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.

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.

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.

Bradley Hesselberg is a financial advisor with Sword and Shield Solutions LLC in Savage, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at several related firms, including Gradient Investments, LLC and Gradient Wealth Management. In addition to his advisory role, he maintains an insurance practice. Sword and Shield Solutions LLC is a registered investment adviser offering non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services, with an investment approach tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance. The firm also evaluates third-party managers and provides ongoing portfolio monitoring and liaison services.

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.

Kevin Boyd is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at UBS Financial Services, Inc. for 10 years before founding KMB Wealth Management, LLC in 2020. The firm provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and small businesses through a wrap fee investment program that combines financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage transactional services. KMB Wealth Management employs a Core + Satellite investment approach, blending indexed funds with actively managed positions, and integrates comprehensive financial planning tailored to client objectives.

Scott Langguth is a financial advisor at Strategic Finance & Management, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Strategic Finance & Management since 2014. Outside of advising, he performs financial analysis and planning through Sigma Planning Corporation and prepares taxes for family members. Strategic Finance & Management is an independent investment adviser serving individual investors and various institutional clients. The firm offers personalized portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and estate management, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment approach.

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.

Curtis La Chappelle is a CFA® charterholder based in Edina, MN, affiliated with Vera Lake Capital, LLC. He holds a Series 63 license and has experience as the sole advisor at his independent firm. Vera Lake Capital, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a broad range of investment strategies, including technical analysis, Modern Portfolio Theory, and access to alternative investments, allowing customized portfolios based on client goals 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.

Curtis Purington is a financial advisor at Fiduciary Wealth in Bloomington, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with 42 years of industry experience. He has worked at Safe Harbor Capital Management LLC since 2012. Fiduciary Wealth provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individual clients seeking long-term growth with moderate to aggressive risk tolerance. The firm constructs concentrated, non-diversified portfolios primarily invested in exchange-traded equity securities, employing technical, quantitative, and cyclical analysis, with strategies that may include trading and option transactions.

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.

John Tenley is a financial advisor at Summit Advisor Group with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at SNS Financial Group, LLC for eight years. Summit Advisor Group provides discretionary investment management and ongoing financial planning to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using low-cost index funds and ETFs, while incorporating fundamental analysis for specific exposures.

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.

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.