WAYPOINT WEALTH GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Controller and 401 ( K ) Plan Administrator
Anna has been serving North Star's teams since 2015, and she brings with her nearly 20 years' accounting experience.
Overseeing our accounting operations, Anna excels in financial professional tax prep consulting, client service, internal audit/controls, Agility, Great Plains, QuickBooks, Excel, year-end close, and management efficiency, and she serves as a resource and expert for each of our 160 financial professional practices throughout the United States.
North Star financial professionals are freed up to focus on their clients' needs first and foremost, knowing their operations have the expert support of Anna and the rest of the accounting team.
Anna graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of St. Scholastica and received her Certified Public Accountant certification from the Minnesota State Board of Accountancy.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of the Medicare Supplement Division at North Star
- Medicare Specialist
Anne is a co-founder of the Medicare Supplement division at North Star, helping to simplify healthcare choices for Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As an independent agency, the Medicare team at North Star can look at an individual's health care needs and find a suitable plan with multiple different carriers. The team's goal is never to sell a policy but to educate and guide clients to a suitable choice. Aligned with these values, Anne hosts regular no-cost, no-obligation informational meetings about Medicare.
A College of Saint Benedict graduate, Anne has served clients in the Medicare field since 2010, and she currently works out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Job Titles:
- Regional Recruiting Manager
Brian started working in the Recruiting Department at North Star in 2022 where finds and hires high-quality talent in the industry.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Financial Planning Resource Center
Carrie leads our financial planning team and provides a high-level of planning support and guidance to North Star associates and their clients.
Job Titles:
- North Star As a Financial Advisor
- Vice President of Business Owner Solutions
Chase leads our disability insurance, property and casualty insurance, and employee benefits divisions, ensuring clients have a customized protection strategy for their specific individual, family, and business needs.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Chase joined North Star as a financial advisor in 2008. In 2011, he transitioned to becoming North Star's national disability insurance consultant and expanding the division and its services nationwide.
Then, in 2019, he became the vice president of disability insurance and property and casualty. Under his leadership, the two divisions have grown and developed to serve clients throughout the U.S. with valuable asset and income protection solutions.
Job Titles:
- Account Manager
- Member of Our Employee Benefits Team
As a member of our employee benefits team, Chloe works closely with businesses to analyze, design, and administer comprehensive employee benefits programs.
Chloe brings with her extensive experience in client service and insurance administration, and she uses these skills to support business clients with the communication, training, and ongoing assistance needed to implement a successful employee benefits program.
Chris is a co-founder of the Medicare Supplement division at North Star, helping to simplify healthcare choices for Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As an independent agency, the Medicare team at North Star can look at an individual's health care needs and find a suitable plan with multiple different carriers. The team's goal is never to sell a policy but to educate and guide clients to a suitable choice. Aligned with these values, Chris hosts regular no-cost, no-obligation informational meetings about Medicare.
A University of Wisconsin - River Falls finance graduate, Chris has worked in the healthcare and insurance agency since 2009, and he currently serves clients out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Job Titles:
- Vice President Life and Long - Term Care
Chris helps financial advisors at North Star identify the strongest insurance product solutions for their clients. Joining North Star in 1996, Chris's career path has taken him from financial advisor to manager of external insurance brokerage to long-term care specialist to his current role as vice president of insurance brokerage and long-term care. He is very passionate about both brokerage and long-term care given the consequences families face without proper planning.
In an industry with hundreds of companies and thousands of products, Chris helps narrows down the choices to the few that truly make sense based on each client's unique situation.
Chris attended St. John's University in St. Joseph, Minn., and he currently works out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Christina has been a valuable member of the North Star team since 1999, recruiting and training financial professionals for over 20 years and now serving the western U.S. with high-quality risk management guidance and service.
Before joining North Star, Christina graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in communication, and in 2012, she received her internet marketing certificate from the University of San Francisco. She currently works out of our North Star - Scottsdale office.
Job Titles:
- Supervisor, Client Services
Dani is responsible for creating systems for stronger customer service, and she supports team members in our Lone Star Division, Austin, Dallas, Scottsdale, and Elk River locations through hiring and training.
Prior to taking a management role in 2021, Dani served in support and coordinator roles at North Star where she provided exceptional customer service to our associates and clients for six years. Her firsthand experience in the roles she manages allows her to support her teams at a greater level.
