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.

Peter O'Brien is a financial advisor with MPM Financial Corporation in Maplewood, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at MPM Financial Corporation since 2005 and previously held roles at Voya Financial Advisors and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. In addition to his advisory work, he is a licensed agent involved in the sale of fixed insurance products. MPM Financial Corporation provides discretionary asset management and advisory services to individual clients and qualified retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerances, and offers financial consulting on retirement, insurance, budgeting, and legacy planning at no additional cost.

Justin Munger is a financial advisor at VIP Financial Associates with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Premier Capital Management, LLC dba VIP Financial Associates since 2016 and previously at Sawtooth Solutions LLC. In addition to his advisory role, Munger is an independent life and health insurance agent licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and owns a pet sitting and cleanup services business. VIP Financial Associates provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm’s investment process focuses on individualized asset allocation and uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, relying on third-party model managers and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Mark Austin is a financial advisor at Liniam Capital, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at North Sky Capital for eight years before joining Liniam Capital in 2018. Liniam Capital provides investment management and financial consulting to individual and institutional clients, including trusts, retirement plans, public funds, and Taft-Hartley accounts. The firm combines portfolio management with tax, estate, and insurance advice, often using ETFs, individual securities, and option strategies to generate income and manage risk, and integrates accounting services through an affiliated CPA.

Paula Lilly is a financial advisor at Ramsey Hill Asset Management LLC with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Ramsey Hill since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she is a non-voting member of Mojave Color, LLC, a technology and software development company. Ramsey Hill Asset Management provides discretionary investment supervisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis and uses long- and short-term trading strategies to build individualized portfolios aligned with clients’ objectives.

I’m a financial planner who helps business professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—especially those with equity compensation—take control of their finances and design a life that feels truly authentic. Life isn’t just about numbers or following a traditional path. It’s about figuring out what you really want and building a plan to get there. That’s why I started Authentic Life Financial Planning—to help people align their finances with their goals, whether that means retiring early, launching a new career, or simply feeling more confident about their future. I offer personalized, one-time financial plans and ongoing planning services, helping clients navigate the complexities of equity compensation, tax strategies, cash flow, and more—all with the goal of creating a life they love. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll probably find me sailing, checking out live music, or planning my next travel adventure with my wife Annie. If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with your finances, I’d love to chat!

Britt Clanton is the principal of Clanton Financial Partners, LLC in Saint Paul, MN, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at MML Investors Services, LLC and Transamerica-affiliated firms. Outside of his advisory role, Clanton serves as Chief Financial Officer for Visibility Innovations, providing financial consulting services. Clanton Financial Partners is a state-registered investment adviser offering customized investment management and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and ERISA retirement plans. The firm utilizes fundamental analysis with a primarily long-term investment strategy while allowing tactical adjustments and sponsors a wrap-fee program that consolidates custodial, trading, and administrative costs.

Thomas Thompson is the principal of Thompson Financial Transitions Inc. in White Bear Lake, MN, with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and securities licenses Series 63 and Series 65. Thompson has a background that includes roles at SagePoint Financial and Kristi Seifert, LLC, and he also works as an independent insurance agent selling life insurance, long-term care, and annuities. Additionally, he assists with tax preparation and serves as power of attorney managing investments and financial affairs for a family member. Thompson Financial Transitions Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and consulting for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, with discretionary trading authority and direct management of insurance contract assets alongside platform-based solutions.

Kevin Boyd is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at UBS Financial Services, Inc. for 10 years before founding KMB Wealth Management, LLC in 2020. The firm provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and small businesses through a wrap fee investment program that combines financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage transactional services. KMB Wealth Management employs a Core + Satellite investment approach, blending indexed funds with actively managed positions, and integrates comprehensive financial planning tailored to client objectives.

John Bernstein is the sole advisor at Bernstein Financial Advisory in Minneapolis, MN, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. He previously worked at Sit Investment Associates for 21 years before a three-year break from the industry. Bernstein Financial Advisory provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, entrepreneurs, small business owners, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm’s approach includes fundamental analysis, long-term purchase strategies, and option writing tailored to each client’s goals, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options, as well as public educational seminars and workshops.

Joseph Brill is a financial advisor at Knox Avenue Financial Corp. in St. Paul, MN, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Principal Life Insurance Company and Princor Financial Services Corporation from 2007 to 2017. Outside of his advisory work, Brill serves as president, treasurer, and board member of the Kappa Sigma Building Association, which provides housing and guidance to fraternity undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin. Knox Avenue Financial Corp. offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors and small businesses, providing discretionary and non-discretionary managed portfolios along with written financial plans. The firm tailors investment strategies to client objectives and risk tolerance, utilizing asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, and various trading approaches, with accounts reviewed quarterly.

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®.

Kari Polasek is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. She currently leads Adaptive Financial Design LLC in Minneapolis, MN, having previously worked at AdvisorNet Financial, Wealth Enhancement Group, and Oxford Financial Group LTD. Adaptive Financial Design LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individual clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households. The firm primarily constructs passive, index-based portfolios guided by modern portfolio theory and combines ongoing subscription planning with project-based engagements.

Lauri Salverda is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Castle Rock Financial Planning, Inc. She has worked at Clerestory Advisors, Inc. since 2008. Castle Rock Financial Planning provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates, offering comprehensive written financial plans and ongoing portfolio management without imposing minimum account balances or accepting commissions. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and third-party research to guide investment decisions across a variety of asset types.

Alex Bossert is the principal of Bossert Capital LLC in Austin, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Granite House Capital Management and KBAB 1960 Investments LLC. Outside of advisory work, he operates a sole proprietorship unrelated to investment activities. Bossert Capital provides discretionary asset and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities focused on long-term capital appreciation. The firm employs a fundamental analysis approach centered on undervalued securities and uses a performance-based compensation arrangement for qualified clients.

William Patterson III is the sole advisor at Second Avenue Capital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 11 years of industry experience. Patterson has been with Second Avenue Capital since 2006. Second Avenue Capital provides discretionary investment management to institutional and individual clients, focusing on a value-oriented, research-driven approach targeting undervalued companies. The firm manages a limited number of accounts with a preferred minimum account size and offers performance-based fee arrangements to qualifying high-net-worth clients.

Gabriel Anderson is a CFP® and ChFC® with 14 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Crafted Wealth Management in Minneapolis, where he has worked since 2015 through various iterations of the firm. Crafted Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management, emphasizing passive investing with index funds and ETFs alongside selective fundamental and cyclical analysis. The firm features a detailed Hand-Crafted Planning process, a high-touch financial coaching program, and estate-planning support through a third-party service.

Anghel Stoian is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is the principal of Efficient Market Investments, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Apple Valley, MN. In addition to his advisory role, Stoian provides tax preparation services through an affiliated accounting practice. Efficient Market Investments serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities with discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including the use of derivatives, and integrates tax preparation services as part of its offering.

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.

Nancy Narusiewicz is a financial advisor with Minder Narusiewicz, Inc. in Mendota Heights, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 16 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. and Osaic Wealth, Inc. In addition to advisory services, she is involved in tax preparation and life, health, and annuity sales through her firm. Minder Narusiewicz, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual clients, including both non–high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm operates on a non-discretionary basis using the VISION2020 Wealth Management Advisor Managed Portfolios platform and also offers tax preparation and consulting services.