Large-firm financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in North Dakota

Jamey Pesek is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 2016. Outside of advisory work, he is a partner in TRI-J Partners, LLC, an entity that manages shared leased office space and related expenses. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Cynthia Fason is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, Inc. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 27 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Osaic in 2024, she worked at Securities America Advisors and Equitable Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a family farm partnership, assisting with farm management decisions. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and third-party managers to construct and manage diversified portfolios.

Brenda Cook is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Minot, ND, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2000. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as a general partner in a family farm partnership in Ruso, ND. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and maintains a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Benjamin Brandt is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capital City Wealth Management, Inc. in Bismarck, ND. He has hosted the Retirement Starts Today Radio podcast since 2015 and is the sole member and content creator for Retire Ready Resources LLC, where he produces books, podcasts, YouTube channels, and online courses related to retirement. Capital City Wealth Management, Inc. serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning through a wrap fee program. The firm uses diversified, risk-based portfolios tailored by investment policy statements and risk-tolerance questionnaires, employing strategic, tactical, and dynamic allocation approaches with ongoing reviews.

Todd Reamann is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Bismarck, ND, holding a Series 66 credential and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance Company, MSI Financial Services, Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets. He is also involved in outside insurance activities such as life, fixed annuities, and health insurance. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers various financial planning and investment management solutions, including model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by advanced operational tools.

Arjun Swarup is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and has an academic background from NYU College of Arts and Sciences. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing managed account services within a fiduciary framework, including acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Kevin Harper is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently with RFG Advisory, LLC in Birmingham, AL, where he has worked since 2015, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Ameriprise. Harper is a co-owner of LHP Capital LLC, a commercial real estate business. RFG Advisory provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and select institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary investment strategies through model portfolios, third-party platforms, and serves as a sub-adviser to multiple ETFs, with additional specialized services for retirement accounts and alternative investments.

Jacob Heinz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His previous positions include roles at Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE Capital Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of thousands of financial advisors and branch offices.

Lindsey Egan is a financial advisor at EFS Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at First Republic Securities and First Republic Investment Management from 2016 to 2019. Outside of her financial advisory role, Lindsey is the owner of Women Who Explore, a community offering outdoor adventures and small group travel experiences for women. EFS Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to a broad client base, including individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a client-centric suitability scoring process combined with technology tools to recommend model portfolios and supports clients through discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Scott Stevens is a financial advisor at Medallion Wealth Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Morgan Stanley and American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. Stevens is also the proprietor of Stevens & Associates, LLC, a separate business. Medallion Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, and retirement plans for educators and nonprofit organizations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting with a long-term investment approach that includes discretionary and non-discretionary account management and may utilize third-party managers when appropriate.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

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.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.