Dani is passionate about empowering her teams through training and collaboration to provide value-added services to our financial professionals and to ensure clients' goals and needs are supported at every level of the organization.
Job Titles:
- President and CFO of North Star Resource Group
Dave Vasos is the president and CFO of North Star Resource Group. He is also a vice president and registered principal of CRI Securities, LLC, a securities broker-dealer, and a registered investment advisor.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Partner
- Member of the Board of Trustees for Finseca
Davin, licensed in insurances and securities registered, will guide you through a coordinated strategy illuminating choices along the way. His goal is for you to walk away with not just an answer, but a new perspective on what it means to be financially healthy. He believes financial health means you have retained control of your choices.
Davin has been a financial professional with North Star since 2001. He also serves as growth and development leaders at North Star Consultants of Texas - Austin and on our firm's Servant Leadership Steering Committee.
With a focus on developing financial professionals, Davin believes recruiting the right people for the industry and training them for success is the best way to strengthen the business and provide quality guidance to the individuals and families who rely on North Star.
As a contributor to the greater financial industry, Davin is a member of the board of trustees for Finseca, trustee for the Finseca Foundation, member of the national sub-committee for the Leadership in Life Institute (LILI), and chair of LILI for the state of Texas.
Finally, Davin has spent several years coaching his three daughter's elementary school basketball teams, allowing him to invest in the community while being all-in where it matters most: his family.
Davin is a registered representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
"Davin believes financial independence is rooted in choice."
Over the past decade of serving a clientele that spans over 26 different states, Davin believes most people have a "vision" as to where they want to be in the future with respect to their finances. However, in a complex world insisting on information over-load, in many instances people lack the time and appropriate resources to "see" where they are today - in order to take that first step towards tomorrow. And if you don't have a clear picture as to where you are today, understanding how and where to go in an ever-changing tomorrow can be virtually impossible.
As a financial advisor, Devon believes in building long-term relationships with individuals who are genuinely motivated to learn more about and improve their financial life.
Job Titles:
- COO of North Star Resource Group
Diane has served as COO of North Star Resource Group since 2016. In her role, she manages over 165 team members in Minneapolis and across the country.
Diane started in the financial industry in 1979 at Securian Financial Services, and she joined North Star nine years later, where she held multiple leadership positions before becoming the highest-ranking female executive at North Star in 2016.
With her strong communication and support of North Star's values, Diane's leadership has helped North Star win several awards for workplace excellence including Top Workplaces from the Star Tribune, Charitable Champion from InvestmentNews, and the Torch Awards for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota. 1
Individually, Diane's innovation and service has led to her recognition as one of Finance & Commerce's Top Women in Finance in 2013, 2 a Women Industry Leader in the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, the North Star's Don Schoeller Frontline Leader Award in 2020, the North Star Scott Richards Medal of Honor for her integrity, service, leadership, and selflessness, and the 2021 Lifetime Achievement award from TeamWomen.
Diane contributes to the financial services industry through various group and board memberships, including Securian's Women Inspiring and Supporting Excellence (WISE) Group, elevating the careers of female financial professionals. She is also a past president of the Minnesota Chapter of GAMA and a past board member of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) of Minneapolis.
In service to her community, Diane has served on the executive board for TeamWomen, a female-led organization that coaches women to reach their full potential, and she mentored a number of the female leaders of the organization. She also regularly volunteers with her church, works with Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), and is actively involved in North Star's Bikes for Kids event, which gifts local children in need with bikes and helmets.
Diane is a graduate of Drake University in Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She currently lives in Bloomington, Minn., with her husband Garry and near her two sons and two granddaughters.
Ed began his career at North Star just days after college graduation. He worked for one year as a financial advisor, but he quickly found his gifts were better used in the recruiting department, where he was soon promoted to National Recruiting Director and then transitioned into greater leadership roles within the firm. Having experienced the industry as an advisor, recruiter, and now executive, Ed brings a unique, multi-faceted perspective to his leadership.
With Ed's clear focus on values and ethical practices, North Star has received several prestigious awards, including Top Workplaces USA (2021), the Star Tribune's Top Workplaces (2016), Minnesota Business Magazine's Best Companies to Work For (2015), Charitable Champions by InvestmentNews (2015, 2016, and 2019), and the Better Business Bureau's Torch Awards for Ethics (2011, 2015, and 2019), among many others.
