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.

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.

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.

Paul Kluskowski is a financial advisor at T/R Financial Management Group, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Lotus Investment Management, LLC from 2006 to 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he is the managing member of Cobalt Tax Services, LLC, a tax preparation and consultation business. T/R Financial Management Group provides personalized, discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to individual clients and trusts. The firm employs a blend of proprietary technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis to construct diversified portfolios, operating as a fee-only adviser that does not sell commission products.

Sarah Braunshausen is an investment advisor representative at Fencl Advisory Services, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Fencl Advisory Services since 2015 and previously was affiliated with Dominion Investor Services, Inc. and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. She is also involved in selling fixed life insurance and disability products. Fencl Advisory Services is a state-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, corporations, and other professional clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a planning-driven, long-term buy-and-hold investment approach, emphasizing client education and regular portfolio reviews.

Trever Christian is a financial advisor with Freedom Financial Partners LLC in Oakdale, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked with AdvisorNet Wealth Management, United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC, and Investment Centers of America. Outside of advising, he is co-owner of FFP Insurance, LLC, where he is involved in the sales and servicing of insurance products. Freedom Financial Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans with portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and insurance advisory services. The firm uses a combination of active and passive investment strategies guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and customized investment policies, managing approximately $377.9 million on a discretionary basis.

John Schwalbach is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Freedom Financial Partners LLC. He has previously worked with AdvisorNet Wealth Management, United Capital Financial Advisers, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Investments Centers of America. In addition to his advisory role, he is Co-President and an insurance agent at FFP Insurance, LLC, a licensed insurance agency in Oakdale, MN, and serves as a trustee for a family trust. Freedom Financial Partners is a five-advisor team managing approximately $377.9 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm combines active and passive investment strategies guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and customized investment policy statements, offering portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and insurance advisory services.

Marissa Klaers is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Concord Wealth Partners. She has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Personal Wealth Partners, LLC, LPL Financial LLC, and H. Beck, Inc. Additionally, Marissa holds a notary public commission and is licensed to sell fixed and traditional insurance products. Concord Wealth Partners is a team-based firm managing approximately $946 million in client assets, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, estates, and plan sponsors. The firm employs an individualized, generally discretionary investment approach emphasizing asset allocation and diversification across a broad range of asset classes.

Joshua Hawkins is a CFP® and ChFC® with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Leverty Financial Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2020, following prior roles at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Leverty and Associates. Hawkins is also co-owner of LFG Tax, LLC, a tax preparation and filing service, and associate co-owner of LFG Risk Services, LLC, an affiliated insurance agency. Leverty Financial Group is a SEC-registered advisory firm with a six-advisor team managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients. The firm serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and non-profits, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services tailored to clients’ objectives.

Patrick Sullivan is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with HighMark Wealth Management LLC since 2012 and also has experience with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of a commercial real estate company. HighMark Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as retirement plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment approach using mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and separate account managers, and provides services on a wrap-fee basis with access to independent managers.

Todd Arens is a financial advisor at HighMark Wealth Management LLC in St. Paul, MN, with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of GCJNAPJ, LLC, a commercial real estate company. HighMark Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment approach using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and separate account managers, and provides services on a wrap-fee basis or through stand-alone planning engagements.

Luke Keene is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He is a financial advisor at Leverty Financial Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2017 across affiliated entities, including roles at Keene Wealth Management and LFG Tax, LLC. Prior to joining Leverty, he spent over a decade with Northwestern Mutual in various investment and wealth management capacities. Outside of advising, Keene is also involved as an associate in an insurance agency. Leverty Financial Group is a six-advisor team managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients, including individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofits. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a range of investment strategies and technology solutions tailored to client objectives.

Michael Leverty is a financial advisor with Leverty Financial Group, LLC in Hudson, WI, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience, including roles at Northwestern Mutual and Leverage & Associates LLC. Outside of advising, he is involved in forest preservation and recreational land management and participates in farming operations annually. Leverty Financial Group is a six-advisor SEC-registered firm managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients, serving individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofits. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement advisory services, utilizing a diverse investment approach that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, ESG factors, and borrowing strategies.

Seth Blum is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with two years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Leverty Financial Group, LLC and also provides tax preparation and filing services through LFG Tax, LLC. Prior to joining Leverty Financial Group, he worked at ISC Financial Advisors and Strategic Tax & Business Consultants, LLC. Leverty Financial Group is a six-advisor SEC-registered firm managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients, including individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofits. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, using a diverse investment approach that incorporates model portfolios, third-party managers, and ESG considerations.

Daniel Sullivan is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Highmark Wealth Management LLC since 2016. Prior to joining Highmark, he worked briefly at Merrill Lynch and the Arquette Agency in 2016. He also has experience at the University of St. Thomas from 2014 to 2018. HighMark Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies across mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and separate account managers, offering wrap-fee and stand-alone planning services.

Michael Nelson is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with seven years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Leverty Financial Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2020, and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company from 2017 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, Nelson assists with seasonal operations at Leverty's Traditional Trees. Leverty Financial Group is a six-advisor SEC-registered firm managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients, including individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofits. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing a diverse investment approach that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, ESG considerations, and margin transactions.

Jerod Gustafson is a financial advisor at Highmark Wealth Management LLC in St. Paul, MN, with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Highmark Wealth Management and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments since 2014. Highmark Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies across mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and separate account managers, combining internal due diligence with third-party research.

Mark Kuhne is a financial advisor with Horter Investment Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Horter Investment Management and Croix River Wealth Management since 2017 and has prior experience with several firms including Stirton Consulting, LLC, and Guardian Wealth Strategies, LLC. Kuhne is also involved in insurance sales as an agent with Croix River Wealth Management. Horter Investment Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and insurance companies. The firm employs a multi-manager investment approach guided by an Investment Committee and offers a variety of model portfolios, third-party money manager access, and alternative investment options.

Matthew Gendreau is a ChFC® credentialed advisor at Leverty Financial Group, LLC, with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Leverty Financial Group, he worked at Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association and Proprietors Capital Holdings. Leverty Financial Group is a SEC-registered advisory firm with a six-person team managing approximately $567 million for over 600 clients. The firm serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofits, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services tailored to client objectives.