Dr. Steven Crane
Helping The "Forgotten Class" Create A Financial Legacy For Generations To Come!
Wealthtender Community Connect helps people discover the best financial advisors for their individual needs through their favorite blogs and podcasts.
Click Here to Learn More
Serving Clients Nationwide
Helping The "Forgotten Class" Create A Financial Legacy For Generations To Come!
Areas of Focus
- Alternative Investments
- Budgeting
- Cash Flow
- Choosing a Financial Advisor
- Choosing a Financial Coach
- Coaching
- Credit Reports
- Credit Scores
- Cryptocurrency
- Emergency Savings
- Estate Planning
- Financial Life Planning
- Financial Therapy
- Getting out of Debt
- Insurance
- Investing
- Investment Management
- Money Psychology
- Owning a Business
- Retirement Planning
- Saving
- Taxes
About Dr. Steven Crane
Hi, I’m Steven Crane. I didn’t grow up around money. I didn’t grow up with access, connections, or a silver spoon. In fact, I’ve been the person on the outside looking in… financially struggling, overlooked, and underestimated. At one point, I was the stereotypical “homeless veteran.” And while that part of my story doesn’t define me, it deeply informs why I do what I do today.I started Financial Legacy Builders with one mission in mind: to make high-quality, transparent, and judgment-free financial planning accessible to the people who need it most - veterans, working-class families, and those who’ve been excluded from the traditional financial advice world because of their income, background, or life circumstances.
I’ve spent the last decade working across public, private, and government sectors, acquiring the tools and certifications (over 100 of them) to master this industry, not just to look good on paper, but to serve people powerfully and ethically.
I’ve delivered over $4.2 billion in benefits to veterans worldwide, coached more than 5,000 individuals, and led global teams in implementing transformational programs.
I hold multiple doctoral degrees and a wall full of credentials, including: ChFC®, CLU®, AFC®, CF2®, CFEd®, CMFA®, and numerous other designations that professionals in the industry spend years pursuing. While I rarely lead with titles, I’ve earned every one of them to ensure the advice I give isn’t just passionate; it’s precise, professional, and built to serve you well.
What matters most to me is that you feel seen, respected, and equipped to create a legacy you’re proud of, whether you're earning $20K or $200K a year. I believe financial advice shouldn’t be a luxury product for the wealthy. Everyone deserves a plan and a partner who listens without judgment and provides a clear path forward.
At Financial Legacy Builders, we don’t talk over your head, sell products, or require six-figure minimums. We charge a flat 1% of your household income because I believe that’s fair, transparent, and aligned with your success. This firm was built for people like us. People who’ve fought hard to be where they are and just need a trusted guide to take that next step with confidence.
So, if you’re tired of feeling invisible, overwhelmed, or stuck… you’re not alone. And you’re not behind. Let’s build something powerful together.
Professional Designations
- Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
- Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets
- Certified Financial Educator (CFEd)
- Certified Financial Fiduciary (CFF)
- Certified Military Financial Advisor (CMFA®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP)
- Military Qualified Financial Planner (MQFP)
- National Social Security Advisor (NSSA)
- Registered Financial Consultant (RFC)
Affiliations
- AFCPE
- Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals
- Fee Only Network
- Financial Planning Association
- Global Financial Planning Institute
- Investments & Wealth Institute
- Military Financial Advisors Association
- National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
- XY Planning Network
Primary Location
Dayton, Ohio
Video
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
Compensation Methods
- Fee Only
- Hourly Rate
- One-time Financial Plan
- Percentage of Income
- Pro Bono
- Subscription
What to expect in the first meeting
Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a free introductory call. We'll get to know each other and I'll listen to understand your unique circumstances so we can determine the best way to proceed. I look forward to speaking with you.Offers Investment Management
Yes
About Financial Legacy Builders
Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Financial Legacy Builders proudly serves clients nationwide, offering flexible, secure support through virtual meetings, screen sharing, and encrypted file transfers.Led by Dr. Steven Crane, a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor, the firm specializes in comprehensive financial planning designed to help clients organize, grow, and protect their assets through all of life’s transitions. As a fiduciary, Dr. Crane is legally and ethically obligated to act in the best interest of his clients. He receives no commissions, ensuring that all advice is objective, transparent, and aligned with each client’s financial goals.
