Hi! I'm Laura Seymour, CFP® and founder of TorchLight Financial. I founded TorchLight in 2011 and have over 17 years of experience helping retirees and pre-retirees navigate one of life's most important financial transitions. My clients are typically asking: Can I afford to retire, and when? Will my money last? Is my plan optimized? It is my goal to use clear language to help educate you about financial concepts to enable you to make the best decisions for YOUR life. I provide comprehensive advice tailored to your personal situation and goals - no cookie cutter plans or advice allowed! I want to be a trusted partner for your financial life journey. Clients can work with me in two ways: Wealth Management: ongoing holistic comprehensive planning advice partnered with professional investment management services Consulting Planning Services: comprehensive financial planning advice on a consulting basis (planning recommendations provided but you execute the trades and don't have to move your assets) I grew up on a dairy farm in western Minnesota (near Willmar) as the eldest daughter. I put myself through college, have been a lifelong learner and I value authentic, genuine relationships. I am grateful for clients who have trusted me to help them with their financial decisions. Travel and cycling are my non-work passions. I have been lucky enough to travel widely and love how it broadens my perspective. Shannon (my life partner) and I want to go on a Tour de France bicycle trip and climb Mont Ventoux (even though he will always beat me up the hills!). Enjoying Minnesota summers on my Bianchi Infinito and heading to a local brewery with friends are my favorite summer activities. Please reach out and share more about yourself! I'd love the opportunity to learn more about you.

John Tenley is a financial advisor at Summit Advisor Group with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at SNS Financial Group, LLC for eight years. Summit Advisor Group provides discretionary investment management and ongoing financial planning to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using low-cost index funds and ETFs, while incorporating fundamental analysis for specific exposures.

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.

Joseph Brill is a financial advisor with Knox Avenue Financial Corp. in St. Paul, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Principal Life Insurance Company and Princor Financial Services Corporation for 10 years each before joining Knox Avenue Financial Corp. Brill holds leadership roles with the Kappa Sigma Building Association, a college fraternity housing organization. Knox Avenue Financial Corp. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and pension clients, managing approximately $145 million in assets. The firm specializes in tailored portfolio construction using asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and a mix of long- and short-term holdings, and it operates a wrap fee program with a high client-to-advisor ratio.

The Work Stuff– My name is Ben Smith, and I am the Founder of Cove Financial Planning, a Certified B Corporation focused on comprehensive financial planning and Socially Responsible Investing. I believe that everyone, regardless of age, occupation, net worth, and investment experience, deserves a customized financial plan and the peace of mind that comes with it. Before starting Cove, I worked for several investment companies, and saw just how boring, complex and off-putting investing can be for many people. Traditional advisors also have a reputation for specifically catering to high-net-worth individuals with a singular focus on account size. My mission is to provide access to high-quality advice to a broader range of people who want to take control of their financial lives (and maybe have some fun in the process!) I also passionately believe in helping people blend Socially Responsible Investing into their long-term financial plans. I’m here to prove that you can Do Well While Doing Good! The Fun Stuff– I’m originally from Minneapolis and have since lived in Chicago and Milwaukee. My wife Kotryna works in investment banking, and while we aren’t at the office, you can find us hanging with our newborn daughter Frances (Francie) or debating nerdy investment topics over a home-cooked meal and a glass of wine. We are big believers in learning new things and staying active. Currently, she’s teaching me how to salsa dance (not going well) and speak Lithuanian (where she’s from), while we both sharpen our tennis skills. We’re proud owners of Apple Watches for the sole purpose of beating each other’s daily fitness activity (feel free to join the competition!) We also travel as often as we can, and we’re always looking for suggestions on places to check out in Europe when visiting her family. Above all else, we both believe that life is about balance. I hope that I can help you find your balance with money, and maybe make the world a little better place in the process. Visit www.coveplanning.com to learn more and get in touch!

