Because Money Doesn’t Come With Instructions
Welcome to Sterk Financial Services, a financial planning practice in the Dakota Dunes suburb of Sioux City, Iowa. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team of experts to help you live your best life. That’s where we come in. You have doctors, attorneys, and tax professionals you rely on to keep your life running smoothly, and we are prepared to do the same for your financial future. Sterk Financial Services has specialized programs to help you manage investments and strategically plan for life changes such as retirement, divorce, job changes, or entering a caregiving role. We can help you preserve and grow your portfolio to help set yourself up for a successful financial future. Our goal is simple – to provide advice and strategies that aligns the money you have with the life that you want to lead.
Our team of professionals has years of experience in strategic financial planning. We are ready to address your needs today and guide you through every phase of life. Let us help you take the complexity and uncertainty out of financial planning, and help create clarity and confidence as you move forward.
Let’s get started.
We offer specialized programs that center around managing money and planning for life’s crucial financial events. Your needs & goals. Our advice & strategies.
Learn More
As your full-service financial partner and guide, we are here when you need us. Every situation. Every time.
Learn More
There are no do-overs in retirement. You need a path. You need a strategy. You need a guide you can trust. Mary’s latest book will arm you with the essential knowledge to create a strategic plan so you can retire with confidence.
Get the BookHelpful Content
Can Group, Private Disability Policies Work Together?
Loss of income from disability has the potential to cause financial hardship. Disability insurance can help.
A Brief History of Estate Taxes
Federal estate taxes have long since been a lucrative source of funding for the federal government.
Inflation - Back to the Future
Even low inflation rates over an extended period of time can impact your finances in retirement.
Get Paid for Going Green
Those looking into environmentally minded home modifications may get a boost from Uncle Sam’s tax incentives.
Volunteering in Retirement
For many, retirement includes contributing their time and talents to an organization in need.
Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From?
Retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here's an overview of the six main sources.
Investing with Your Heart
For some, the social impact of investing is just as important as the return, perhaps more important.
An Overview of Renter’s Insurance
Don’t overlook the need for renter’s insurance if you rent your home.
Life and Death of a Twenty Dollar Bill
How long does a $20 bill last?
View all articles 
A Look at Systematic Withdrawals
This calculator may help you estimate how long funds may last given regular withdrawals.
How Much Home Can I Afford?
With a few simple inputs you can estimate how much of a mortgage you may be able to obtain.
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
Tax Freedom Day
Assess how many days you'll work to pay your federal tax liability.
Social Security Taxes
Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be considered taxable.
Should I Buy or Lease an Auto?
This calculator compares the financial impact of leasing versus buying an automobile.
View all calculators
Your Cash Flow Statement
A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.
Managing Your Lifestyle
Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.
Long-Term-Care Protection Strategies
The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.
Principles of Preserving Wealth
How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.
Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
Protecting Those Who Matter Most
The importance of life insurance, how it works, and how much coverage you need.
View all presentations
Safeguard Your Digital Estate
If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?
Exit Strategies of the Rich and Famous
Estate conservation is too important to put off. Do you have a smart exit strategy?
Women and Retirement
Women must be ready to spend, on average, more years in retirement than men.
The Business Cycle
How will you weather the ups and downs of the business cycle?
What Smart Investors Know
Smart investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
Investments
You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.