To learn more and determine whether our services align with your needs, we invite you to schedule a complimentary introductory consultation.
Education
Steven Crane holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, where he studied transformational leadership, financial equity, and strategic change. He earned a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Coaching from the University of Sedona, emphasizing integrative coaching of mind, body, and spirit. He also completed an M.A. in Financial Planning and Law from Regent University, an M.B.A. in Business Analytics from Ohio University, and an M.P.M. in Project Management from Penn State University. His academic foundation includes a B.A. in Criminal Justice, earned cum laude, from American Military University. Crane expanded his expertise with advanced certifications in executive leadership, human resources, process management, diversity and inclusion, and metaphysics from institutions such as Cornell, George Mason, Villanova, ESSEC, Syracuse, and the University of Metaphysics. His education reflects a deep commitment to organizational transformation, personal development, and service.
Hobbies and Interests
- Animals
- Cooking
- Eating Out
- Family
- Grilling
- Hiking
- Reading
- Relaxing
- Traveling
- Volunteering
- Walking
- Wine
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- College Graduates
- College Students
- Couples
- Dual Income Family
- Families
- Gen X
- Gen Y / Millennials
- Individuals
- Military
- Parents
- Veterans
- Young Families
Wealthtender® is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.
We Want Your Voice to be Heard
Wealthtender exists to help people discover trusted and authentic financial professionals and educators who may be a good fit based on their unique needs and circumstances.
Your honest reviews help people decide which financial professionals and educators may be best suited to their individual needs.
The majority of people trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, so what you write in your review should reflect your own opinion and experience.
Tips for Writing a Helpful Review
Be descriptive. Instead of just saying what you like or dislike, share why. What have you enjoyed most or least about your experience with the provider? Have they helped you overcome a difficult financial challenge or strengthened your knowledge about particular money matters? The more details, the better!
Be honest. Your rating and review should reflect your actual experience.
Stay relevant. Ensure your review is helpful to others by avoiding off-topic discussions or personal opinions not relevant to your direct experience.
Make your review easy to read. Reviews should be readable to others. Use proper grammar, avoid excessive capitalization or punctuation, and be sure to check your spelling.
Be yourself. Don’t post as, or pretend to be, someone else, and do not say you’re associated with a person or organization with which you are not.
Be nice. Don’t write abusive, hateful, threatening, or harassing content. Avoid personal threats, hate speech, obscenities, or inflammatory language.
Respect the privacy of others. Don’t post information that can be used to identify another individual or compromise their privacy.
Report abuse. Thank you for helping us ensure reviews on Wealthtender are helpful to everyone. If you suspect possible violations of our guidelines or believe a review is inappropriate, please email support@wealthtender.com with a link to the provider’s profile, indicating the review in question and the reason you believe it violates our guidelines.
➡️ Are you reviewing a financial advisor? Learn more about Certified Advisor Reviews.
Disclaimers
Wealthtender reserves the right to remove reviews that violate its guidelines and/or regulations issued by the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, and other regulatory agencies. Further, financial advisors are subject to individual firm policies and rules prescribed by federal and state regulators that may result in reviews being removed, not published, or potentially modified upon the documented request submitted by an advisor, compliance officer, or other firm professional to maintain compliance with federal and state regulations.
If you submit a review on Wealthtender, the Federal Trade Commission has issued guidance to ensure you always maintain the right and ability to request reviews be removed from any online review website, including Wealthtender. To request the removal of a review you submitted on Wealthtender, please send an email to support@wealthtender.com using the same email address you utilized when submitting the review. Please include in your email a link to the profile on Wealthtender where your review is published.
In addition to your review being published on Wealthtender, you acknowledge your review may also be published by your financial advisor on their website, social media accounts, and/or profile pages on other directory websites.
The reviews posted on Wealthtender are individual and subjective opinions. The opinions expressed in reviews are those of the reviewer and not of Wealthtender, Inc. Wealthtender does not endorse any of the opinions expressed by reviewers.
Please refer to the Wealthtender terms of service and privacy policy for additional information.
If you have questions or if we can assist with anything at all, please contact us by email at support@wealthtender.com or call us at (512) 540 – 3811.
Thank you for visiting Wealthtender and giving us the opportunity to serve you.
© 2024 Wealthtender, Inc.
