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.

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.

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 financial advisor with Allodium Investment Consultants, LLC, holding CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66 designations and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Allodium since 2015. Allodium Investment Consultants serves a diverse client base including individuals, foundations, endowments, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and fiduciary consulting, focusing on low-cost, tax-advantaged, passively oriented investments implemented via mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, with customized portfolios and ongoing monitoring.

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.

Nkozi Knight is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Minneapolis, MN, with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC and U.S. Bank. Outside of her advisory role, Knight owns several businesses, including a sustainability-focused cleaning company, a healthcare consulting firm, and a creative media business, and serves on nonprofit boards such as the Marquette University Alumni Association and the Greater Galilee Community Development Center. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, offering goal-based financial analyses and planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm combines planning with managed-account options under a consolidated billing program called WealthPlan, while maintaining separate services for planning and account management.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Brandon Small is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Invested Interests, LLC in Minneapolis, MN, where he has worked since 2013. Prior to this, he has held roles at Crane Capital Management, LLC and PrideCo Capital Management, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he provides accounting consulting as a licensed CPA. Invested Interests, LLC offers combined investment advisory, financial planning, and portfolio management services to individual, corporate, and nonprofit clients. The firm typically manages discretionary accounts using fundamental and technical analysis, emphasizes balanced long-term portfolios, and incorporates socially responsible investment options aligned with clients’ ESG preferences.

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.

Christopher Saxton is a financial advisor at Aberdour Investments with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Ecolab and currently serves as a marketing manager at Smart Care Equipment Solutions. He is also an advisor to a business focused on communication experiences for women in faith and leadership. Aberdour Investments offers individualized investment management and financial planning services to private individuals as well as a diverse range of institutional and corporate clients. The firm uses a primarily passive investment approach complemented by fundamental and technical analysis and emphasizes client education through seminars, speaking engagements, and newsletters.

Kari Polasek is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. She is the principal of Adaptive Financial Design LLC, an independent firm she has led since 2023. Prior to founding her firm, she worked at Advisornet Financial and Wealth Enhancement Group. 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 employs a primarily passive, index-based investment approach grounded in modern portfolio theory and combines ongoing subscription planning with fixed-fee project engagements.

Alex Bossert is a financial advisor at Bossert Capital LLC in Minneapolis, MN, holding a Series 65 credential with eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Granite House Capital Management and KBAB 1960 Investments LLC. Outside of advising, he has a sole proprietorship unrelated to investment activities. Bossert Capital provides discretionary asset management primarily to individuals, high-net-worth investors, and business entities. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis and concentrated investments in undervalued securities with a long-term horizon, employing various instruments including derivatives and options as part of its portfolio strategy.