Individually, Ed has been recognized for his excellence in leadership in the industry and community, including Minnesota Business Magazine's Paragon of Leadership award, NAIFA's Four under 40, Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal's 40 under 40, and the Executive Leadership Individual-RIA's LUMINARIES award from ThinkAdvisor.
Ed is a contributor in the financial services industry as the secretary of the Finseca board of directors, immediate past chair of the Finseca Foundation's executive committee, and member of the board of trustees for the American College.
Job Titles:
- National Recruiting Specialist
Liz started working in the Recruiting Department at North Star in 2022 where finds and hires high-quality talent in the industry.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Member of North Star 's Medical Division
- Partner and Senior Financial Advisor
If you have friends or family members who have financial questions, we would love to be in touch. Please use the form below to provide Erik with some details about your friend, and we will reach out with information about working with North Star and how to set up a consultation.
Erik is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has been distinguished by the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) from 2007 - 2016, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, which is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. He also is a member of both FINSECA and NAIFA.
Erik joined North Star Resource Group after graduating from St. John's University with degrees in Political Science and History. He enjoys spending time with his wife (and business partner) Jenna and his four kids, Zoe, Jonah, Hope, and Victoria. As a member and former board member of Metropolis Rugby, he enjoys playing rugby in his spare time. Additionally, Erik enjoys riding his motorcycle, traveling, and the outdoors and is also an accomplished hair braider and master pillow fort builder.
Erik is a member of North Star's Medical Division, a team dedicated to helping physicians and dentists efficiently pursue financial independence. He has developed a national financial services practice, primarily working with clients in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Chicago, and the Pacific Northwest. Erik and his team work to incorporate a relaxed and educational approach to help clients feel comfortable and confident making decisions that will impact them and their families for years to come. As many of their clients are busy professionals, Erik and his team help by ensuring they are making decisions aligned with their goals and that they have all the information necessary to make such decisions.
Erik's areas of expertise include:
Medical Professionals
Risk Management
Investments
Retirement Strategies
Asset Protection Strategies*
Tax-Efficient Investment Strategies*
Growing up in Dallas, Texas, Erik's family experienced some significant financial challenges, which made him aware early on of the far-reaching and complex ramifications of financial decision making. The greatest financial risk one faces is the absence of well-defined, clearly articulated goals and a clear course of action to reach them. Erik and his team of specialists work with clients to help them make smart decisions about money by first helping them attain a deeper understanding of their values, financial goals, and what is of most importance to them. From there, they help clients get organized and develop a highly personalized strategy that aligns financial choices with their most deeply held values.
Erik regularly holds educational seminars for physicians and their families in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, and Chicago working with other medical groups, smaller practices, and practice owners. He has held seminars at:
His dedication to providing education to physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and other medical professionals is highlighted by the individualized educational approach he takes with each client.
Job Titles:
- Contributor
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor
Gary serves as North Star Resource Group's executive vice president, where he provides professional consulting services to senior financial professionals on developing their teams, succession planning, and leading million-dollar practices.
Gary joined North Star in 2013, bringing with him over 30 years of experience managing financial representatives' growth at Minnesota Mutual, Securian Financial Services, and Ameriprise Financial Services. He worked for four years as senior vice president of advisor growth and development before being promoted to executive vice president in 2017.
He specializes in developing practice management analytics to improve the productivity and effectiveness of a financial practice. Gary's strategies are outlined in his book, Practice on Purpose: Achieve the Financial Advice Practice You Desire and Your Clients Deserve (2014).
In 2005, Gary received the Outstanding Leader Award at Ameriprise for leading his territory to the top 20% in the entire firm each year, including three years as the number one top-producing territory. 1
Beyond his work in individual firms, Gary is also an active contributor to the financial services industry on topics of coaching financial professionals and building practices. Within industry organizations, Gary is past chair of LIMRA's Career Agency Building Committee and Securian's ambassador and diplomat to GAMA International. He worked as an adjunct professor emeritus for the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Business and is a regular presenter for GAMA International, speaking to financial professionals throughout the world.
Gary is a long-time Minnesota local, receiving his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, where he was active as a Martin Luther King Economics tutor and was elected to the student governing board of the business school. He later received a Master's in Industrial Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Currently, Gary and his family live in Prior Lake, Minn., where he enjoys time on the lake, outdoor sports, and reading books on leadership and business. Gary also takes time to travel, especially to visit family in Seattle.
