Arch Spencer is the sole advisor at Spencer Financial Advisors in Plymouth, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Spencer Financial Advisors since 1999. Spencer Financial Advisors offers portfolio management and investment advice primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a combination of long-term and short-term trading strategies, focusing on equities, mutual funds, fixed income, ETFs—including precious-metal sector ETFs—and may incorporate options and margin transactions within client portfolios.

Jon Brusven is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Longship Advisers, LLC, with 12 years of industry experience. He has led Longship Advisers since 2002. In addition to his advisory role, Brusven serves on the boards of several non-investment-related organizations, including a waste-to-energy company and early-stage medical device firms, and acts as financial advisor to the board of USA Energy Group LLC. Longship Advisers, LLC provides third-party investment manager selection and retirement plan consulting to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm operates primarily in a non-discretionary, consultative capacity, focusing on manager selection and monitoring rather than direct portfolio management, and does not take custody or voting proxies for clients.

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.

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!

Nathan Millerbernd is the sole advisor at MWM Wealth Advisory, LLC in Plymouth, MN, holding Series 63 and 66 designations with 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Harbour Investments, Rivercrest Financial Group, and VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in managing farmland through Greenfield Harvest, LLC, and oversees vacation property operations with N8 Vacation Properties, LLC. MWM Wealth Advisory provides fee-based investment management and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and qualified retirement plans. The firm operates primarily on a non-discretionary basis, managing approximately $130 million in non-discretionary assets and offering services such as investment policy development, monitoring, and participant education.

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.

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.

Judd Axelson is the principal of Paratus Wealth Management, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Long Lake, MN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. Axelson also owns Axelson & Associates LLC, a consulting and recruiting business unrelated to investment management. Paratus Wealth Management serves individuals and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $72 million across 44 accounts. The firm emphasizes tailored investment plans based on asset allocation and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and periodic reviews.

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.

Brian Durand is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. in Minnetonka, MN, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. since 2002. Strategic Financial Planning, Inc. provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals and families, focusing on retirement, investment, tax, estate, and education planning, as well as small-business owner benefits and life-event guidance. The firm tailors investment strategies to each client’s risk profile using a modern-portfolio-theory framework, primarily employing exchange-traded funds and no-load mutual funds.

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.

The Work Stuff– My name is Ben Smith, and I am the Founder of Cove Financial Planning, a Certified B Corporation focused on comprehensive financial planning and Socially Responsible Investing. I believe that everyone, regardless of age, occupation, net worth, and investment experience, deserves a customized financial plan and the peace of mind that comes with it. Before starting Cove, I worked for several investment companies, and saw just how boring, complex and off-putting investing can be for many people. Traditional advisors also have a reputation for specifically catering to high-net-worth individuals with a singular focus on account size. My mission is to provide access to high-quality advice to a broader range of people who want to take control of their financial lives (and maybe have some fun in the process!) I also passionately believe in helping people blend Socially Responsible Investing into their long-term financial plans. I’m here to prove that you can Do Well While Doing Good! The Fun Stuff– I’m originally from Minneapolis and have since lived in Chicago and Milwaukee. My wife Kotryna works in investment banking, and while we aren’t at the office, you can find us hanging with our newborn daughter Frances (Francie) or debating nerdy investment topics over a home-cooked meal and a glass of wine. We are big believers in learning new things and staying active. Currently, she’s teaching me how to salsa dance (not going well) and speak Lithuanian (where she’s from), while we both sharpen our tennis skills. We’re proud owners of Apple Watches for the sole purpose of beating each other’s daily fitness activity (feel free to join the competition!) We also travel as often as we can, and we’re always looking for suggestions on places to check out in Europe when visiting her family. Above all else, we both believe that life is about balance. I hope that I can help you find your balance with money, and maybe make the world a little better place in the process. Visit www.coveplanning.com to learn more and get in touch!

Harry Campbell is a financial advisor at Layline Asset Management Inc in Minnetonka, MN, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Layline Asset Management since 2014. Outside of his advisory work, Campbell serves as a director and vice president of the Minnetonka Yacht Club Foundation, a volunteer role with no compensation. Layline Asset Management is an independent, fee-based adviser serving individual investors, trusts, institutions, and other entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven and rule-based, using Relative Strength analysis combined with technical, InterMarket, and macro-economic factors to guide tactical portfolio management primarily through exchange-traded funds.

Matthew Stahl is a financial advisor at LIV Wealth Management with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Fiat Wealth Management LLC and Foundations Investment Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, Stahl owns a community building organization, Ascent, LLC, and a CrossFit gym, The FITHAUS. LIV Wealth Management serves retirement plan sponsors, institutional clients, individual investors, and small businesses, offering financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan advice, and pension consulting. The firm employs strategies such as Modern Portfolio Theory, Core+Satellite, and passive investing, and provides ERISA-oriented services including investment policy statement development and fiduciary consulting.

Christopher Saxton is a financial advisor at Aberdour Investments with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in marketing management at Smart Care Equipment Solutions since 2018. He also advises Jo Saxton LLC, a business focused on inspirational communication for women in faith and leadership. Aberdour Investments provides individualized investment management and financial planning services to private individuals and a diverse set of institutional and corporate clients. The firm primarily employs a passive investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs, complemented by fundamental and technical analysis, and emphasizes client education through seminars, speaking engagements, and newsletters.