How we think.
Good financial thinking should be available to everyone, not just clients. Here's a look inside our philosophy, our methodology, and the ideas that shape how we plan and invest.
Articles, webinars, and conversations we share to pull back the curtain on how Black Barn plans and invests.
Never miss a piece.
Market perspective and planning ideas you can actually use, delivered to your inbox.
Articles
Questions worth asking, answered in plain language.
Our archive of articles and newsletters, built around the investment and financial planning questions people ask us most often.
In the News
Our work has been featured in The New York Times, Real Simple, Money Magazine, and Kiplinger.
Webinars
Our live, no jargon sessions speaking to news, markets and long range thinking.
We lead regular webinars and Q&A's with a live audience on topics ranging from Roth IRAs, retirement income, employee benefits, to planning through life's defining moments.
Listen to our archive, or subscribe to join in the future.
Women on the Verge of a Financial Breakthrough
Figuring out finance, one dumb question at a time.
Women on the Verge delivers clear, candid money conversations to your feed. Co-hosted by Sara Glakas in support of our conviction that the people the industry overlooks are often the ones who benefit most from honest, sound financial thinking.
Women On The Verge of a Financial Breakthrough Podcast
Austin Women’s Investing Group (AWIG)
Financial education shouldn't require a minimum investment.
AWIG started in 2011 as a conversation among friends. Today it's one of Austin's largest investing communities, with over 3,000 members. It's also where Sara and Kacie first met, and where the idea for their partnership took root.
AWIG meets regularly, hosts quarterly webinars, and creates a space where questions are welcomed and financial jargon is left at the door. Everyone is welcome, whether you're just getting started or have been investing for years.
Meetings are free and open to all.
Want to learn more about investments? Looking for a group of women who want to talk about investments and financial ideas?
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to what it's like to work with us and where to start.Answers to what it's like to work with us and where to start.
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Black Barn provides financial planning and investment management for growth-minded people, with expertise in the moments that reshape your financial picture: tech equity and liquidity events, divorce and financial independence, inheritance and sudden wealth, retirement for academics and nonprofit professionals, and sandwich generation caregiving. Portfolio management is conviction-based, and planning evolves with each client’s life stage, from early-career foundations through legacy decisions.
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Black Barn is based in Austin, Texas, at 2305 Hancock Drive, Suite 105, Austin, TX 78756, but our clients are located around the world. We meet with clients both in person and over Zoom, allowing us to build strong relationships wherever you call home. You can reach us at inquiry@blackbarnfinancial.com or (512) 368-9179, or start with our intake here.
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Our advisory team works collaboratively across financial planning and investment management. Sara Glakas (Founder & Managing Partner), Kacie Swartz (CFP®, CIMA®, Managing Partner), Lindsay Thorstenson (Assistant Financial Planner), and Amy Calistri (Senior Portfolio Manager) bring their complementary expertise together to support our clients’ financial lives and investment portfolios.
Our operations and client experience team includes Elisa Hanson (Chief Compliance Officer), Tima Brown (Director of Business Operations & Client Experience), and Marianne Darmstaedter (Executive Assistant), who help ensure a seamless experience for our clients and team.
Learn more about our team and the people behind Black Barn here.
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Yes. Tech professionals are one of the many groups we serve. Our real specialty is understanding each client’s unique financial picture and putting our team’s broad knowledge and expertise to work on their behalf. For tech professionals, that may include navigating equity compensation, RSU vesting, IPOs, startup exits, and other liquidity events.
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Yes. Academics and nonprofit leaders are among the many clients we serve. Our specialty is understanding each client’s unique financial picture and putting our team’s broad knowledge and expertise to work. For academics and nonprofit professionals, that may include navigating pensions, 403(b)s, phased retirement, and the specific rules and timelines that come with these careers.
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Black Barn is fee-only, with no commissions or kickbacks. Fees start at 1.50% of assets under management with a $7,500 minimum annual fee, and the percentage decreases as accounts grow. Householding multiple family accounts together can lower fees further.
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Our clients span a wide range of financial situations and net worth. What matters most is the relationship we build together. We work best with people who value a true partnership, thoughtful advice, and understanding the “why” behind their financial decisions. While every situation is unique, Black Barn typically works with clients who have $500,000 or more in investable assets.
Ready to talk?
If you have a growth mindset and are navigating or preparing for a defining financial moment, we'd love to hear from you.