Lindy Venustus is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Create, LLC. She has worked at several firms including Origin Financial and Wells Fargo Advisors and is also involved in community activities such as volunteering on the Death and Dying Committee of the Minneapolis Quaker Friends and participating in Toastmasters. In her free time, she is an artist and author and a member of the Minnesota Watercolor Society. Create, LLC provides fee-only comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management for younger, well-compensated individuals and families, often focusing on clients with employer stock or those planning career transitions. The firm utilizes a long-term, passive investment approach with low-cost ETFs via the Betterment platform, and offers services including group education workshops and family governance planning.

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.

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.

At Heartworth Financial, I’m not just a financial planner—I’m here to help First-Generation Wealth Builders and underserved communities break through the barriers that have kept them from the financial resources they deserve. I’m the daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos. My parents came to the U.S. with nothing but hope for a better life. They worked tirelessly to provide for our family, but lacked the financial knowledge and tools others take for granted. That’s why I founded Heartworth Financial: to help people facing the same challenges my family did—turning first-gen success into generational wealth. I know how intimidating financial advice can feel, especially when you’re not sure where to start or if you’ll be judged. That’s why I meet clients where they are—no judgment, just understanding. I listen, I learn, and I create a plan that’s built around their culture, goals, and values. With over a decade of experience as a financial advisor, I’ve worked with clients across industries, but my focus now is clear: offering personalized financial planning and investment management to those who need it most. My mission is simple: make financial planning accessible to everyone. Empower people to make informed decisions, build wealth, and create lasting change for the generations that follow.

Luke Johnson is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Boreal Advisors LLC since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ballast Advisors, LLC. He also maintains an affiliated insurance practice as a licensed insurance agent. Boreal Advisors LLC provides investment management and financial planning primarily for individual clients, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial plans and consolidated household reporting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory, with regular account reviews, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting, and it manages both on-custody and held-away assets.

James Wilkinson is the principal of Wilkinson Capital Management, LLC in St. Paul, MN, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has operated his independent advisory firm since 2016. Wilkinson also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial. Wilkinson Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm manages approximately $97 million for around 98 clients, employing a customized, primarily long-term investment approach using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs.

Denise Alemayehu is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors who holds a Series 63 designation and has 39 years of industry experience. She has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2009 and has worked in the financial services industry since 1991, including operating her own advisory firm. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan advisory services through a large network of independent financial professionals.

David Johnson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Right Path Financial LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2020, and also directs Case Central, LLC, where he focuses on financial plan creation. Johnson holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and operates a licensed insurance agency offering fixed insurance products. 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 maintains a non-discretionary advisory relationship and serves clients without imposing an account minimum.

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.

I didn't stumble into financial planning. I was drawn to it by a small inheritance, a paperboy route, and a widow who needed help balancing her checkbook. After two decades across multiple firms — seeing the conflicts, the minimums, the overlooked clients — I knew there was a better way. So, I built it. I started Your Path because I believe every generation deserves access to real, honest, planning-first financial guidance — not just those who already have wealth. Your Path exists because I believe planning should come first, not products. Because the best advice is given by someone who is legally and ethically on your side.

Amber Fitzrysler is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Rising Financial, LLC since 2022 and previously spent seven years at The Planning Center, Inc. Rising Financial provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on values-based or ESG-informed portfolio construction using primarily passive, asset-class-based strategies, and offers a fee-only model with formula-based ongoing fees, fixed project packages, and hourly options.

Nancy Narusiewicz is a financial advisor at Minder Narusiewicz, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. for 16 years and OSAIC for 3 years. In addition to advisory services, she is involved in tax preparation and life, health, and annuity sales. Minder Narusiewicz, Inc. is a registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients through a single-advisor practice. The firm provides non-discretionary portfolio management, written financial planning, and tax preparation services, constructing individualized portfolios using risk tolerance and asset allocation tools.

Geetu Sharma is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of 95 Impact Partners LLC and the principal of AlphasFuture LLC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has seven years of industry experience, including prior roles at Pictet Asset Management. Ms. Sharma splits her time between her responsibilities at 95 Impact Partners and AlphasFuture. AlphasFuture LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and other advisers. The firm focuses on customized investment policy statements and manages portfolios with a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis, emphasizing long-term allocations to global equities.