Our Firm

A comprehensive financial services firm, Strategic Financial Partners of Kansas City has hand selected a team of financial professionals with the knowledge, expertise, and years of experience to help you achieve your financial goals.

Strategic Financial Partners of Kansas City is lead by Bill Eckert, a professional since 1987 in the financial services industry. At Strategic Financial Partners, we have created an environment of honesty, integrity, and objectivity. We have everything you need in one place to help you meet your financial goals.

Bill Eckert, CAP®

Bill is a nationally recognized financial educator, speaker, and lecturer. He has received his designation of “Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®” from The American College. Currently, less than 600 individuals worldwide have completed the CAP® Program and received the prestigious designation to work successfully in advising clients on how to help maximize their lifestyles, family legacy, and community impact.

Professionally, Bill is a member of Advisor in Philanthropy, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning and Mid-America Planned Giving Council.

Bill was awarded the 2013 International Donor Motivation Professional of the Year “Creating A Legacy for Future Generations.”

Bill has advised individuals and families from coast to coast for over 25 years on strategies to help reduce estate and income taxes.

Bill has conducted over 100 presentations across the country about “Wealth Accumulation, Distribution, and Preservation Strategies.” These presentations have been to families, corporations, associations, charities and other insurance and investment professionals.

Bill’s passion for helping people through volunteer work can be seen at his church. For the last 10 years, Bill has facilitated a Career Transition Group that helps people regain employment. He teaches people the skills they need to get jobs and start new careers. Over 1,000 people have regained employment with Bill’s help.

Bill is an avid hunter and shares his passion of hunting with wounded veterans as a way to honor them for their service and sacrifices. Bill started a non-profit organization called KAMO Adventures, which takes wounded veterans to his Missouri farm for turkey, bird, and deer hunting. KAMO is a 100% volunteer run organization whose purpose is to provide a safe, supportive and friendly hunting experience where wounded veterans can assist each other in the healing process, both mentally and physically. The outdoor experience is unique to each wounded veterans needs and abilities.

Bill is an alumni member of Fort Leavenworth’s U.S. Army Command and General Staff College National Security Roundtable.

Bill is a graduate from Rockhurst High School and the University of Kansas. He lives in Leawood with his wife and four children.

Board Member, Mid-America Planned Giving Council
Past, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College National Security Roundtable
Presenter, Tax and Estate Planning Strategies
Past 2002, 40 under 40 in Kansas City Business Journal
Past, Leukemia Society “Man of the Year,” Second Place
Past Board Member, Vasculitis Foundation
Member, Top of the Table
Member, Leawood Chamber of Commerce
Member, Leawood Citizens Policy Academy
Member, Rockhurst High School Alumni
Member, University of Kansas Alumni
Named Face of Philanthropic Estate Planning by Kansas City's 435 magazine

Danielle Lively, PhD

Marketing and Public Relations

Danielle joined the team in February of 2019 and works as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Strategic Financial Partners.

Danielle was a college professor of Criminal Justice and Law and Justice at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Central Washington University respectively. She received her Masters and PhD in Political Science with a focus in Criminal Justice, Public Policy, and Public Administration at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. She has also published a book called “Social Capital and Violent Crime.” A family member’s new job brought her to Kansas City at just the right time!

Danielle jumped right into her role the day she started and has made significant strides in organizing and managing our branding and marketing strategies, public relations and event planning. She brings with her a significant amount of experience in event planning and marketing through her work in the academic setting and her involvement in various volunteer and nonprofit organizations. She also works with Pam to ensure all marketing materials meet compliance standards.

Danielle has two grown children and two dogs. Currently her son is serving in the US Army and her daughter is living and working in Washington State. Danielle is a bit crazy about her pets and is a dog mom to the core. She volunteers with several local veteran and veteran family organizations in the KC area because she is passionate about giving back to those who have protected our freedom with their most valuable gift, their life.

Patty Smith

Director of Operations

Patty has been in the financial services industry since 2004 and she has been with Strategic Financial Partners since April 2022. Patty is responsible for client inquiries, compliance and regulatory issues, business processing, office management, and technology services.

She graduated from University of Phoenix in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She also has her Life & Health insurance license.

Patty and her partner, Kristie, live in Overland Park with their two rescue kitties, Mitch and Cam. Outside of work, Patty travels to be with family in Pennsylvania and Florida. She is also a volunteer dog walker at Kansas City Pet Project and receptionist at Keeler Women’s Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Pam Ritchey

Director of Operations

Pam works as the Director of Operations for Strategic Financial Partners. Pam has worked with Bill since 1996 and plays a very important and critical role in our business. Pam is responsible for client service inquiries, compliance and regulatory issues, business processing, office management, and technology services. She works behind-the-scenes to keep the business running smoothly.

Aside from her behind-the-scenes roles here, Pam’s role is also client facing, as she handles many direct requests and projects. She treats our clients like family; there isn’t an important date or birthday that she doesn’t remember, and she works diligently to ensure they are taken care of, regardless of the request.

Pam enjoys cooking and takes cooking classes whenever she can. When not at work, she’s helping with her family business, or visiting her family in Lamar.

Achieving Success by

Working Together

Your Goals Are Our Main Priority

Our Firm

Bill Eckert, CAP®

Danielle Lively, PhD

Marketing and Public Relations

Patty Smith

Director of Operations

Pam Ritchey

Director of Operations

Achieving Success by

Working Together

Your Goals Are Our Main Priority

You are here

Our Firm

Bill Eckert, CAP®

Danielle Lively, PhD

Marketing and Public Relations

Patty Smith

Director of Operations

Pam Ritchey

Director of Operations