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.

As the CEO and CIO of Allodium Investment Consultants, I lead our team in providing comprehensive wealth management to our clients. I hold the CFP®, CFA®, and AIF® designations and have been with Allodium since 2015. We are an employee-owned firm that was created to simplify and improve the financial lives of our clients. As a fee-only firm, we provide objective investment advice that is not biased by the sale of commission-based products. Our client relationships are defined by a fiduciary standard of care which demands that we always act in the best interests of our clients.

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.

Ryan Joseph Klosterman works with high-income families who want a clear plan for their wealth. Based in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and part of Osaic Wealth, Inc., he helps clients reduce taxes, mitigate risk, and structure charitable gifting in ways that reflect their goals. With five years of experience, Ryan works as an independent fiduciary, which means he puts his clients' interests first. That independence, paired with resources aimed at high-net-worth families, allows him to build strategies suited to more complex financial situations. Ryan takes time to understand what matters most to each family, then coordinates the pieces of their financial life so they fit together. For households balancing significant income, tax considerations, and a desire to give back, he offers guidance grounded in their priorities

Mark Austin is a financial advisor at Liniam Capital, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at North Sky Capital for eight years before joining Liniam Capital in 2018. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. Liniam Capital provides investment management and financial consulting services to individuals and institutional clients, including trusts, retirement plans, public funds, and Taft-Hartley accounts. The firm combines portfolio management with tax and estate planning, business sale structures, and insurance analysis, using ETFs, individual securities, and option strategies within written investment policy frameworks.

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 a financial advisor with Aquinas Capital Advisors LLC in Andover, MN, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has managed his advisory practice since 1990, including founding Aquinas Capital Advisors in 2016. Aquinas Capital Advisors provides non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and limited-scope ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services primarily to individuals and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes client education through public seminars and workshops, tailoring portfolios to clients' goals, time horizons, 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 the principal advisor at Valor Wealth Management LLC in Fridley, MN, with 15 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Merrill and Sawtooth Asset Management, and he has also managed Valor IT Deployment Solutions LLC until 2024. Between 2017 and 2021, he was involved with Trailhead Cycling. Valor Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and retirement plans by providing financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm uses fundamental analysis supported by computer models to customize portfolios that typically include stocks, bonds, and ETFs, managing accounts on a discretionary basis with regular reviews and client meetings.

Brandon Small is the principal of Invested Interests, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Minneapolis, MN. He holds the CFP® and CFA® credentials and has 21 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Crane Capital Management, PrideCo Capital Management, and Lyon and Small Investors. Outside of advising, he operates an accounting consulting practice as a CPA. Invested Interests, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, corporate, and nonprofit clients, including charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $7.9 million using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, incorporates socially responsible investing screens, and tailors each client relationship with a written Investment Policy Statement.

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.

Luke Johnson is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Boreal Advisors LLC since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ballast Advisors, LLC. Johnson has maintained independent insurance agent activities through September 2026. Boreal Advisors LLC is an independent registered investment adviser that primarily serves individual clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and passively managed account options. The firm employs fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and passive strategies, with a focus on rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting, and manages approximately $60 million in assets across 88 clients without a minimum account requirement.