Gary is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Advisor Development
- Member of the Professional Development Department
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor
Grace has spent over a decade in wealth management, and she is a third-generation financial advisor. She describes herself as a lifelong learner and encourages academics.
Grace received her master's in Executive Coaching and Consultation from Concordia University Irvine. She has a bachelor's in mass communication from Menlo College, Silicon Valley's Business School. Grace played four years of NAIA soccer for Menlo College and remains active in the soccer community.
Grace has spent her whole life surrounded by the markets. Whether it is ESG investing or emerging technology, Grace is passionate about understanding change and innovation in the financial industry. She has an innovation certificate from Dartmouth and environmental research certificate from Stanford.
Grace is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Benefits Coordinator
- Member of Our Employee Benefits Team
As a member of our employee benefits team, Helina works closely with businesses to coordinate successful employee benefits programs.
Jane's vision for her practice is to provide her clients with a trustworthy and knowledgeable resource, an exceptional client experience, and a sound long-term strategy to reach their financial goals through all-encompassing financial plans.
Her expertise in comprehensive fee-based financial planning, education funding, estate planning, investments, retirement strategies, and wealth management allows Jane to offer access to a variety of investment and insurance products to implement customized financial plans for her clients.
Above all, dedicated to bettering her clients' lives and supporting them in achieving long term, Jane concentrates her efforts on working with like-minded clients in a wide variety of professions-including doctors, attorneys, dentists, business owners, veterinarians, and more. Jane provides her clients with an all-encompassing, long-term approach to reaching their financial goals.
Qualifications
In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner professional, Jane has chosen to further her knowledge by obtaining the Certified Divorce Financial Advisor (CDFA) designation. On a national scale, Jane speaks to financial advisors at four nationally recognized financial planning firms yearly.
In 2001, Jane also co-authored the book, Real Life Financial Planning with Case Studies for Women, which provides an easy-to-understand system for organizing a financial plan and prioritizing financial debt for women.
Jane, Adam, Temi, and Mike are registered representatives of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. Jane, Adam and Temi are also investment advisor representatives of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. CA Insurance License #0C83881.
Jason joined the North Star property and casualty department in 2016. Prior to joining North Star, Jason worked as an office manager in the insurance industry, gaining a broad knowledge of life. health, and property and casualty insurance.
As an insurance consultant, he helps clients find gaps in coverage and select customized solutions based on their specific needs.
Working out of North Star's Iowa City office, Jason is licensed to work with clients throughout the Midwest.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Registered Representative of Securian Financial Services
Jay Pugh joined North Star in 1986, and he has served the firm as Senior Vice President since 2013.
Jay is a registered representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Director of Investments
With over 25 years' experience in financial services, Jeff's expertise is the investment management process. As vice president and director of investments, he coaches North Star financial professionals on portfolio strategies, construction, and management for a diverse group of clients.
Jeff helps quiet the noise of investment advice, providing a calm, trustworthy voice to help individuals reach their investment goals and prepare for life's important milestones.
In addition to his leadership roles, Jeff also works one-on-one with clients, specializing in retirement distribution and wealth management.
Jeff holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession, and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, noted for its extensive knowledge, experience, and ethical requirements.
Jeff works out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Twin Oak Advisors
Jenna joined North Star is 2006, and she has worked in developing and supporting team members committed to serving our clients and communities for her entire career.
Jenna's proudest accomplishments involve bringing people together and encouraging hearts of service in others. She is actively involved in Stop Alzheimer's Now and Feed My Starving Children.
Currently working out of North Star's office in Dallas, Jenna supports our new and tenured financial professionals and their teams throughout the nation.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of the Medicare Supplement Division at North Star
- Medicare Specialist
Jeremiah is a co-founder of the Medicare Supplement division at North Star, helping to simplify healthcare choices for Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As an independent agency, the Medicare team at North Star can look at an individual's health care needs and find a suitable plan with multiple different carriers. The team's goal is never to sell a policy, but to educate and guide clients to a suitable choice. Aligned with these values, Jeremiah hosts regular no-cost, no-obligation informational meetings about Medicare.
