Valerie Black is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2008. Outside of her advisory role, she manages an advisory business through SJ MGMT, LLC, supporting another Ameriprise advisor as a paraplanner. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency strategies to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations. The firm operates as a large institutional provider delivering a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions.

Jeremy Hoffman is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, he worked at USBancorp from 2021 to 2023 and has held positions in various other companies since 2017. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard and supporting a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jacob Winters is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with nine years of industry experience. He has held roles at several firms, including Everest Financial Group, Securities America, and LPL Financial, before joining Thrivent. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits through a network of financial advisors, offering comprehensive written recommendations on a variety of financial planning topics. The firm’s approach combines holistic, goal-based analyses with modeling tools and an optional managed-account program under the “WealthPlan” consolidated billing option.

Scott Stroot is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 63 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Stroot serves on the General Finance Committee for Habitat for Humanity in Brainerd, reviewing financial statements and operations to provide suggestions for improving the organization’s financial position. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service for individuals approaching or in retirement who meet certain asset criteria, providing written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis in its approach, delivering non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team in partnership with its financial advisors.

Arleen Macko is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Nisswa, MN, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at First Western Bank & Trust, Rusty's Up North Realty, Edina Realty, and Northern Lakes Plumbing LLC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth households. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management through a nationwide network of financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Dillon Larson is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Edward Jones and Bremer Bank. Outside of his advisory role, Larson is the author of a children's book available on Amazon. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors, offering both one-time and ongoing planning engagements that address a wide range of financial topics without including implementation of recommendations.

Lora Graumann is a financial advisor at Stifel with 26 years of industry experience and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. She has worked at Stifel since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, Graumann is actively involved in community organizations, serving in leadership positions with the Brainerd Sports Boosters and the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and planning methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

James Benson II is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera, AdvisorNet Wealth Partners, and Cornerstone Investment Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a licensed pilot and owns several business entities related to his advisory practice. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers and multiple platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, employing asset-allocation tools and access to third-party managers to construct portfolios tailored to client risk tolerance and investment restrictions.

Jacob Lewis is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2010, previously affiliated with AXA Advisors, LLC for 10 years. Outside of his advisory work, Lewis is a co-owner of Lewis Family Holdings LLC, a family entity in Pequot Lakes, MN. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients by providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset management programs. The firm’s approach includes assessing client risk tolerance and matching them to program models or discretionary managers, utilizing a mix of firm-offered and third-party advisory programs.

Roy Papenfuss is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial and MID MN Federal Credit Union. Outside of finance, he serves as a deputy maintenance group commander for the Minnesota Air National Guard and is a fixed-wing pilot for Life Link III, responsible for medical transport flights. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs with fiduciary standards and affiliated investment options.

Glen Sundberg is a Series 63 registered advisor with LPL Financial, based in Brainerd, MN, and has 33 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Questar Capital Corporation and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Sundberg has also operated a self-employed insurance sales business since 1987. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supporting a large network of advisors with a wide range of investment strategies and operational tools.

David Maxfield is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Wells Fargo Advisors. Raymond James & Associates is a large dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, and offers financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Richard Sall is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at FRANDSEN BANK & Trust, Voya Financial Advisors, and Northwestern National Life Insurance Company. He also conducted financial education seminars for two decades. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies across various investment options.

Mark Meyer is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 21 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research, Cyber Insurance Company of America, and Wells Fargo Clearing. He also has a long-standing involvement with Tenx Capital, LLC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and model portfolio programs, supported by both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Joseph Zandlo is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 26 years of industry experience, including 15 years with Mass Mutual Investors Services and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was also involved with University of Minnesota Athletics for 18 years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Zandlo owns Finding Who Consulting, where he provides personal coaching and leadership development, and he is the author of a book based on his doctoral dissertation about how people recreate purpose after retirement. MassMutual Investors Services operates as a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational programs, structuring planning engagements as collaborative, goal-focused relationships using firm-approved analytical tools.

Kurt Nelson is a financial advisor at Stifel with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Stifel since 2009. His prior career includes long tenures at UBS Financial Services and Piper Jaffray Inc. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is supported by proprietary capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Mark Hoge is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, he worked at Cetera and Ascensus. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in basketball training and coaching through personal and team activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of investment solutions including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Thomas Paulbeck is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Financial Services LLC from 2007 to 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed to sell life, health, annuities, and long-term care insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered advisor serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Cole Nicholson is a Series 66-licensed advisor at LPL Financial with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services Inc for one year and was a student for ten years prior to entering the financial industry. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers various advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Michael Ruzynski is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Baxter, MN, holding a Series 63 designation and 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1986 and Primerica Financial Services since 1984. His other business activities include part-time involvement in sales of non-investment home security and automation products through affiliates of Primerica. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving primarily individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm offers advisory services largely through model-delivery strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and supports trade execution and account custody through BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.