San Diego, CA – April 29, 2025 – Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), a privately held independent broker-dealer based in San Diego, proudly announces that two of its Elite Advisors — Kirk Badii and Dustin Blodgett — have been named finalists for the 2025 InvestmentNews Advisor of the Year Award.
The award recognizes top-performing financial professionals across the U.S. who demonstrate excellence in client service, business growth, and community impact. Badii and Blodgett are among just eight advisors named as finalists in their respective regions and will be honored at the InvestmentNews Awards Gala in New York City on June 24, 2025.
Kirk Badii, Managing Partner of Badii Group Private Wealth, joined IFG in 2020 and brings 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. A four-time Elite Advisor, Badii specializes in pre- and post-sale liquidity event management, tailored lending, wealth transfer strategies, life transition planning for the sale of a business, investment strategy, and comprehensive wealth planning. He holds the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation. He is a finalist for Advisor of the Year: Regional-Southwest.
“I am honored to be named a finalist for InvestmentNews’ 2025 Financial Advisor of the Year,” said Badii. “This is a reflection of our incredible team and the work they do every day for our clients.”
Dustin Blodgett, Founder and CEO of Insight Capital Management, joined IFG in 2023 and brings 12 years of experience as a financial advisor. He is a two-time Elite Advisor at IFG, specializing in wealth and investment management as well as retirement planning. Blodgett holds the Certified Financial Planning™ (CFP®) and Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designations, in addition to Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 licenses. He is a finalist for Advisor of the Year: Regional -West.
Blodgett expressed, “I’m truly honored to be named a finalist alongside so many great advisors. I love helping people feel confident about their future, and I’m proud to be part of a profession that makes a difference every day. This nomination reflects the trust our clients place in us and the excellent support from my team at Insight Capital.”
David Fischer, Co-Founder of IFG, shared, “We’re incredibly proud of Kirk and Dustin for being recognized as finalists in this year’s Advisor of the Year awards. Their commitment to excellence, client-first approach, and leadership within their communities embody what it means to be part of the IFG family. Supporting outstanding advisors like them is exactly why IFG exists.”
IFG, along with Badii and Blodgett, looks forward to attending the InvestmentNews gala to celebrate all of the nominees and honor the contributions of top advisors across the country.
About InvestmentNews Advisor of the Year Award
This award is one of the highest individual honors in the financial planning industry, recognizing outstanding advisors across five U.S. regions. Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:
Business development and client growth strategies
Investment acumen and ability to communicate portfolio strategy
Unique client value propositions and retention approaches
Industry education and client-facing thought leadership
Community involvement, mentorship, and pro bono efforts
Adherence to regulatory and ethical standards
About Kirk Badii
Kirk Badii, CEPA, is the Managing Partner of Badii Group Private Wealth Management. He works primarily with founders and entrepreneurs of privately held businesses navigating life-changing liquidity events, including the sale of their companies. He has been recognized as Best Investment Manager in Southlake for four consecutive years (2021–2024) and was recently named Best Investment Manager in the Southwest Region for 2025 by InvestmentNews. An avid golfer, Badii is a member of several Golf Digest Top 100-ranked golf courses around the United States. He and his wife live with their two children, splitting their time between Westlake, Texas, and Park City, Utah.
About Dustin Blodgett
Dustin Blodgett, CFP®, CIMA®, is the Founder and CEO of Insight Capital Management and a nationally recognized financial advisor specializing in investment management and retirement planning for successful individuals and families. A Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor in 2023 and 2024 and a Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor in those same years, Blodgett is now honored as a 2025 Top 100 Advisor by InvestmentNews. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the Marriott School of Business at BYU. Married with five children, Blodgett understands the challenges of balancing family, career, and financial security.
About Independent Financial Group
Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), is a privately held independent broker-dealer in San Diego, California. Founded in 2003, IFG supports over 600 independent financial professionals across more than 400 offices nationwide with a comprehensive suite of business solutions. IFG is an eight-time winner of the Inc. 5000 list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US.” The San Diego Business Journal ranked IFG #7 among the Largest Private Companies in San Diego in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Financial Planning Magazine ranked IFG 3rd for women as a percentage of producing representatives and 7th for financial advisor payout, while InvestmentNews ranked the firm in the top 10 for payout and account assets. Financial Advisor Magazine listed IFG as the 15th largest national independent broker-dealer and #2 for privately held broker-dealers based on gross revenue in 2025.