Our History
Foster Group has always been committed to encouraging lives of meaning and generosity for our team, our clients, and our communities.
Our History
Foster Group has always been committed to encouraging lives of meaning and generosity for our team, our clients, and our communities.
The Foster Group Story
1989
The company was established by Jerry Foster
The company was initially named as Retirement & Investment Advisors, Inc.
1992
Adopted fee-only compensation model
Reinforcing our commitment to always act in our clients’ best interests
2001
Renamed to Foster Group
Managing more than $100 million in client assets*
2002
First Shareholder
First employee shareholder was added
2007-2024
CEFEX (Centre for Fiduciary Excellence) Certification
Only firm in Iowa and Nebraska to consistently maintain the CEFEX (Centre for Fiduciary Excellence) certification
2012
“Best-in-Business IMPACT Award”
Honored with the Charles Schwab “Best-in-Business IMPACT Award”
2014
CNBC Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Managers
Listed as #13 in CNBC Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Managers
2022
CNBC FA 100 list
Recognized on the 2022 CNBC FA 100 list
2023
Recognized as “Best Wealth Management Company”
by Business Record, Best of Des Moines and as a Top 150 RIA Leader by Financial Planning
2024
Celebrating 35 years
Achieved 7th consecutive win of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award
24 shareholders deeply committed to remaining independent, fee only, and employee owned to serve our clients’ best interests
Facilitated over $87 million in charitable giving for clients since 2015
Honored to serve more than 1,900 clients and their families**
Managing more than $3.2 billion in client assets**
Making Financial Lives Truly Cared For® Since 1989
Founded by Jerry Foster in 1989 as Retirement & Investment Advisors, Foster Group has always been committed to encouraging lives of meaning and generosity for our team, our clients, and our communities.
The firm adopted a fee-only compensation model in 1992 to effectively eliminate the potential for conflicts of interest and give clients confidence that the advice we deliver is always in their best interests. Assets under management surpassed $100 million in 1997. And in 2001, the firm’s name was officially changed to Foster Group.
Today, Foster Group is a privately held, independent, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. We are headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, with a regional office in Omaha, Nebraska. Our 24 shareholders* are active in the firm and represent multiple age groups. They have been selected intentionally to ensure that the level of service our clients receive today can be delivered and improved upon for generations to come.
Recent Third-Party Recognition for Foster Group
- Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
- Winner, Best Wealth Management Category, Best of Des Moines 2023 by Business Record.
- Recognized in the 2023 Top 150 RIA Leaders list by Financial Planning.
- Recognized in the 2022 CNBC FA 100 list of top-rated financial advisory firms from among more than 39,000 RIAs, nationwide.
- First Place, Investment Company Category, 2022 Best of B2B by Omaha’s B2B Magazine.
- Top-Ranked Advisor in Des Moines by AdvisoryHQ News – four times.
PLEASE NOTE LIMITATIONS: See the Important Advertising Disclosure Information and the limitations of any ranking/recognitions.
*As of 1/1/2024.
How Will Your Story Unfold?
THIS IS OUR CLIENT-FOCUSED STORY. . .
...HOW CAN WE HELP YOU DEFINE YOUR STORY?
1989
Established by Jerry Foster as Retirement & Investment Advisors, Inc.
Adopted fee-only compensation model, reinforcing our commitment to always act in our clients’ best interests.
1997
Managing more than $100 million in client assets*
*as of 01/01/1997
2001
Renamed to Foster Group
2002
First employee shareholder added
2004
Assets exceeded $525 million*
*As of 12/31/2004
2005
12 employees
2006
Assets exceeded $800 million*
*As of 12/31/2006
2007
Assets exceeded $900 million, serving 904 clients*
*As of 12/31/2007
2007
Foster Group has been the only firm in Iowa and Nebraska to maintain the CEFEX (Centre for Fiduciary Excellence) certification since 2007.
2010
Assets exceeded $1 billion
*As of 12/31/2010
2011
Opened office in Omaha
2012
Honored with the Charles Schwab “Best-in-Business IMPACT Award”
2014
Listed as #13 in CNBC Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Managers
2014
Assets exceeded $1.4 billion, serving 1,045 clients*
*As of 12/31/2014
2015
Named as a Top 100 RIA Firm by Financial Planning Magazine
35 employees
2017
Assets exceeded $2 billion, serving 1,292 clients*
*As of 12/31/2017
2021
Assets exceeded $2.5 billion, serving 1,521 clients*
*As of 01/01/2021
2022
Assets exceeded $3 billion, serving 1,648 clients*
*As of 01/01/2022
2022
Recognized on the 2022 CNBC FA 100 list
2023
Recognized as “Best Wealth Management Company” by Business Record, Best of Des Moines and as a Top 150 RIA Leader by Financial Planning
2024
Achieved 7th consecutive win of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award
2024
24 shareholders
*As of 07/01/2024
2024
More than 580 healthcare professional clients*
*As of 07/01/2024
2024
Managing more than $3.2 billion in client assets*
*As of 01/01/2024
2024
Honored to serve more than 1,900 clients and their families*
*As of 01/01/2024
24 shareholders deeply committed to remaining independent, fee only, and employee owned to serve our clients’ best interests
2024
Facilitated over $87 million in charitable giving for clients since 2015*
*As of 01/01/2024
2024
83 employees
*As of 07/01/2024
2024
87 institutional clients*
*As of 07/01/2024
