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
Will Power
Preparing for the eventual distribution of your assets may not sound enticing. But a will puts the power in your hands.
How Stocks Work
Understanding how a stock works is key to understanding your investments.
A New Way to Look at Your Bucket List
That big list of dreams and goals isn't the only way to look at your bucket list.
Three Key Questions to Answer Before Taking Social Security
When to start? Should I continue to work? How can I maximize my benefit?
Countering Counterfeit Currency
Combating counterfeiting remains core to preserving the integrity of the nation’s money.
Apps That Help Achieve Goals
If you find it hard to attain personal life goals, there’s an app for that!
Insuring Your Business With a Buy/Sell Agreement
It may help your business be better prepared in the event of the death of a principal or key employee.
How Income Taxes Work
A quick look at how federal income taxes work.
Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Without a solid approach, health care expenses may add up quickly and potentially alter your spending.
View all articles 
Impact of Taxes and Inflation
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k)
This calculator compares employee contributions to a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k).
Assess Your Life Insurance Needs
This calculator estimates how much life insurance you would need to meet your family's needs if you were to die prematurely.
Capital Gains Tax Estimator
Use this calculator to estimate your capital gains tax.
Long-Term-Care Needs
Determine your potential long-term care needs and how long your current assets might last.
Self-Employed Retirement Plans
Estimate the maximum contribution amount for a Self-Employed 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, or SEP.
View all calculators
5 Smart Investing Strategies
There are some smart strategies that may help you pursue your investment objectives
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
An Inside Look at Retirement Living
A number of questions and concerns need to be addressed to help you better prepare for retirement living.
Managing Your Lifestyle
Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.
Protecting Those Who Matter Most
The importance of life insurance, how it works, and how much coverage you need.
Investment Strategies for Retirement
Investment tools and strategies that can enable you to pursue your retirement goals.
View all presentations
RE: Retirement
How does your ideal retirement differ from reality, and what can we do to better align the two?
Extended Care: A Patchwork of Possibilities
What is your plan for health care during retirement?
Retirement Redefined
Around the country, attitudes about retirement are shifting.
When Do You Need a Will?
When do you need a will? The answer is easy: Right Now.
Safeguard Your Digital Estate
If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?
Once Upon a Goal
Do you know how to set up your financial goals for success? This knight does.