Built to Serve: How Independence Helped Chris Kilmer Create a More Human and Holistic Planning Experience

For Chris Kilmer, independence was not just a career move. It was a turning point that allowed him to build the kind of practice he always imagined: transparent, high-touch, client-centered, and supported by a modern platform at Victory Financial that truly lives up to the word "freedom".

After 15 years in the industry, including multiple mergers he did not choose, Chris spent much of his early career feeling the disconnect between what firms promised and what they actually delivered. The environment was transactional, and support was inconsistent. When he took over his father’s business in January 2024, that disconnect became impossible to ignore.

Within days of becoming a limited partner at his former firm, he received a significant fee increase and was told nothing could be done. That moment became the catalyst. Chris explains, “I realized very quickly that I had no real control. I needed a place where I could build something long-term, with full transparency and true ownership.” That search ultimately led him to Victory Financial.

A Transition Experience Unlike Any Other

Having already lived through two or three difficult transitions earlier in his career, Chris expected the worst as he prepared to move again. In the past, transfers meant months of backlogged paperwork, weekend work, and financial strain. But this time was different.

Victory Financial partnered closely with Orion Portfolio Solutions to streamline the entire process, and the full transition was completed in only three days. For context, Chris noted that even well-managed transfers at his previous firms took three to six weeks. He remembers, “I kept waiting for the pain to start. And it never did. It was the smoothest transition I have ever experienced.” This difference came from practical, advisor-centered support, not just promises or marketing language.

Freedom That Is Real, Not Just a Buzzword

Every firm talks about independence. Chris heard the word so often that it started to lose meaning.

But at Victory Financial, he saw freedom implemented differently.

Instead of forcing advisors to use outdated proprietary tools, Victory Financial built its platform around modern, best-in-class technology that integrates cleanly and scales with each advisor’s business. Chris says, “They actually implement freedom. They do not pretend to be a tech company. They find the best technology available, negotiate great pricing, and make sure it works with their system so advisors are not fighting clunky software.”

One example that stood out was billing. After years of delayed payments and unresponsive departments, Chris now receives a simple automated workflow that tells him exactly when each payment will arrive. “It is simple. It is transparent. There is no friction. It means I can trust the process and focus on clients.”

A Planning Philosophy Built on Clarity and Care

Chris approaches client service the same way he likes to be served: with transparency and simplicity. He creates educational videos covering every part of the client journey, including fees, strategies, and market updates, so clients always know what to expect.

“Clients appreciate the same things about me that I appreciate about Victory Financial: transparency and simplicity. If they can see that I am always thinking ahead on their behalf, they can rest.” This philosophy planted the seeds for something bigger.

Launching All In Planning: A Holistic Model for Real World Needs

Earlier this year, Chris and his team felt prompted to address a major gap they were seeing: families navigating terminal illness, the loss of a loved one, or the overwhelming administrative burden that follows. The result was All In Planning, a collaborative model in which estate planning, real estate, insurance, and financial professionals work together to support a household as a unified team.

The most powerful example came when a newly widowed client reached out in crisis. Over the following months, Chris and his partner professionals helped her understand complex estate documents, unwind multiple real estate assets, coordinate insurance benefits, and guide her through a difficult financial transition.

The experience did more than relieve her burden. It restored her stability and reshaped her outlook during one of the hardest seasons of her life. Chris is clear about what made this possible: “All In Planning would not exist anywhere else. At my old firms, the idea would have been shut down immediately. Victory Financial helped us build it the right way, fully compliant and fully supported, so we could serve people who truly need it.”

Looking Ahead with Purpose

Chris believes the next two decades will define the future of the profession. With the aging population preparing to transfer trillions in wealth, he sees both a significant opportunity and an immense responsibility. “If high-quality planners do not step up, there will be plenty of bad actors ready to take advantage. We have to get there first and provide honest guidance during the biggest transitions of people’s lives.”

For Chris, the mission is clear: continue building a collaborative planning model that surrounds real people with real support at the moments that matter most. And with Victory Financial behind him, he finally has the platform and freedom to do it.

At Victory Financial, we’re proud to support advisors like Chris who are building careers with intention and going further together. Interested in building your practice with more flexibility and ownership? Learn more about Victory Financial’s advisor platform.