tactically develop service offerings directly from the feedback we receive from our clients.
That said, expanding niche technology offerings have helped us to provide more services at lower costs to clients for years.

•  Because we have two distinct areas of focus, we have two separate costs.
•  Assuming we are managing assets, we have an annual tiered Investment Advisory Cost. Generally, the first tier is 65 basis points (65/100ths of 1%) for the first $500,000 in investment assets we are managing. As assets increase above $500,000, our cost decreases.
•  Our Family CFO Service Cost covers everything else (unlimited meetings, calls, emails and our full suite of service offerings). Family CFO Services starts at $1,000 per quarter and increases with financial complexity.
•  As a multigenerational Family CFO, often our most impactful work is implemented when we are working up, down and across family generations. As such we can also establish a multigenerational Family CFO Service agreement at the family level.
•  For specific details and pricing, please schedule an informal conversation with one of our Lead Advisors.”

Read the full interview at VoyageKC – https://voyagekc.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-jon-mcgraw-of-buttonwood-financial-group-llc/

Learn more about our Family CFO services by scheduling a meeting with one of our Lead Advisors! 

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