I'm the founder of SCM Investment Services in Lake Elmo, MN — a fee-only, fiduciary advisory firm built on one belief: everyone deserves honest financial advice from someone legally required to put their interests first. My path here started on the trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade, where I transacted over $1 billion in US Treasury Notes daily and later served as VP and Director of Discretionary Trading Operations. With degrees in Computer Science and Chemistry, I've always approached investing as a hard science — not a sales pitch. I earned my MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the epicenter of evidence-based investing. No commissions. No exceptions. I've been quoted as a financial expert in CNN Money, Fortune, the Chicago Tribune, US News, and Investment News.

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.

Peter O'Brien is a financial advisor with MPM Financial Corporation in Maplewood, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at MPM Financial Corporation since 2005 and previously held roles at Voya Financial Advisors and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. In addition to his advisory work, he is a licensed agent involved in the sale of fixed insurance products. MPM Financial Corporation provides discretionary asset management and advisory services to individual clients and qualified retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerances, and offers financial consulting on retirement, insurance, budgeting, and legacy planning at no additional cost.

Justin Munger is a financial advisor at VIP Financial Associates with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Premier Capital Management, LLC dba VIP Financial Associates since 2016 and previously at Sawtooth Solutions LLC. In addition to his advisory role, Munger is an independent life and health insurance agent licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and owns a pet sitting and cleanup services business. VIP Financial Associates provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm’s investment process focuses on individualized asset allocation and uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, relying on third-party model managers and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

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.

Jesse Sell is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Prevail Financial Partners, LLC since 2019. Prior to founding Prevail, he worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 11 years. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer and Secretary for his neighborhood Homeowners Association in West Lakeland, Minnesota. Prevail Financial Partners is a state-registered independent advisory firm that provides portfolio management, investment advice, and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $63.7 million across 70 client relationships, employing a client-driven investment process that includes asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and both long- and short-term trading, with a focus on non-discretionary account management.

Jay Radke is a financial advisor with Investors Choice in Stillwater, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Investors Choice from 1999 to 2018. In addition to his advisory role, Radke has been a licensed life insurance agent since 1984, providing insurance products to clients as needed. Investors Choice is an independent firm offering financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management services to individual clients. The firm manages approximately $1.41 million across a limited number of accounts, using a customized investment approach that incorporates various analysis techniques and a range of instruments, including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, options, CDs, and annuities. The firm also sells insurance products and offers fixed and variable annuities, combining fee-based advisory and insurance services.

David Hammer is a financial advisor and principal of Hammer Advisory Services, Inc. in Woodbury, MN, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has led his independent firm since 2010. Hammer Advisory Services provides portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm oversees approximately $51 million in non-discretionary assets across about 72 client relationships, using fundamental analysis and long-term strategies implemented through mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and government securities.

Michael Heflin is a financial advisor with YES Wealth Management in Minnetonka, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Capital Markets Corp., GMB Capital Partners, and S Capital Wealth Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, Heflin is the founder and CEO of Class Action Connection, a firm that assists individuals and businesses in recovering compensation from class action settlements. YES Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis, risk-managed asset allocation, and long-term portfolio management, with capabilities including the use of derivatives and 3(38) discretionary retirement plan services.

Kyle Playford is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Freedom Financial Partners LLC. His prior roles include positions at AdvisorNet Wealth Management, Pine Grove Financial Group, and JPMorgan Chase. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with FFP Insurance LLC as a licensed insurance agent. Freedom Financial Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans with portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and insurance advisory services. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and customized investment policy statements.

Angela Tille is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. She has worked exclusively at Portfolio Design Services, LLC since 2019 and previously was involved with the Tille Family business for 13 years. Portfolio Design Services, LLC advises individual and high-net-worth clients as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, financial planning, and retirement-plan design services. The firm emphasizes diversified portfolios and uses a range of investment instruments tailored to client risk tolerance, operating primarily under a fee-only fiduciary model.

James Heflin is a financial advisor at YES Wealth Management in Mahtomedi, MN, holding a Series 65 credential with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with S Capital Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2016. YES Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis and risk-managed asset allocation, utilizing ETFs, low-cost mutual funds, individual securities, and tailored financial planning.

Darin Pilacinski is a financial advisor with True Vision Financial Advisors in Woodbury, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 23 years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at LPL Financial, Gladstone Wealth Partners, and Financial Engines Advisors. True Vision Financial Advisors provides discretionary wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and offers customized portfolio construction, ongoing supervision, and coordination with clients’ other professionals.

Christine Thomas is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advising. She is currently with True Vision Financial Advisors and has previously worked at Berger Financial Group and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. Outside of advising, she is the owner and president of MY BOOK, LLC, a publishing company focused on self-help topics, and also works as an independent consultant selling cleaning products. True Vision Financial Advisors provides discretionary wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm manages approximately $271.7 million across about 367 client relationships using a long-term investment approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, employing a range of investment vehicles and customized portfolio strategies.

Bradley Olson is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 18 years of experience, currently with Portfolio Design Services, LLC in River Falls, WI. He has been with the firm since 2007. Portfolio Design Services, LLC advises individual and high-net-worth clients as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, financial planning, and retirement-plan design services. The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary, emphasizes diversified portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, and offers a full range of ERISA roles in its retirement practice.

Brian Lahr is a financial advisor at One Life Financial Group, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Clover Financial Technologies, LLC and managed the Lahr Family Farm. He has been with One Life Financial Group since 2015. One Life Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and other business entities, providing wealth management, financial life planning, education account management, coaching, and consulting services. The firm customizes investment programs based on clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance, employing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Tonya Swinnea is a financial advisor at Portfolio Design Services, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Portfolio Design Services since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and operates Desert Flower Creations, a jewelry design and manufacturing business she started in 1997. Portfolio Design Services, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, financial planning, and retirement-plan design services to individual and high-net-worth clients as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary and emphasizes ongoing advisory relationships supported by diversified, model-based portfolios and comprehensive retirement plan services.

Paul Kluskowski is a financial advisor at T/R Financial Management Group, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Lotus Investment Management, LLC from 2006 to 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he is the managing member of Cobalt Tax Services, LLC, a tax preparation and consultation business. T/R Financial Management Group provides personalized, discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to individual clients and trusts. The firm employs a blend of proprietary technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis to construct diversified portfolios, operating as a fee-only adviser that does not sell commission products.

Heidi Helmeke is a CFP® professional with 33 years of experience in financial advising. She is the principal advisor at Enspyre Wealth Advisors, Inc., where she has worked since 2019. Prior to that, she spent 19 years at Prestige Planning, Inc. and 17 years at Securities America, Inc. Enspyre Wealth Advisors provides financial planning and discretionary asset management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic, tactical, and dynamic asset-allocation approaches to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client circumstances, with a focus on retirement planning through a personalized "Blueprint" that integrates retirement income, employer benefits, legacy planning, health care, and tax strategies.

Sarah Braunshausen is an investment advisor representative at Fencl Advisory Services, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Fencl Advisory Services since 2015 and previously was affiliated with Dominion Investor Services, Inc. and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. She is also involved in selling fixed life insurance and disability products. Fencl Advisory Services is a state-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, corporations, and other professional clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a planning-driven, long-term buy-and-hold investment approach, emphasizing client education and regular portfolio reviews.