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.

Mark Austin is a financial advisor at Liniam Capital, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at North Sky Capital for eight years before joining Liniam Capital in 2018. Liniam Capital provides investment management and financial consulting to individual and institutional clients, including trusts, retirement plans, public funds, and Taft-Hartley accounts. The firm combines portfolio management with tax, estate, and insurance advice, often using ETFs, individual securities, and option strategies to generate income and manage risk, and integrates accounting services through an affiliated CPA.

Aimee Hatlestad is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience and is the principal advisor at The Hatlestad Group. She previously worked at Bond & Devick Wealth Partners and Bgm Trunorth Wealth Partners, Llc. She serves as Treasurer for the Ripley Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The Hatlestad Group provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and fiduciary entities. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods to tailor portfolios to client objectives and risk tolerance, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Donovan Carson is the sole advisor at Carson Capital, an independent registered investment adviser based in St. Louis Park, MN. He holds a Series 65 credential and has four years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a Senior Product Owner at UnitedHealthGroup and owns a property management business. Carson Capital provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, nonprofits, and businesses. The firm employs a planning-based, risk-tranche approach to portfolio construction, combining fundamental research with technical and quantitative methods, and offers complementary services such as held-away account oversight and educational seminars.

Paula Lilly is a financial advisor at Ramsey Hill Asset Management LLC with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Ramsey Hill since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she is a non-voting member of Mojave Color, LLC, a technology and software development company. Ramsey Hill Asset Management provides discretionary investment supervisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis and uses long- and short-term trading strategies to build individualized portfolios aligned with clients’ objectives.

Thomas Ottman is a financial advisor with Aquinas Capital Advisors LLC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has managed his own practice and worked with firms including Advanced Advisory Group, LLC and EFS Advisors. 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 tailored portfolios based on client goals and risk tolerance, incorporates both fundamental and technical analysis, and offers public educational seminars as part of its service model.

I’m a financial planner who helps business professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—especially those 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 goals, whether that means retiring early, launching a new career, or simply feeling more confident about their future. I offer personalized, one-time financial plans and ongoing planning services, helping clients navigate the complexities of equity compensation, tax strategies, cash flow, and more—all with the goal of creating a life they love. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll probably find me sailing, checking out live music, or planning my next travel adventure with my wife Annie. If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with your finances, I’d love to chat!

Joseph De Ziel is a financial advisor at TrustMerit Capital with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Ameriprise Financial Services and Edward Jones. TrustMerit Capital provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advice to individual and high-net-worth clients, tailoring Investment Policy Statements to each client’s goals and risk tolerance. The firm manages approximately $23.4 million across about 26 accounts, using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis with a long-term trading approach.

Britt Clanton is the principal of Clanton Financial Partners, LLC in Saint Paul, MN, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at MML Investors Services, LLC and Transamerica-affiliated firms. Outside of his advisory role, Clanton serves as Chief Financial Officer for Visibility Innovations, providing financial consulting services. Clanton Financial Partners is a state-registered investment adviser offering customized investment management and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and ERISA retirement plans. The firm utilizes fundamental analysis with a primarily long-term investment strategy while allowing tactical adjustments and sponsors a wrap-fee program that consolidates custodial, trading, and administrative costs.

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 designation with six years of industry experience. He previously worked at Sit Investment Associates for 21 years before a three-year break from the industry. Bernstein Financial Advisory provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, entrepreneurs, small business owners, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm’s approach includes fundamental analysis, long-term purchase strategies, and option writing tailored to each client’s goals, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options, as well as public educational seminars and workshops.

James Mehrman is a financial advisor at Valor Wealth Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at The Investment Councel LLC and Trailhead Cycling. Outside of advising, he was involved with Valor IT Deployment Solutions LLC for nine years. Valor Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, charities, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, focusing on customized portfolios primarily composed of exchange-traded funds, stocks, and bonds tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances.

I spent over 10 years helping corporations, hedge funds and institutional investors squeeze every last dollar out of their investments before I finally asked myself: what is most important in life, and what's keeping me from getting there? So, what's important to me: spending time with my family, pursuing a career I'm passionate about and running a business that allows me to partner with like-minded individuals. My dad passed away at age 58 and I constantly remind myself that life is short, and I better not regret how I live it. I am now lucky enough to say I work in a field that brings me happiness and fosters my personal values. A perfectionist by nature and self-proclaimed finance/tax nerd, I genuinely love helping individuals simplify their financial lives so they too can focus on what's most important to them.

Hello! I’m Laura Seymour, the founder of TorchLight Financial. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and truly enjoy working with clients transitioning into retirement or already retired. I’ve been working in the financial planning industry since 2007 and founded TorchLight in 2011. I have worked with hundreds of clients over the last 15 years to navigate the path to retirement as well as general financial considerations. It is my goal to use clear language versus “financial terms” to help people understand concepts and considerations related to financial choices. By offering comprehensive advice as well as ongoing investment management, I can truly know you and become a trusted partner in your decisions and journey. I grew up on a dairy farm in rural Minnesota (near Willmar) with loving parents who may not have had a lot of money but really stressed personal responsibility and integrity. I value authentic, genuine relationships with people and am grateful for clients who have trusted me to help them with their financial decisions. Travel and cycling are my non-work passions. Shannon, my life partner, and I traveled to Ireland (he’s 100% Irish!) in March 2023. We have experienced Maui, Puerto Vallarta, and Turks & Caicos. Up next: Europe in the fall (2024) and a Tour de France trip in 2025. Leading a weekly women’s cycling group and logging as many miles on my Bianchi Infinito as possible is one of my favorite summertime activities in Minnesota.

Brandon Small is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Invested Interests, LLC in Minneapolis, MN, where he has worked since 2013. Prior to this, he has held roles at Crane Capital Management, LLC and PrideCo Capital Management, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he provides accounting consulting as a licensed CPA. Invested Interests, LLC offers combined investment advisory, financial planning, and portfolio management services to individual, corporate, and nonprofit clients. The firm typically manages discretionary accounts using fundamental and technical analysis, emphasizes balanced long-term portfolios, and incorporates socially responsible investment options aligned with clients’ ESG preferences.

Carter Michaelson is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at illumiFI Wealth, an independent firm based in Blaine, MN. His prior experience includes roles at Thrivent Investment Management, Thrivent Advisor Network, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. illumiFI Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning services such as tax, business, retirement, student loan, and estate planning. The firm's investment approach integrates Modern Portfolio Theory with a blend of passive and active strategies, focusing on tax efficiency and regular portfolio reviews.

Joseph Brill is a financial advisor at Knox Avenue Financial Corp. in St. Paul, MN, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Principal Life Insurance Company and Princor Financial Services Corporation from 2007 to 2017. Outside of his advisory work, Brill serves as president, treasurer, and board member of the Kappa Sigma Building Association, which provides housing and guidance to fraternity undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin. Knox Avenue Financial Corp. offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors and small businesses, providing discretionary and non-discretionary managed portfolios along with written financial plans. The firm tailors investment strategies to client objectives and risk tolerance, utilizing asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, and various trading approaches, with accounts reviewed quarterly.