Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Brainerd, MN

Rebecca Janey is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 63 designation and 26 years of industry experience. She has worked with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and operates Rebecca Janey and Associates LLC. Her other activities include part-time sales of loan products and home-related services for affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors is a large-scale institutional firm that primarily serves individual investors and offers a wrap-fee asset management program utilizing model-driven investment strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers.

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.

Mark Hoge is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Cetera, and Unity Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he is actively involved in basketball coaching, working with local teams including Midwest Kings Basketball. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning and advisory programs supported by extensive research and technology.

Atesha Barnes Nelson is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, Inc. based in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 66 credential and 18 years of industry experience. She previously worked at SagePoint Financial, Inc. for eight years before joining Osaic in 2023. Nelson is involved in multiple roles related to financial advising and operations management within the Central Choice Insurance Group and Central Choice Financial, including customer service, plan reviews, and compliance duties. She also serves as Vice President of a local networking group. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients, offering brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money managers. The firm uses various asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, with a complex corporate structure that includes multiple mergers and private-equity ownership.

Jonathan Anderson is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Brainerd, MN, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for 15 years with Brainerd Public Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including households across various net-worth levels, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets with a large network of financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs and investment options under a fiduciary standard.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Securities and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to her advisory work, she operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved tools to develop collaborative, goal-oriented financial plans.

Gordon Brown III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, operating under a fiduciary standard.

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at CoreCap Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and works as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million for around 724 clients through a team of eight advisors. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and estate-planning consulting, tailoring investment advice to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.