Meet Brian Kraus, CFP®
Founder and CEO, and the fiduciary you will actually work with.
When you work with Kraus Capital, you work with Brian Kraus directly. As Founder and CEO, he built the firm to give people near retirement something the industry rarely offers: one coordinated plan from someone whose only job is to act in their interest.
His professional story
Brian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with more than 27 years of experience. He helps retirees make coordinated decisions across pension payment options, Social Security timing, and retirement income strategies, while making sure they have the right levels of insurance and an estate plan in place. He does this through customized analyses that integrate all of these elements, so clients and their families can make the best decisions for their situation.
His experience evaluating retirement benefit packages, stock options, stock ownership plans, 401(k)s, and pension plans has allowed him to guide hundreds of families through the many decisions they face as they transition into retirement. He founded Kraus Capital in 2008 as an independent, fee-only fiduciary firm built to deliver something most financial firms don’t: a family office experience with a personal relationship. Clients get a proprietary planning process that ties together every corner of their financial life, not just a managed portfolio, and an advisor whose only incentive is their outcome, not a product sale.
Credentials and recognition
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®), with training across financial planning, estate planning, insurance, investments, taxes, employee benefits, and retirement planning.
- More than 27 years of retirement income planning experience.
- Founder and CEO of Kraus Capital, an independent, fee-based fiduciary firm established in 2008.
- Proudly veteran-owned and operated.
- Recognized by Forbes, the National Social Security Association (NSSA), and Expertise.
I founded Kraus Capital because I kept seeing the same mistakes: no tax planning, claiming Social Security too early, carrying insurance policies they may not need, and estate plans that hadn't been updated since their kids were in school. The Legacy Blueprint™ is the fix for all of it — a coordinated strategy across every dimension of your financial life.
How he works with clients
Brian’s approach is built on coordination and candor. He starts with your full picture, leads with tax planning because that is where most retirement income is saved or lost, and builds a written plan you can actually follow. He will tell you honestly when Kraus Capital is the right fit and when it is not. And because the relationship is ongoing, he is there as markets, tax law, and your life change.
Giving back through education
Brian is passionate about education. He enjoys helping clients and his community learn more about investing and finance, and he has presented hundreds of workshops and seminars on a wide range of financial topics for people across South Texas. He also sets aside time each week to answer financial questions from people throughout the region, and aims to respond personally within 24 to 48 hours.
Beyond the office
Outside of work, Brian spends as much time as he can with his wife of more than 30 years and their now-adult children. The family enjoys bowling, pickleball, travel, live music, and golf. Brian is also a fan of photography, coffee, improving his BBQ skills and reading, follows tennis, soccer, football, and Formula One, and stays active whether he is playing sports or working out.
Contact Brian: briank@krauscapital.com or (210) 224-1600
A note on where your money is held
Brian works as an independent, fee-based fiduciary, and client assets are held at Charles Schwab, an independent custodian. Kraus Capital is not affiliated with Charles Schwab and does not receive compensation from Schwab for custody. This separation means Brian manages the strategy while a large, independent institution holds and safeguards your accounts.
I've spent the 27 years doing one thing: helping families navigate the decisions that matter most on the way into — and through — retirement. Most of those decisions don't happen in isolation. When to claim Social Security affects your tax bill. Your tax bill affects your Roth conversion strategy. Your investment portfolio has to support your retirement paycheck. Your estate plan needs to reflect all of it. I founded Kraus Capital to be the advisor who coordinates every piece — not just the portfolio.
Talk with Brian directly
Your free assessment is a conversation with Brian himself. About 15 minutes, no cost, no obligation.
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Disclosures: Investment advisory services are offered through Kraus Capital, a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Kraus Capital and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.
Brian Kraus is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. The CFP® marks are owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and are used in accordance with CFP Board guidelines.
Charles Schwab serves as the independent custodian for client assets. Kraus Capital is not affiliated with, and does not receive compensation from, Charles Schwab for custodial services. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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