Hello, I am the founding member of PlanWell Financial Guidance and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner providing Fee-Only personal financial planning and investment advice. I enjoy helping motivated people plan their retirement and preparing people for that stage and transition along with bringing comfort and clarity around the multitude of financial decisions before and during retirement. I've also found fulfillment in helping the widowed or single retirees live with confidence around their finances by being the impartial professional that sits on their side of the table as they make unfamiliar or independent decisions. Personal finance has been my focus my entire career with it being my emphasis in the Finance program at Minnesota State University since graduating in 2003. My mission: Live a purposeful life through professionally providing valuable and unbiased personal financial planning and investment advice to pleasant people and retirees so that wise and efficient decisions regarding their wealth or resources are made, goals are attained, and financial concerns are mitigated for years to come.

Cassandra Brashier is a financial advisor at Harbour Investments, Inc. with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Harbour Investments since 2016, including time at ClearStep Financial and Avila Wealth Management. She also serves as an instructor for Community Education District 196. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and advisory services, utilizing various investment approaches and multiple execution platforms.

Cynthia Low is a financial advisor at Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. with 37 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Ever Bank and Center Financial, where she is also the owner. Outside of advising, she operates a gift basket business and is an independent fixed insurance agent and notary public. Geneos Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment advisory, and brokerage services, utilizing multiple analytic approaches and investment strategies tailored to client needs.

Todd Ehret is a financial advisor at Royal Fund Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Royal Fund Management since 2017. Prior to that, he was with USA Financial Securities Corporation and has operated Cornerstone Financial Resources, LLC since 2002, where he is involved in annuity and life insurance sales and conducts college planning workshops. Royal Fund Management serves individual investors, corporations, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting services. The firm constructs portfolios tailored to client risk tolerance using various analytical approaches and investment strategies, and manages approximately $1.55 billion in assets with a team of 83 advisors.

Toby Hovelsrud is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Austin, MN, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers with Spruce up Austin, contributing to local park maintenance. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, written recommendations. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions as part of its institutional platform.

Kristine Jorgenson is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Austin, MN, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations with 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and also works as a sales representative for Avon, a role she has held since 2010. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Sheryl Nelson is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 27 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS since 2006 and holds a Series 63 designation. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services.

Brianne Erickson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 21 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise since 2004. Erickson serves as the board chair of the Austin Area Arts Board and is co-owner of a real estate business and a management company related to her Ameriprise practice. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting clients with substantial investable assets, providing written, model-driven recommendations that integrate income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis through a centralized consulting team and emphasizes the use of its managed accounts in client portfolios.

Courtney Kusick is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Austin, Minnesota. She holds a Series 66 designation and joined Edward Jones in 2026. Her prior work experience includes roles in architecture and design as well as various positions at the University of Minnesota. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Jay Braaten is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding the ChFC® designation and securities licenses Series 63 and Series 66, with 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securities America Advisors and INVEST Financial Corporation. He is also an insurance agent specializing in term life, whole life, disability, and long-term care insurance. 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, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting advisors with advanced operational and research tools.

Carissa Gabrielson is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked for Hormel Foods and Austin Public Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million clients, including individual and institutional investors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Richard Makope is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at JP Morgan Chase Bank and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in youth soccer coaching as the owner of ICONIC LLC and serves as an assistant varsity soccer coach at St. Francis Xavier High School. Additionally, he participates in community and nonprofit activities including a vice president position at Dawn Capital and a board member role at The Family Radio Station. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. Its approach focuses on holistic, goal-based planning across various topics, offering ongoing or one-time engagements without discretionary portfolio management for institutional clients.

Wade Kolander is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, Great Plains Financial Partners, and Cetera since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of directors for the Cedar River Country Club and works as a cook at Austin Country Club. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that offers a multi-manager platform serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients nationwide. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a wide range of investment programs and third-party managers.

Jessica Johnson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Edward Jones, U.S. Bank, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., and United Prairie Financial Network. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with DTK Enterprises, LLC, which provides support and service to advisors and clients, and she also works as a product specialist offering beverage samples in a retail setting. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

James Surdy is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Directors for Spruce Up Austin, a local community organization. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver customized, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Heather Nelson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Ameriprise since 2018, following roles in insurance agencies and management. Nelson serves on the boards of the Hormel Historic Home and Seniors Helping Seniors. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver non-discretionary, written recommendation reports, supported by a centralized consulting team and automated processes overseen by dedicated committees.

Thomas Braaten is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Accentra Credit Union and Federated Mutual Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with several country clubs and educational institutions. 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 a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, supported by extensive technology and a broad mix of advisory and non-advisory financial products.

Jeffrey Canakes is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2021, he worked at U.S. Bancorp Investments and had experience at Waddell & Reed and various insurance carriers. He served as president of Jeff Canakes Ltd, an S-Corp established for tax purposes, which will conclude as he continues his current role. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies and advisory services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Joshua Thoreson is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Thrivent Financial. Outside of advisory work, he serves as an on-call volunteer firefighter and emergency medical services instructor, and he works as an on-call K-12 classroom teacher. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutional clients. The firm’s approach typically involves model-driven portfolio implementation and offers access to third-party asset managers, financial planning services, and affiliated insurance and trust custody products.

Aaron Brack is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Austin, MN, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. He has five years of industry experience, including five years at Shaw Stewart Lumber Company prior to joining Edward Jones in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a co-trustee of a family farmland trust. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Joseph Downes is a CFP® with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Raymond James Financial since 2018, including his current role at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Downes also works with Integrity Wealth as a financial advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and nonprofit organizations, using tailored, non-discretionary advisory programs and advanced analytical tools.

Thomas Wuertz is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Austin, Minnesota, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2010 and currently serves on the board of directors for the Austin Area Foundation, a nonprofit organization. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with tailored investment strategies, combining in-house and third-party managers, and provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services.

Jaclyn Wangen is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Edward Jones in Austin, MN, where she has worked since 2016. She holds a Series 66 license and has nine years of industry experience. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a broad network of financial advisors and branch offices.