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.

After spending more than 13 years in traditional wealth management, I saw first hand how traditional firms, regardless of their fee model - are designed to maintain the status quo. I created Luminous Money as an expression and reflection of my personal pursuit of the American Dream: from being a first-generation immigrant working minimum wage jobs, to slowly scrimping, saving and investing into achieving some of my biggest dreams. If you're a dreamer, you're one of us. At Luminous, we don't care about not being invited to the table.....we're building our own damn table. Luminous is designed to work with people across all income and wealth levels, because I know first hand that money in the hands of the right people changes everything. I am so excited to meet you!

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.

Chad Rusten is Chief Financial Planner at Element Squared Private Wealth in Minneapolis, MN, holding the ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, and CLTC designations along with Series 66 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience, with prior roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, Eagle Strategies (NY Life), and Nylife Securities. He also operates as a sole proprietor in insurance sales and services, dedicating approximately 5% of his time to this activity. Element Squared Private Wealth provides discretionary asset management and integrated financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client objectives, offering financial planning as part of its advisory services.

Eric Hutchens is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66 certificant with 18 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Allodium Investment Consultants, LLC since 2015 and previously spent eight years with UBS Financial Services. Allodium Investment Consultants serves individuals, foundations, endowments, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and fiduciary consulting, generally favoring low-cost, tax-advantaged, passively oriented investments customized to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Jeffrey Schuler is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 34 years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Financial and previously worked at Financial Dimensions Group, Inc. and American Express Financial Advisors Inc. Schuler is involved in multiple business entities, including a non-investment-related partnership and an entity established for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diverse advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Ryan Klosterman is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with OSAIC and Securities America Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with Austads Golf since 2019. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individual, high-net-worth, pension, corporate, and charitable investors. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services through multiple platforms and utilizes various investment tools and third-party solutions to construct and manage portfolios.

Arch Spencer is the sole advisor at Spencer Financial Advisors in Plymouth, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Spencer Financial Advisors since 1999. Spencer Financial Advisors offers portfolio management and investment advice primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a combination of long-term and short-term trading strategies, focusing on equities, mutual funds, fixed income, ETFs—including precious-metal sector ETFs—and may incorporate options and margin transactions within client portfolios.

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.

Donovan Carson is the principal advisor at Carson Capital in St. Louis Park, MN, holding a Series 65 designation with five years of industry experience. He previously worked at UnitedHealthGroup as a Senior Product Owner and is also the owner of True Edge LLC. Carson Capital provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm follows a growth-oriented, data-driven investment process that incorporates risk-based asset allocation and uses a variety of analytical tools, including AI-assisted methods, to coordinate portfolio strategy with clients' financial plans and cash-flow needs.

Cody Wald is a financial advisor at First Class Financial with five years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations. His prior experience includes five years at Ameriprise and two years at Deloitte and Touche. First Class Financial is an independent firm offering discretionary and non-discretionary asset management as well as financial planning and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm combines various analytical approaches in its investment process and uses the Altruist platform for managing client portfolios, with options for model portfolios and sub-advisor management.

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.

I’m a financial planner who helps tech professionals 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 life, whether that means retiring early, launching a new career, or simply feeling more confident about your future. I offer personalized, one-time financial plans and ongoing planning services, helping people navigate the complexities of equity compensation, tax strategies, cash flow, and more, all with the goal of creating a life you love. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll find me sailing, checking out live music, or planning my next travel adventure with my wife Annie and our son. We live in Minneapolis, MN and serve clients virtually across the U.S. If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with your finances, I’d love to chat!

Nathan Millerbernd is the principal of MWM Wealth Advisory, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with firms including VOYA Financial Advisors and Harbour Investments, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in managing agricultural land through Greenfield Harvest, LLC, and operates a vacation property management business, N8 Vacation Properties, LLC. MWM Wealth Advisory serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses by providing asset management and retirement plan consulting services, including fiduciary work under ERISA 3(21). The firm employs fundamental and technical analysis to develop investment strategies, offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, and sponsors a wrap fee program combining management and transaction costs.

John Bernstein is the sole advisor at Bernstein Financial Advisory in Minneapolis, MN, holding a Series 65 credential with seven years of industry experience. He founded and has operated the firm since 2019, with a prior three-year period away from the industry. Bernstein Financial Advisory provides portfolio management and financial planning services tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, entrepreneurs, small business owners, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis, long-term purchase strategies, and option writing, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, as well as free public educational seminars and workshops.

Judd Axelson is the principal of Paratus Wealth Management, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Long Lake, MN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. Axelson also owns Axelson & Associates LLC, a consulting and recruiting business unrelated to investment management. Paratus Wealth Management serves individuals and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $72 million across 44 accounts. The firm emphasizes tailored investment plans based on asset allocation and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and periodic reviews.

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.

Brian Durand is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. in Minnetonka, MN, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. since 2002. Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals and families, focusing on retirement, investment, tax, estate, and education planning, as well as small-business owner benefits and life-event guidance. The firm tailors investment strategies to each client’s risk profile using a modern-portfolio-theory framework, primarily employing exchange-traded funds and no-load mutual funds.

Brandon Small is a CFP® and CFA® with 21 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Invested Interests, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to founding Invested Interests in 2013, he worked with Crane Capital Management and PrideCo Capital Management, where he continues to have affiliations. He also operates an accounting consulting practice as a licensed CPA. Invested Interests provides combined investment advisory, financial planning, and portfolio management services to individuals, corporations, and nonprofit clients. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies through fundamental and technical analysis, balanced long-term holdings, and options strategies, with capabilities for socially responsible investment screening.

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.