Jeremiah is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, and he has worked in the healthcare and insurance agency since 2005. He currently serves clients out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Professional
Kayla Nikula is a financial professional based in North Star's Madison, Wis. office. As part of a multigenerational practice, Kayla works together with senior partner, Thomas Haunty, CFP®. Their team focuses on comprehensive financial planning with specific strategies to address complex financial circumstances, attending to both personal and business issues.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Founding Partner and Wealth Advisor With Waypoint Wealth Group of Woodbury
Keith is a Founding Partner and Wealth Advisor with Waypoint Wealth Group of Woodbury, Minnesota. Having over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Keith engages with clients who have the desire and passion to fully succeed financially. Preparing clients for retirement is his primary focus. Life can throw many hurdles along the way and preparing for this may seem tedious, unpredictable, and complicated at times. This is why working with an advisor possessing the experience and know-how to maneuver through those turbulent stretches is so important.
Working with individuals, families, executives and small business owners, Keith provides a clear path for his clients to follow. With the help of his team, Keith's approach is to perform a thorough analysis and gain an understanding of each client's unique financial position, relationships, family, motivations, business and beliefs.
Keith maintains a national practice with clients in multiple states. With the support and resources provided by his practice management team, Keith is currently accepting new clients in all stages of their lives. While he primarily helps people in the age range of 45-70 prepare for and execute their retirement, Keith brings clarity to the next 30-40 years for all of his clients.
Before he began his financial services business with North Star Resource Group in 1998, Keith's career began in 1987 with Securian Financial Group, where he spent many years managing employee benefit plans like 401K, medical and group life policies for field professionals. While working as a field training advisor for Securian, Keith served on a team that opened new locations across the country, and trained many individuals on topics like life insurance, disability coverage, retirement products, along with technology and administrative services.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Member of the Medical Division of North Star Consultants of Texas
Kelly has built a practice working primarily with medical professionals and is passionate about conveying the importance of financial education and accountability to her clients.
Kelly Hugghins is a Financial Advisor and a member of the Medical Division of North Star Consultants of Texas, based in Austin, Texas. She has built a practice working primarily with medical professionals and is passionate about conveying the importance of financial education and accountability to her clients. She enjoys beginning relationships with her clients early on in their careers when possible (often when they are still in school), to ensure her clients can start the financial education process early and avoid the potential development of harmful financial habits. By working together and forming a trust-based relationship, she hopes to build collaborative strategies to effectively reach the goals of her clients.
Driven by her passion for educating and supporting women, she utilizes a collaborative process to design and implement comprehensive strategies and equips her clients with long-term financial understanding which allows them to confidently make decisions for themselves and/or their families.
Kelly is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and is also FINRA Series 7 and 66 registered, Life and Health licensed, and Variable Life Annuity licensed.
Originally from Huntsville, Texas, Kelly graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's in Finance. As an avid football fan, she still attends a majority of home Aggie games every year with her family. Kelly enjoys vacationing in Colorado with her family and hiking on the Green Belt with her beloved dachshund/beagle mix, Hunter. She is involved at Woodlawn Baptist Church, teaching Kindergarten for Vacation Bible School during the summer and Preschool Choir during the school year.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner & Wealth Advisor
Kristin Printon, AIF®, WMCP® Senior Partner & Wealth Advisor 612.617.6024 kristin@moxiewealth.com Minneapolis, MN Saint Paul, MN With a mission to inspire, educate, and motivate others to use their finances as a tool to design their best life, Kristin makes the overwhelming, jargon-filled financial world simpler and as stress-free as possible. Advisor Profile
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Specialist
Lisa joined North Star as brokerage manager in 2014, and she supports clients in selecting the most suitable insurance products for them and their families.
Job Titles:
- Registered Representative of Securian Financial Services
- Vice President, Compliance
Mariann joined North Star in December 2006 in a role supporting senior leadership. As the leadership team experienced some changes and the firm grew, she was presented with an opportunity to lead the Compliance team.
Mariann is a registered representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc. 3569772/DOFU 4-2021
Job Titles:
- Supervisor, Client and Customer Services
Mary Claire supports team members in our Minneapolis, Iowa City, and Durham offices through hiring, training, and continued professional and personal development.
Before joining North Star in 2019, Mary Claire spent time as a retail manager and on the training team at Securian Financial Services. In these roles, she honed her skills in communication, team-building, management, and team member training.
