Doug Kinsey launched Artifex Financial Group in 2007, immediately before the Great Recession and global financial crisis changed the economy, investment markets, real estate, retirement planning, and the financial services industry. Instead of abandoning the business, Doug and his cofounder stayed committed to their fee only financial planning model, served clients through extreme market volatility, and built a successful wealth management firm designed to continue beyond its founders.
Doug joins Bridget Ann Stuart to share what the Great Recession taught him about entrepreneurship, leadership, investing, financial resilience, and making decisions during uncertain economic conditions. He explains why successful investors need more than financial information. They need a system for recognizing confirmation bias, challenging their assumptions, managing fear of missing out, and separating informed intuition from emotional decision making.
The discussion also explores behavioral finance, artificial intelligence, real estate investing, portfolio diversification, financial advisor value, retirement planning, and business succession. Doug shares how tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can help investors consider different perspectives, why a financial planner can provide value far beyond stocks and bonds, and how Artifex Financial Group approached its merger with Soltis Investment Advisors as a strategy for continued growth, stronger client support, and long term succession.
Episode Highlights
Starting a financial planning firm before the Great Recession
What the global financial crisis taught him about leadership
Why confirmation bias can damage financial decisions
The connection between behavioral finance and wealth building
Using AI platforms to analyze financial opportunities
What Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger understood about decision making
Peter Lynch's approach to investing in businesses you understand
The role of a financial advisor during market volatility
Evaluating real estate as part of a diversified investment portfolio
Maintaining a successful business partnership for nearly 20 years
Learn more about Soltis Investment Advisors here: https://soltisadvisors.com/
About Doug Kinsey
Doug Kinsey is a financial planner, investment professional, and cofounder of Artifex Financial Group. He has more than 25 years of experience in financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, behavioral finance, and wealth management.
Doug and his business partner founded Artifex Financial Group in 2007 after becoming frustrated with conflicts of interest inside traditional financial institutions. They created a fee only financial advisory firm focused on comprehensive financial planning, investment strategy, tax planning, insurance guidance, and long term client relationships.
Doug helped lead the firm through the Great Recession, the global financial crisis, market downturns, the COVID 19 pandemic, and major changes within the financial services industry. After nearly 20 years of growth, Artifex joined Soltis Investment Advisors to expand its resources, strengthen its succession plan, and support the firm's next stage.
Connect with Doug:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougkinseycfp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinsey.doug/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtifexFinancialGroup
About Bridget Ann Stuart
Bridget Ann Stuart is a REALTOR®, Executive Strategic Performance Coach, and host of The Inner Estate. Since beginning her real estate career in 1998, Bridget has worked across luxury real estate, business growth, leadership, performance, and personal development.
Through Strategic Performance Coaching, Bridget helps entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, executives, and business owners create greater clarity, strengthen their performance, and build businesses and lives that reflect what matters most to them.
Connect with Bridget:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBridgetStuart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbridgetstuart/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBridgetStuart\
Disclaimer: The information shared is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, legal, or other professional advice. Investing involves risk, and all decisions should be made based on individual circumstances with guidance from qualified professionals.
