Arlen Olberding
MBA, CFP®
Guidepost Financial Planning, LLC
Comprehensive Financial Planner
Arlen Olberding
MBA, CFP®
Guidepost Financial Planning, LLC
Comprehensive Financial Planner
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer objective financial advice to help you achieve your goals. - Arlen Olberding, MBA, CFP®
Fee-Only financial planner located in Fort Collins, CO, serving clients locally and across the country

Arlen Olberding is a Fort Collins, CO fee-only financial planner. Guidepost Financial Planning, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and retirement planning to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Arlen Olberding is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Arlen Olberding founded Guidepost Financial Planning, LLC in 2007 after nearly ten years in the financial services industry. His strong desire to bring high quality, objective financial advice to people from all walks of life is complimented by his background in banking, mutual funds and wealth management.
Arlen has earned the right to use the prestigious CFP® marks of distinction. Certified Financial Planner™ practitioners must complete a professional course of study followed by a rigorous two-day examination and extensive practical experience. To maintain certification, CFP® practitioners are required to satisfy ongoing education and ethics requirements.
Arlen holds an MBA in finance and international business from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri and a Bachelor Degree from Kansas State University. He has attended the highly intensive FPA residency program – a prestigious week-long program sponsored by DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Arlen enjoys exploring all that Colorado and Fort Collins has to offer; from hiking with his dog, to a day on the golf course, or just enjoying a sunny day downtown. In addition, he volunteers his time to various local organizations and his church. He strives to give back to the community and help to make it a better place to live.
Arlen Olberding is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Independent Financial Advisors
We work for you, period.
Being a Fee-Only financial planner, we are solely compensated by our clients. We do not accept sales commissions – we work only for our clients. Because we do not sell financial products such as investments and insurance, there are no third-party relationships or outside influences to color our thinking or financial recommendations.
Experienced Financial Planners
Up-and-down markets, inflation, principal protection, tax minimization – you know the challenges. So, as you’d guess, experience matters.
Guidepost Financial Planning brings the following experience to each and every relationship:
- Over 15 years in financial services
- MBA in finance and international business
- 403(b), 401(k), TIAA-CREF, TSP, FERS, CSRS and Deferred Compensation Program expertise
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, NAPFA, Garrett Planning Network and Better Business Bureau affiliations
- NAPFA Board president (West Region)
- Financial Planning Association residency at DePaul University
- Contributor to industry articles including the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Smart Money, CNN Money, Redbook and 9News.com.
Trusted CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professionals
One of the main reasons people defer financial planning is that they don’t know who they can trust. Guidepost Financial Planning takes your trust very seriously. We are not only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioners, but have voluntarily committed ourselves to acting as a fiduciary in your behalf. Simply put, we work for you. We must place your interests ahead of ours.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Arlen Olberding is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Arlen Olberding is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Guidepost Financial Planning is a an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted in the Chicago Tribune: "3 tips for debt-wary young homebuyers"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted in Columbus Business First: "Smart Moves: Singles should consider buying a house, despite misgivings"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted on UExpress Smart Moves: "Widowed Women: How to Shape Your Housing Plans"
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Arlen Olberding is Featured in the SunSentinel: "Don’t rush into a housing change after spouse dies"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted in Redbook: "Do a Spending Cleanse"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted on Fox Business News: "Why Risk Matters and How to Lessen It"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted in the Wall Street Journal: "Retire Here, Not There: Colorado"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted in The Palm Beach Post: "How to get a mortgage without breaking the bank"
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Arlen Olberding is Quoted on Mercury News: "Home ownership dream hasn't waned"
Contact Arlen Olberding
Office Locations:
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2601 South Lemay
Fort Collins, CO 80525