Her mission at North Star is to serve as a link between upper leadership, financial professionals, and team members to ensure everyone receives the respect and kindness they deserve, regardless of background or knowledge. She makes herself a resource and an advocate for all team members, building stronger teams and a culture of integrity throughout North Star nationwide.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Advisor in North Star 's Madison, Wisconsin
Max's main goal is to have a positive effect on his community in the Twin Cities and in his home state of Michigan. He does this one individual and family at a time, helping people take control of their financial life, plan for their future, and pursue economic freedom and security.
Max Dowdy is a financial advisor in North Star's Madison, Wisconsin, office. Max is a part of the Haunty Team, working alongside Thomas Haunty, CFP®, in a multigenerational practice. Their team focuses on comprehensive financial planning with specific strategies to address complex financial circumstances, attending to both personal and business issues.
Job Titles:
- Disability Insurance Consultant
Since joining North Star in 2016, Max has been using his expansive knowledge and commitment as a disability expert to provide counsel to our associates. Today, he is available to speak with clients about their disability insurance needs and options.
Serving individuals nationwide, Max is committed to ensuring each client has a customized protection strategy for their specific needs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Megan leads our team of talented, service-focused marketing professionals who are dedicated to the financial professional's growth. She specializes in coaching and helping advisors with their overall marketing strategies and creative initiatives that are right for their practices.
Michael joined the North Star property and casualty department in 2019. As a team, the North Star insurance specialists focus on finding gaps in coverage and providing clients with customized solutions based on their specific needs.
Working out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis, Michael is licensed to work with clients throughout the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Client Relations Specialist
Job Titles:
- National Director of Recruiting and Professional Development
Mitch leads our recruiting department in finding and developing the high quality talent in the industry. He believes that by equipping capable and confident financial advisors, North Star is serving our communities with reliable financial advice which is led by ethics and responsibility to the client.
Nick joined North Star in 2022 with over 20 years' experience coaching and developing financial professionals.
Nick understands the challenges financial professionals face early in their career, having worked directly with client as an advisor at notable firms for nearly eight years before transitioning into a management role. As an advisor development leader, he finds and develops high-quality financial professionals who are empowered to impact themselves, others, and their communities.
His mission is to develop financial professionals who care and to build communities that challenge possibilities.
Nick is a graduate of Greensboro College, where he played varsity baseball. He works out of Durham, NC, where he and his wife raise their three kids.
Nick is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc
Job Titles:
- Supervisor, Support Services
Nick supports team members in our Madison and Portland offices, as well as serving as a resource for the new business, contracts and licensing, and office support teams at our headquarters in Minneapolis.
Nick joined North Star in 2019 bringing with him over 13 years' experience with management in the hospitality industry. Today, his responsibilities at North Star include hiring, training, professional development, and firmwide team building, and he uses his experience working with employees and customers of diverse backgrounds to create a more inclusive environment at North Star.
Job Titles:
- Senior National Finance Recruitment / Talent Acquisitions Specialist
Nikcole joined our recruiting division at North Star in 2023. She works out of our headquarters in Minneapolis to recruit high quality experienced financial advisors, career changers and university graduates for our Financial Advisor opportunities. In addition, Nikcole collaborates and strategizes with our local team in providing successful hires. Her strengths lie in creating lasting relationship business connections through education and interviewing about career paths and training programs. As a part of her career, she is also a professional resume writer, mentor/coach, and interview trainer. She believes that there is a certain method to hire for every opportunity. It's all about deep diving into the role, sourcing prospects, location, connections and keeping a pulse on the community. Nikcole is a graduate in Information Technology and Network Administration. Prior to joining the North Star family, she spent over 15 years in professional recruiting and people management.
P.Q. Le - Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman
- Founder
- Adjunct Professor Emeritus for the Carlson School of Management
Phillip C. Richards, CLU®, RHU® is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the affiliated companies that comprise North Star Resource Group. North Star represents a fully integrated array of financial services and products for individuals and businesses of all sizes and has over 140,000 clients with offices in 22 states with client assets under administration exceeding $10 billion 1.
Phil received his Bachelor's degree in 1962 from Temple University where he served as student body president and received the prestigious Sword Award as outstanding senior classman. A recipient of a four-year wrestling scholarship, he served as team captain and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 and the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010. Phil was elected to the Temple University Board of Trustees in 2009 and was the 2016 commencement speaker for Temple University when he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree. In 2019, Temple University appointed Phil as the vice chairman of the board of trustees and the chairman of the executive committee.
