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Why Choose Bona Fide Finance?

Your Interests First. Always.

Finding a financial advisor you can truly trust is no small task. At Bona Fide Finance, we put your best interests at the heart of everything we do. As a fee-only firm, we are compensated solely by our clients—not by commissions, kickbacks, or third-party incentives. Our commitment to transparency and integrity is backed by our fiduciary oath, which means that every recommendation we make is designed to serve you, not sell you.

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The Power of Fee-Only Planning

Many advisors earn commissions by selling financial products. We don’t. Our fee-only approach means our sole focus is on helping you pursue your financial goals. No hidden fees. No conflicts of interest. Just straightforward, personalized advice that puts you in control of your financial future. You deserve an advisor who is:
Trustworthy
Acting in your best interest at all times
Honest & Transparent
Providing clear, candid guidance
Confidential
Safeguarding your privacy and financial information
Diligent
Meticulously crafting strategies to optimize your wealth

The Bona Fide Finance Difference

At Bona Fide, we go beyond simple money management—we help you build a future rooted in stability, confidence, and peace. Our team is committed to ongoing learning, allowing us to stay ahead of financial trends, tax strategies, and planning techniques so that you always receive the best advice available.

Our process:

Schedule a Meeting

The first step is easy. Choose a time that fits your schedule, and we’ll connect for an initial conversation—no commitment, just a chance to see if we’re the right fit.

Discuss Your Situation

In our meeting, we take the time to understand your financial landscape, goals, and any challenges you’re facing. Whether you have complex compensation structures, a business to manage, or just need clarity on your next steps, we’re here to listen and offer insight.

Receive a Proposal

Based on our discussion, we provide a tailored proposal outlining how we can help. This includes the scope of work, pricing, and the specific strategies we’d implement to bring you financial clarity and confidence.

Accept the Terms

If the proposal feels right for you, we finalize our agreement and get to work. From there, we guide you through the process, helping you take control of your finances with a clear, actionable plan.

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Take the Next Step

Ready to partner with an advisor who puts you first? Let’s talk.
Schedule a call today and take control of your financial future with a team that truly has your back.
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From our home office in North Dakota, we proudly serve clients across 20 states – virtually, efficiently, and with a personal touch.
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Bonnie Martinek

Administrative Assistant
Bonnie (Ben’s mom!) is a mother of 9 and a grandmother of 17. She has lived in rural Indiana her whole life and has a master’s degree in Special Education. In her own words, she’s done a little bit of everything but is a master of none (teaching, construction, manager of a corn maze, CNA, farm work, cashier, auto bodywork, and the list goes on!). Widowed in 2019, she is reinventing herself through her work in the day-to-day operations of Bona Fide Finance and client relations. Bonnie loves getting to know our clients and is happy to serve them well!
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Deb Martinek

Relationships Specialist

Deb has been with Bona Fide Finance since its inception in 2015 and long before that with her support of Ben studying for the CFP designation and the dream of starting the business of helping individuals and families meet their financial goals.

She fills the Relationships Specialist role – Deb is typically the first encounter our new clients have as she walks them through our service offerings and introduces them to the map of financial literacy.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Deb lives in Bismarck with Ben and their two young daughters, is a card-carrying member of the CDL club (read more about those adventures here) and is happiest reading an epic novel, solving a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, or working in her kitchen where she can serve love to the people in her life through quality food (clients enjoy her holiday shipment of homemade goodies each December!).

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Ben Martinek

CFP®, EA, CSLP®, RICP®, Founder and Advisor

Ben Martinek, CFP®, EA, CSLP®, RICP®, is the founder and lead advisor at Bona Fide Finance, an independent, fee-only firm dedicated to helping doctors, young professionals, and growing families take control of their financial future. With a deep understanding of student loan debt—having tackled his own—Ben specializes in guiding clients through debt repayment strategies, smart investing, and comprehensive financial planning so they can build wealth with confidence. Ben’s passion for financial planning comes from his desire to provide honest, objective advice tailored to each client’s unique situation. He loves seeing the impact of his work, whether it’s helping a family pay off student loans years ahead of schedule, setting up an early retiree for financial freedom, or giving clients the peace that comes from knowing their finances are in order. His clients appreciate his thoughtful, high-touch approach, often saying that working with him has changed their lives.

Before launching Bona Fide Finance in 2015, Ben’s career path was anything but conventional. The fourth of nine children, he grew up in rural Indiana and initially pursued a path in academia, earning a B.A. in philosophy and classical languages, followed by a master’s degree in philosophy. Along the way, he explored careers in construction and truck driving—logging over 600,000 miles across the U.S. with his wife, Deb—before finding his true calling in financial planning.

Now based in Bismarck, North Dakota, Ben and Deb stay busy raising their two daughters, Edith and Virginia. Since their truck-driving days, Ben is happiest on a long road trip—preferably behind the wheel of his TDI Volkswagen Jetta. He enjoys sailing on Lake Sakakawea, camping in their vintage ’90s pop-up camper, and smoking a pipe by the grill. A lover of strategy board games, he favors Clans of Caledonia (mostly because Deb refuses to play Risk with him). When he’s not working with clients, he can be found smoking meat, gardening, hiking, or diving into The Lord of the Rings or Dune. Ben also serves on the school board for his daughters’ Montessori school and is actively involved in pre-marriage ministry in the Bismarck Diocese.

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