Vince Darling

Sam Schuette is a seasoned wealth advisor with over two decades of experience helping individuals and families plan for financial security and life milestones. As Vice President and Wealth Advisor at GreenUp Wealth Management, Sam works with clients to develop financial strategies tailored to their goals — including retirement planning, investment guidance, and overall wealth management.  Before joining GreenUp, Sam spent more than a decade at Scottrade, Inc., where he built strong client relationships and led teams of investment professionals. He also served in financial advisory and wealth planning roles at several other firms, bringing a depth of practical experience across markets, financial planning disciplines, and client service.  Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture & Food Business Management with a focus in Finance from the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, outdoor activities, and community engagement.

Thomas Ottman is a financial advisor with Aquinas Capital Advisors LLC in Andover, MN, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has managed his advisory practice since 1990, including founding Aquinas Capital Advisors in 2016. Aquinas Capital Advisors provides non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and limited-scope ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services primarily to individuals and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes client education through public seminars and workshops, tailoring portfolios to clients' goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance using both fundamental and technical analysis.

James Mehrman is the sole advisor at Valor Wealth Management LLC in Fridley, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill, Sawtooth Asset Management, The Investment Councel LLC, and founding Valor IT Deployment Solutions LLC. He also worked at Trailhead Cycling from 2017 to 2021. Valor Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and retirement plans through customized financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm’s investment process combines fundamental analysis with computer models for asset allocation and risk management, managing approximately $14.9 million across 40 accounts with a focus on tailored portfolios featuring stocks, bonds, ETFs, and selected other securities.

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.

David Johnson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Right Path Financial LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2020. Prior to this, he held roles at Gradient Advisors, LLC and operated his own financial planning practice as a sole proprietor. In addition to his advisory work, Johnson also serves as a director at Case Central, LLC, where he focuses on financial plan creation. Right Path Financial LLC provides investment advice and financial planning primarily to individual clients, utilizing third-party model portfolios through the Orion Portfolio Solutions Strategist program. The firm offers non-discretionary asset management and standalone financial planning services without requiring an account minimum.

Thomas Hallberg is the principal advisor at Wealth Transitions, an independent firm based in Forest Lake, MN. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience, including 25 years at Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. Outside of his advisory work, Hallberg is engaged in life and spiritual coaching and public speaking. Wealth Transitions provides investment management and financial planning services primarily to individual clients, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary options. The firm also conducts public seminars on topics such as estate transfer, tax reduction, and preparing heirs, using client-specific strategies that incorporate fundamental analysis, Modern Portfolio Theory, and Monte Carlo simulations.