Phil began his professional career in 1962 with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company in Philadelphia. In 1965, he joined Hartford Life leading the company in sales. In 1969, Phil acquired North Star Resource Group, which has received the prestigious Master Firm Award from GAMA International every year since 1987 5. North Star is celebrating 115 years in business with origins tracing back to 1908 and has been awarded the Charitable Champions award from Invest in Others in 2019 3; the Community Leader award from Investment News in 2010; and the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota's Torch Award for Ethics in 2011, 2015, and 2019 4, making it the only three-time winner in this BBB.
A winner of numerous professional awards, Phil is the 2005 inductee into the GAMA International Hall of Fame and is the only firm leader in the world to have received the International Management Award from GAMA International every year (46 years) 5 since the inception of that award. In 2007, Phil was named the recipient of the 66th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award 6, the highest honor in the insurance industry by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). Phil was inducted into The American College of Financial Services Hall of Fame in 2016. Phil's first book, 25 Secrets for Sustainable Success, was published in March 2007 with the expectation that it will continue to be adopted by many as the gold standard for the industry. He has since co-authored, The Sky Is Not the Limit (2014), Practice on Purpose (2015), Promises Kept (2016), and the revised version of Practice on Purpose in 2022.
Phil is an adjunct professor emeritus for the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and former adjunct professor at Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing and is a four-time chairman of Securian's National Advisory Board. He was inducted as its 19th member into Securian's Hall of Fame 3, served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Minnesota Council for Quality and is past president of GAMA International (2003). He is a 45-year arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau, is a past chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota Board of Directors, served on the Arizona Quality Council Board of Directors, and served on The American College Board of Trustees in Philadelphia for nine years, inducted into the College's Hall of Fame in 2016 and is the upcoming recipient of its highest honor, the Solomon Huebner Gold Metal Award. In addition, he is a past chairman of the LIFE Foundation and currently serves on the Mayo Clinic of Arizona Leadership Council and on the Board of the National High School Coaches Association, and he is the past treasurer of the Arizona Heart Foundation Board of Trustees. He chairs the Scott Richards North Star Foundation which annually receives 10% of all of North Star's profits and has given over $5.8 million to charities since 2004 2. Since 2018, the foundation has funded two seven-figure endowed chairs for Alzheimer's research at the Lewis Katz Temple Medical Center.
Phil has been a featured speaker in 17 countries on topics including strategic planning, leadership, and alternate distribution systems in the financial services industry in the 21st century. He has addressed the annual meetings of over 150 major companies; was a main platform speaker at the National GAMA International LAMP Meeting in 1998 and its Canadian counterpart in Toronto in 1999; was a main platform speaker in Singapore, Taipei, and Manila in August 2000; and was a main platform speaker at the Asian Pacific Conference in Bangkok (where he co-founded GAMA Thailand) in 2001 and 2010; in Singapore in 2011 and 2015; Crete, Greece, in 2002; Athens, Greece, in 2006, 2010, and 2015; Sydney, Australia, in 2005; and Buenos Aires, Argentina; and spoke in Shanghai and Beijing numerous times as a lecturer at Beijing University and Shanghai University for Finance and Economics. He was a main platform speaker for MDRT in Vancouver in 2010 and in Ireland in 2012, as well as GAMA LAMP Asia in 2014 and 2016. He was a 2016 Asia LAMP main platform speaker in Bangkok and was featured in Vietnam and Singapore in 2016 as well as Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Llumpur, Malaysia.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Development Manager
Robert joined North Star in 2019 to coach and train financial professionals to seek their clients' success.
In over 20 years in financial services, Robert has played many roles, assisting clients with investments, trades, and retirement strategies. Now, as a member of the professional development department, Robert brings his firsthand experience and focus on client relations to training interns and new advisors.
Robert's hope for each intern and advisor is that they learn through experience, and he believes in cultivating an environment where advisors at every level have a chance to collaborate with colleagues and make meaningful connections with clients.
Rob is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Robin joined North Star as our IT Director in early 2020, and he has championed initiatives such as Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Microsoft One Drive, and Microsoft Teams, as well as providing guidance through remote work and the new website launch.
