Kate Fries
CFP®, CDFA®
The Family Firm
Financial Advisor
Kate Fries
CFP®, CDFA®
The Family Firm
Financial Advisor
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Kate Fries, CFP®, CDFA®
Fee-Only financial planner located in San Diego, CA, serving clients locally and across the country

Kate Fries is a San Diego, CA fee-only financial planner. The Family Firm provides comprehensive investment management, retirement planning and estate planning to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Kate Fries is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
As a financial advisor with The Family Firm, Kate Fries works with clients to set and achieve their financial goals. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has particular interest in cash flow and the impact of emotions on decisions and behaviors around money.
After taking an Introduction to Financial Planning course in her senior year at The University of Texas, Kate was hooked. She completed her Communication degree at UT and went on to earn a degree in Financial Planning from the University of Alabama. Prior to joining The Family Firm, Kate was fortunate to connect with and work for a fee-only financial planning firm in Birmingham, AL. Kate has now been happily serving clients at The Family Firm for over a decade.
Kate lives in San Diego with her partner Jeff, her son Wyatt, the one-eyed wonder pup Spot and one rambunctious cat. Kate can often be found with her nose in a book, trying a new recipe in the kitchen, or playing with spreadsheets.
Kate Fries 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.
The Family Firm is an independent, fee-only financial advisory firm that focuses on lifetime asset protection through the development and implementation of customized financial management strategies. Our hallmarks include a low advisor-to-client ratio and our personal knowledge of each client’s values, challenges and goals for long-term financial security. The Family Firm does not sell financial products or receive commissions from institutions or investments – allowing us to provide expert advice that is free from conflicts of interest. The result: Unbiased insight, effective long-term strategies and client peace of mind.
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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Kate Fries is a NAPFA Associate
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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Kate Fries 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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Kate Fries is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®)
A CDFA® professional is a financial professional skilled at analyzing data and providing expertise on the financial issues of divorce. The role of the CDFA® professional is to assist the client and his or her attorney to understand how the decisions he or she makes today will impact the client’s financial future. A CDFA® can take on many roles in the divorce process: Financial Expertise and Strategy, Data Collection and Analysis, Expert Presenter and Litigation Support. In some cases, CDFA® professionals are called upon to act as expert witnesses in court or in mediation proceedings.
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Kate Fries is Quoted in AP News: "The most romantic money moves you can make"
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Kate Fries is can be Heard on NPR: "Want A Financial Adviser? Here Are Some Things To Look For"
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Kate Fries is Featured in the Washingtonian: "12 Tips for Managing Your Money When You Retire in Washington"
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Kate Fries is Quoted in Financial Planning Magazine: "Could Financial Planners Help Stem the Rate of Military Suicides?"
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Kate Fries is Published in the Journal of Financial Planning: "Financial Planner as Healer: Maximizing the Role of Financial Health Physician"
Contact Kate Fries
Office Locations:
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501 W Broadway
Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101