Ankerstar Wealth
Steve Ankerstar flew stealth fighters for the United States Air Force before he managed a single portfolio. He named the firm Afterburner Financial because that is how pilots treat risk — not as an abstraction, but as the thing that gets you home.
What we hold to
Fiduciary Responsibility
We prioritize your financial well-being by protecting your interests from potential conflicts of interest.
Nothing hidden
We manage your financial journey with complete openness.
Coordinated, and stable
We're committed to seamless communication and consistency.
Our clients
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your wealth, Ankerstar Wealth offers guidance at every stage:
Beginning your career, whether fresh from college or with some experience, often involves managing immediate priorities. We’re here to help you enjoy the lifestyle you’ve earned, manage debts, and strategically invest to build a prosperous future.
If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, you know its unique rewards and demands. Our financial planners can help structure your finances to support your business goals, allowing you to focus on what you do best—growing your business.
With a new family, income may drop while expenses increase. We’re here to support you during this busy time, helping you plan for today while securing the future. Let us be your financial partner, managing your family’s needs now and as they grow.
As your children grow, so does your financial landscape. While your income is likely at its peak, so are the costs associated with supporting young adults at home or in college. We’ll help you maximize your earnings, prioritize paying off your mortgage, and strategically invest any additional funds to secure your future while supporting your family.
Everyone approaches retirement in their own way, but within five to ten years of your target retirement date, it’s time to start maximizing every paycheck. We’ll help refine your financial strategy to make the most of these final working years, setting you up for a smooth transition into retirement with confidence in your financial future.
Even after retirement, we’re here as your trusted financial partner. Our wealth management strategies help ensure you continue to enjoy the lifestyle you’ve built, with room for a few indulgences. Retirement often includes estate planning, and consulting with us on your legacy can provide you peace of mind, knowing your hard-earned assets are set to benefit the people you care about most.
Our philosophy
Our goal is to build diversified portfolios designed to generate strong returns while managing risk and minimizing volatility, tailored to each client’s investment preferences. We focus on achieving consistent performance across multiple market cycles by applying a tested and disciplined investment process.
Our philosophy combines a long-term perspective with a commitment to disciplined investment management. We prioritize a “buy and hold” strategy over pursuing short-term gains, allowing us to maintain a focus on broader goals while staying mindful of the current market environment.
Our approach to portfolio construction is rooted in data-driven principles, emphasizing the science behind capital markets:
01
Generating returns requires taking calculated risks. It’s essential to carefully select, manage, and monitor these risks to align with individual goals and tolerance.
02
A well-balanced plan with domestic and international stocks, bonds, cash, and alternative assets can reduce exposure to sudden value changes. Diversification allows for growth potential while enhancing the likelihood of holding top performers without the need to “time the market.”
03
Taxes can erode your returns, so we prioritize tax-efficient investing. Techniques like tax-loss harvesting, strategic asset location, and low portfolio turnover help retain more of your gains over time.
04
Minimizing expenses is critical for long-term growth. Research consistently shows that low-fee funds tend to outperform their high-fee counterparts, making cost management a core part of our investment process.
Where we came from
Steve Ankerstar opened the firm in 2013 in Round Rock, Texas. The name he chose was deliberate: an afterburner is what a pilot reaches for when the situation demands more than the normal envelope allows, and using it well is entirely a question of managing risk. For a retired stealth-fighter pilot, that felt like the right frame for managing money.
By 2021 the practice had outgrown the name. Afterburner Financial suggested a niche; the work had broadened well past it. We became Ankerstar Wealth and kept going, through $40 million, then $160 million, and roughly 300 households.
What has not changed is the discipline underneath. We are still fee-only, still a fiduciary, and we still start every relationship by looking at the things that quietly cost people money.
The record
Twelve years
Ankerstar Wealth
Upcoming Events
We host most Thursdays at the Endgame Lounge in Leander — no presentation, no pitch, just a reason to be in the same room.
See what’s on
Thank you for expressing your interest in Ankerstar Wealth! Allison will personally reach out within 24 hours at allison@ankerstarwealth.com.