Before coming to North Star, Robin had extensive experience in IT operations and strategy as a director at Assurant for over 13 years. His cross-discipline experience has made him a valuable resource to all advisors and associates at North Star.
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Specialist
- Member of Our Financial Planning Resource Center
Sean is a member of our Financial Planning Resource Center and provides a high level of planning support and guidance to North Star associates and their clients.
Sean's favorite part of working at North Star as a Financial Planning Specialist is the fact that he has the ability to help advisors grow their practice while also helping their clients by creating plans.
Based out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis, Sean serves clients and financial professionals throughout the country. He holds a B.S in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of MN Institute of Technology.
Sean lives in Saint Paul, MN with his wife of over 25 years, Heather, and two kids Mary and Sam - both of whom are now in college. He is an avid fan of Minnesota sports teams and loves to travel and spend time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Specialist
- Member of Our Financial Planning Resource Center
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor
Shannon is a member of our Financial Planning Resource Center and provides a high level of planning support and guidance to North Star associates and their clients.
Shannon is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor
Shaun McDuffee started his career as a financial advisor at North Star straight out of college in 1990. He helped launch the North Star Medical Division in 2001, North Star recognized him as one of North Star's top five advisors in terms of revenue generated between 1998 to 2021, and he serves on the board of the Scott Richards North Star Foundation.
In service to his community, Shaun is involved in leading several national nonprofits. In 2006, he and his wife founded the McDuffee foundation to aid in children's causes in the community. Then in 2013, Shaun founded Stop Alzheimer's Now (SAN), a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating Alzheimer's disease.
Shaun is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, and he now lives and works in Austin, Texas, with his wife Kristin and their three daughters.
Shaun is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Practice Manager
- Practice Manager and Investment Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Investments
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor
Steven has spent 31 years supporting advisors and clients through effective investing solutions, and he joined North Star in 2021 as a consultant in our investments division. Steven assists clients in portfolio construction, investment strategies, wealth management case design, economic trends, and retirement distribution ideas.
Steven is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
Tanner Fedell offers Financial Life Planning for families throughout the U.S. His strategy is based on the premise that financial advisors should first discover a client's most essential goals in life before formulating a financial strategy, so a client's finances fully support those goals.
Tanner joined North Star as a Medicare specialist and property and casualty principal in 2018. Together with the insurance brokerage team, Tanner focuses on finding gaps in coverage and providing clients with customized solutions based on their specific needs.
Tanner is a longtime Texan, graduating from the University of Texas in Austin and working as a client representative in several industries for nearly 20 years before joining North Star. Working out of Austin, Texas, Tanner provides insurance guidance to businesses and individuals throughout the southeastern region of the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Team Leader
As a Senior Partner in the Madison, Wisconsin office of North Star Resource Group, Tom Haunty's practice is focused on fee-based financial planning, business benefit planning, and financial services for attorneys.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President, Twin Cities Advisor Development
Thomas joined North Star in 2018 with over 20 years' experience launching the careers of financial professionals.
He began his career in finance as a financial advisor and was consistently promoted at several well-known firms. As a member of the professional development department, Thomas searches out career changers and experienced financial professionals and nurtures their diverse backgrounds and talents to better serve their clients. His mission is to support the growth of each individual and team in a career and leadership path they want for themselves as financial services professionals.
Outside of his work at North Star, Thomas is a board member of several organizations including Minnesota Youth Athletic Services.
Thomas is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Investment Specialist / Investment Advisor Representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Financial Management and Reporting
Before joining North Star in 2014, Tim spent 11 years with Securian Financial.
Tim attended St. John's University in St. Joseph, Minn., and received his Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. He currently works out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis.
Tim is a registered representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.
Job Titles:
- National Director of Advisor Relations and Training Manager
Tony develops lasting connections with advisors at North Star to see them through to a successful career.
Joining North Star in 2010, Tony has an extensive career in sales management and customer relations, and he is passionate about helping emerging advisors learn the communication and marketing skills needed to serve their clients in life-long relationships.
Along with one-on-one coaching, Tony also introduces new advisors to North Star's extensive training and development program. He works with industry organizations, division specialists, and tenured advisors to provide interns and advisors the education needed to master the complex topics of financial services.
Tony works out of North Star's headquarters in Minneapolis, but he enjoys connecting with advisors throughout the nation on his weekly mentoring and coaching calls with advisors at all stages in their careers.