Ty Daniel Nelson

My name is Dana Menard, and I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Registered Life Planner® (RLP®), Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®), Certified in Blockchain and Digital Assets (CBDA), Certified Digital Asset Advisor® (CDAA®), a fee-only fiduciary, and the Founder and Lead Financial Planner of Twin Cities Wealth Strategies, Inc. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, I pride myself on providing trusted financial advice and guidance to busy professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, and families so they can concentrate on the things that matter most to them. I genuinely believe everyone’s financial situation is unique, and they have a right to a trusted advisor who puts their interests first. When working with my clients, I focus on creating long-term relationships. Together, we collaborate to create a financial life plan that addresses their immediate and long-term financial concerns and empowers them to live a lifestyle they love. Twin Cities Wealth Strategies, Inc. is a tax-focused comprehensive financial life planning firm that offers investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, prep, and filing, as well as estate plan construction, all under one roof. When I’m not working, I spend as much time as possible with my closest friends and family, as they are the most important things to me. My wife, Sonja, our three daughters, and I enjoy reading books, watching movies, binge-watching Netflix, exercising, partaking in various family games and activities, and appreciating the outdoors and all that nature has to offer at the family cabin. I also volunteer my time between a couple of local non-profits. The first is the Maple Grove Lions Club, a service organization that sponsors many programs and events that raise money for our local community. The second is BestPrep, a Minnesota-based non-profit that prepares students with business, career, and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in both work and life.

Kory advises high-net-worth retirees and pre-retirees who seek tax efficiency and protection of the wealth they have built over decades. His practice is centered on a clear objective: reduce portfolio risks and minimize lifetime taxes paid. Unlike traditional advisors who separate investment management from tax planning, Kory integrates both into a unified retirement strategy. He understands that for affluent retirees, true success is measured by net after tax income and portfolio resilience across market cycles. Investment decisions are aligned with proactive tax planning to help clients keep more of what they earn while managing volatility. Kory specializes in retirement income planning, tax efficient portfolio design, and long term wealth preservation. His insights have been featured by Star Tribune, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox. New Generation Wealth Management provides financial planning and advisory services primarily to individual clients. The firm utilizes a single third-party manager for portfolio management, focusing on due diligence and client support rather than direct asset management or discretionary trading.

Jeffrey Schuler is a CFP® professional affiliated with LPL Financial in Maple Grove, MN, with 34 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Financial Dimensions Group, Inc. and Osaic Wealth, Inc. fka Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. from 2005 to 2024. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Thomas Ottman is the sole advisor at Aquinas Capital Advisors LLC in Blaine, MN, with 44 years of industry experience. He has operated his advisory practice since 1990, establishing Aquinas Capital Advisors in 2016. His credentials include Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Aquinas Capital Advisors provides non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and limited-scope ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services to individuals and charitable organizations, emphasizing client education through public seminars and workshops. The firm tailors recommendations to client goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance, using both fundamental and technical analysis.

James Mehrman is a financial advisor at Valor Wealth Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at The Investment Councel LLC and Trailhead Cycling. Outside of advising, he was involved with Valor IT Deployment Solutions LLC for nine years. Valor Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, charities, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, focusing on customized portfolios primarily composed of exchange-traded funds, stocks, and bonds tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances.

I’m Carter Michaelson, CFP®, CSLP®, and the founder of illumiFI Wealth. I started this firm to help people cut through financial complexity and make confident, tax-smart decisions about their money. With a focus on financial planning, investments, and tax strategies, I work alongside clients to create a clear path toward financial freedom. At illumiFI Wealth, I believe financial advice should be independent, transparent, and values-driven. That’s why the firm is fee-only — no commissions, no hidden agendas. Our approach is also rooted in behavioral finance: helping clients overcome the biases and emotions that can get in the way of good decisions. My favorite moments are when a concept clicks — those “lightbulb” moments where clients feel clarity and confidence about their next steps. I launched illumiFI Wealth because I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming money can feel — from student loans to charitable giving to retirement planning. My mission is to provide clarity, confidence, and purpose so clients can focus on what truly matters: living generously and pursuing the life they’re called to live.