Christopher Swanson

I'm the founder of SCM Investment Services in Lake Elmo, MN — a fee-only, fiduciary advisory firm built on one belief: everyone deserves honest financial advice from someone legally required to put their interests first. My path here started on the trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade, where I transacted over $1 billion in US Treasury Notes daily and later served as VP and Director of Discretionary Trading Operations. With degrees in Computer Science and Chemistry, I've always approached investing as a hard science — not a sales pitch. I earned my MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the epicenter of evidence-based investing. No commissions. No exceptions. I've been quoted as a financial expert in CNN Money, Fortune, the Chicago Tribune, US News, and Investment News.

Ricky Pickle is a CFP® and Series 63-licensed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Pro Advisors, Ltd., operating as R J Pickle Financial Services, and has been president of R.J. PICKLE, CPA, CFP, PC since 2013, providing tax preparation services. The firm offers investment management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses, using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to guide portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring. It integrates investment advisory services with tax preparation and planning, reflecting the advisor’s dual credentials as a CPA and CFP®.

Jesse Sell is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Prevail Financial Partners, LLC since 2019. Prior to founding Prevail, he worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 11 years. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer and Secretary for his neighborhood Homeowners Association in West Lakeland, Minnesota. Prevail Financial Partners is a state-registered independent advisory firm that provides portfolio management, investment advice, and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $63.7 million across 70 client relationships, employing a client-driven investment process that includes asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and both long- and short-term trading, with a focus on non-discretionary account management.

Abbey Spoo is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at 808 Investments. Prior to founding 808 Investments in 2024, Abbey worked at Marquette Asset Management for eight years and Allodium Investment Consultants for one year. 808 Investments is a fee-only investment adviser providing discretionary wealth management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes a written Investment Policy Statement and combines active and passive portfolio strategies with an emphasis on asset allocation and tax efficiency.

Jay Radke is a financial advisor with Investors Choice in Stillwater, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Investors Choice from 1999 to 2018. In addition to his advisory role, Radke has been a licensed life insurance agent since 1984, providing insurance products to clients as needed. Investors Choice is an independent firm offering financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management services to individual clients. The firm manages approximately $1.41 million across a limited number of accounts, using a customized investment approach that incorporates various analysis techniques and a range of instruments, including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, options, CDs, and annuities. The firm also sells insurance products and offers fixed and variable annuities, combining fee-based advisory and insurance services.

Kyle Playford is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Freedom Financial Partners LLC. His prior roles include positions at AdvisorNet Wealth Management, Pine Grove Financial Group, and JPMorgan Chase. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with FFP Insurance LLC as a licensed insurance agent. Freedom Financial Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans with portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and insurance advisory services. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and customized investment policy statements.