Who We Are

Bryan Sarff is the founder and CEO of True Wealth & Company and has been serving clients’ financial needs since 2003. His services cover all areas of the wealth management process, including business succession planning, investment strategies, business value acceleration, retirement planning, legacy planning, and insurance planning. Bryan acts as a personal wealth manager for successful business owners and thrifty millionaires who want to make work optional and join our Work Optional Wealth™ community. When working with clients, his highest priority is to help them “achieve financial independence and economic freedom” so they can spend more time doing what they love.

Bryan has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Before transitioning to wealth management, he spent 8 years working for Lear Corporation and GE leading successful process improvement initiatives at multiple locations. In 2009, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Outside of the office, Bryan has spoken at hundreds of wealth management workshops, hosted financial talk radio shows, the “Let’s Make Work Optional” Podcast, and is launching a new podcast in 2023. In the community, he is involved with Strive 4 Life, Band of Angels, and the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. He enjoys playing golf, swimming, smoking tasty ribs on his Traeger, traveling with his wife and three daughters, attending concerts, and is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Mizzou Football.

To learn more about Bryan, connect with him on Linkedin.

Kenny Burkhead is the CFO and portfolio manager at True Wealth & Company and has been working in the finance world since 2010. His services cover all areas of the wealth management process, including business succession planning, investment strategies, business value acceleration, retirement planning, legacy planning, and insurance planning. Kenny acts as a holistic wealth manager and personal CFO to help professionals and business owners move toward a work-optional lifestyle and highly values developing personal relationships along the way.

Kenny has an associate’s degree in business from Barton County Community College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Emporia State University. He lives in Lenexa, Kansas, with his wife and four daughters. Kenny is a dedicated health and fitness junkie (ranked in the top 1% in his CrossFit age group), loves smashing the golf ball down the fairway, and is an avid fan of NBA basketball, Formula One racing, KU basketball, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Above all, he enjoys traveling the country with his family and spending time in the company of good friends and family.

To learn more about Kenny, connect with him on Linkedin.

Brian Paulsen is a personal wealth manager and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) at True Wealth & Company and has been working in the finance world since 2014. His services cover all areas of the wealth management process, including financial/retirement planning, cash flow, and debt management, investment planning, risk management, and legacy planning. Prior to his career in finance, Brian was a technical executive (Distinguished Engineer) for IBM, spending 20 years focused primarily on clients in the finance and insurance industries. His corporate expertise offers his professional, business owner, and retiree clients a unique perspective to help grow their business, evaluate career opportunities, and position themselves for a work-optional lifestyle and a successful retirement.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Brian lives in Overland Park with his wife, Amy. They are enjoying being empty nesters and watching their two boys spread their wings. Outside of work, he loves a tasty craft beer, being a mad scientist of the bbq smoker, woodworking, playing scratch golf, taking walks with his wife and two Huskies, Mizzou sports, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

To learn more about Brian, connect with him on Linkedin.

Emily Cole is the Client Service Manager at True Wealth & Company and leads the service team to provide high-quality service to clients. She maintains a high-level view on her team’s operations in order to problem-solve, increase efficiency, or simply step in as a backup when needed. Emily supports Bryan Sarff as his executive assistant and go-to contact for clients.

Outside of the office, Emily can usually be found at home with her three dogs, working on projects around the house, reading a book, or brunching with friends. She enjoys attending baseball games, hiking, and traveling.

To learn more about Emily, connect with her on Linkedin.

Misael Herrera is a financial service assistant at True Wealth & Company and provides multifaceted support to clients and our investment advisors in the areas of financial planning, service, account openings, client meetings, and documentation processing. His job is to ensure all client needs are fulfilled on the technical side so advisors have time to address client concerns holistically and concisely; all striving to deliver Uncommon Care to our clients.

Misael has an associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College. He is also fluent in Spanish. Outside of the office, he enjoys CrossFit and living a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about Misael, connect with him on Linkedin.

Kirstin Novak coordinates and creates marketing and graphics for True Wealth & Company in the form of letters and reports sent to clients and strategic partners and performs receptionist and front-office duties. In her spare time, Kirstin enjoys painting and has her work on display in local and regional galleries. In the evenings and on weekends, she and her husband can often be found attending their two daughters’ sporting events and performances. Kirstin also enjoys watching the Chiefs, Packers, and KU Basketball.

At True Wealth & Company, Brittany Pennington supports Kenny Burkhead as his executive assistant, following up and reaching out to his clients between meetings to check in regularly. As part of the service team, she also works behind the scenes to provide the best possible experience for all parties.

Outside of work, Brittany can be found home schooling her two children, cooking, and trying to catch some sun at the lake. Coming from a rural community in North Central Kansas, she and her husband spend as much time outdoors as possible. Although not much of a professional sports fan, she enjoys coaching her kids’ soccer team and being involved in their activities. Brittany’s kids take after her and like to ride dirt bikes, so as a rule, they try to catch at least three AMA Motocross races each season.

To learn more about Brittany, connect with her on Linkedin.