Sioux Falls, SD Office

Team
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Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC logo

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Team

Firm-wide stats for Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Total advisors

10

Across 2 offices

Clients per advisor

142 Very High

Avg AUM per client

$264,778 Very Low

HNW client ratio

5% Very Low

About

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory services to individuals (including high‑net‑worth clients), as well as institutional and plan clients, through separately managed accounts, financial planning and consulting, ERISA/retirement plan services, third‑party manager referrals, and educational seminars. Like many multi‑team advisers, it delivers portfolio management and planning for individual clients and generally charges asset‑based advisory fees.

The firm deploys customized, primarily discretionary portfolios that start from defined base model allocations (Conservative Allocation, Diversified Balanced, Tactical Growth) and are tailored to client suitability; portfolio holdings commonly include ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds and alternative investments. AIA uses established custodial relationships (Charles Schwab is identified as its preferred qualified custodian), refers clients to third‑party managers such as City National Rochdale (Pershing custody), leverages the Pontera platform to monitor held‑away assets, and discloses that it currently uses artificial intelligence for operational and administrative tasks rather than for investment selection.

Notable differentiators in the brochure include the firm’s affiliation with a parent entity operating as FirstFlorida Strategies/FFS and its documented promoter and third‑party manager referral arrangements that involve revenue sharing and disclosure to clients. The brochure also highlights operational and compliance specifics that are more detailed than many peers’ disclosures — for example, explicit ERISA/rollover guidance under PTE 2020‑02, procedures for standing letters of authorization and trade errors, and an extensive discussion of digital‑asset, options and structured‑product risks — and it discloses that some IARs maintain separate broker‑dealer or insurance roles that the firm manages through policies and disclosures.

Based on Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Expertise

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting

Based on Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Location

5002 S Broadband Lane, Suite 100

Sioux Falls SD 57108

Advisors at this office

6

Advisors at this office

user avatar

Ryan W

Series 65

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Ryan Wilhelm is a financial advisor at Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC in Sioux Falls, SD, holding a Series 65 credential. He has been with the firm since 2025 and has prior experience as a broker associate at The Experience Real Estate since 2017. Outside of financial advising, Wilhelm serves as an assistant coach for the Jefferson High School track and field team. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and employee benefit advisory services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm employs a team-based approach and customizes client portfolios primarily using ETFs and options, supported by a combination of fundamental, quantitative, qualitative, and technical analysis.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Braden S

Series 66

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Braden Smidt is a financial advisor with Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing nine years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Swenson Wealth Management and several other financial firms. Outside of his advisory work, he provides assistance with estate planning and client insurance needs through Swenson Wealth Management and offers administrative support to Skyline Capital, LLC. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes customized asset allocation using ETFs, options, and other securities, and offers educational seminars to support client investment knowledge.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Mark K

Series 65

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Mark Kontz is a financial advisor with Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Swenson Wealth Management and Gradient Advisors, LLC, and operates Financial Distributors, LLC, where he is president. Kontz also supports capital raising and administrative functions for Skyline Capital, LLC. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA and employee benefit plan advisory, and third-party manager referral services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes customized asset allocation using ETFs, options, and other securities, and offers educational seminars for groups seeking investment instruction.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Michael T

Series 63, Series 65

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Michael Teslow is an investment advisor at Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at Aegis Wealth Management, Vision Brokerage Services, Swenson Investments & Commodities, and Vicus Capital. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as CEO of Swenson Investments & Commodities and Swenson Wealth Management and is involved in a nutritional supplement business. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC provides advisory services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and plan clients through customized, primarily discretionary portfolios. The firm offers financial planning, third-party manager referrals, and educational seminars, utilizing established custodial relationships and third-party platforms to support its investment approach.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Kathryn T

Series 65

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Kathryn Swanson is a financial advisor with Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Swenson Wealth Management, LifePlan Financial, and Bolton and Menk, Inc., as well as multiple engagements with Camp Shamineau. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm uses a team-based approach to customize portfolios primarily through ETFs and options, supplemented by educational seminars and workshops.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Travis K

Series 66

Sioux Falls, SD

Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC

Travis Krueger is a financial advisor with Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and 18 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Skyline Capital, LLC, Swenson Investments & Commodities, Aegis Wealth Management, and Vision Brokerage Services. Outside of his advisory work, Mr. Krueger is involved in several real estate development and consulting ventures, including ownership and management roles in local construction and development companies. Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm employs a team-based approach, using customized asset allocation models that emphasize ETFs and options, and offers educational seminars alongside its investment services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
View complete list of advisors at this office
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