Stephen J. Larson, Ph.D., CFP® earned his Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University in 1998. Since then he has published many articles in academic journals such as The Financial Review, The Journal of Financial Research, and Global Finance Journal. He became a Certified Financial Planner™ in 2005 and he teaches Personal Finance and Risk and Insurance at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Larson has won many awards for teaching, research, and service. Dr. Larson is a member of the Financial Management Association and The Financial Planning Association of Minnesota.
Job Title: Financial Planner, Buck Financial Advisors, LLC
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Retirement Planning
Fundamentals of Financial Planning
Insurance Planning
Earned Degrees:
Iowa State University; B.S. – Engineering
Minnesota State Mankato; Certificate of Financial Planning
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner™
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
Other Accomplishments:
Highlighted in April 2006 Business Week. Quoted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Financial Advisor Magazine. Interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and Smart Money.
Personal Statement:
Personal Finance contributes to ones mental, spiritual, and physical wellbeing; my goal is to help the people I come in contact with to determine their financial future.
I live in Woodbury with my wife and son, enjoy a daily trip to Lifetime Fitness and traveling to places warm in January.
Job Title: Principal, Comer Consulting, LLC
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Investment Planning
Retirement Planning
Earned Degrees:
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; B.S. History
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner™
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, Board of Directors
Minnesota Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Board of Directors
Council of Independent Professional Consultants
Other Accomplishments:
John has published articles in the FPA Solutions magazine and on the Financial Advisor magazine web portal “Practice Lifecycle.” He has spoken at the FPA 2007 Business Solutions conference, for local FPA groups and for broker dealer groups.
In addition to his current business, John started a deposit company that grew to $3.5 billion in four years.
Personal Statement:
John lives with his wife, Donna, and their two boys in Plymouth. John has always enjoyed running but lately his running is limited to rushing to his sons’ activities, to his church for programs or to local schools to help with financial education.
Job Title: Tax Manager, Baune Dosen & Co LLP
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught): Tax Planning
Area(s) of Expertise (practice areas): Tax Planning & Consultation, Business & Individual Income Taxation, and Trust & Estate Taxation
Earned Degrees:
St. Cloud State University; B.S. – Accounting
University of Minnesota Law School; JD
Certifications:
Attorney
Certified Financial Planner™
Certified Public Accountant
Securities Licenses – Series 7 & 63
Insurance Licenses – Life, Health & Accidental
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Minnesota CPA Society
American Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Personal Statement:
I am currently a Tax Manager at Baune Dosen & Co LLP where I began working in February 2007. I have over 8.5 years of total public accounting experience. I also have spent 2 years in the financial planning industry, and another 2 years in the general accounting industry. I live in Eden Prairie, MN. I enjoy reading, weightlifting, swimming, and kayaking.
Job Title: Financial Planner, Bond & Devick Financial Network
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Financial Planning and Insurance
Estate Planning
Earned Degrees:
Northern State University; B.S. – Accounting
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner™
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota
Other Accomplishments:
Current Chairperson for the FPA of MN
Personal Statement:
I live with my wife and two children in Plymouth, Minnesota. I enjoy playing and watching sports.
Job Title: Tax and Financial Advisor, Thomas D Jenson, Ltd.
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Retirement Planning
Tax Planning for Individuals and Small Businesses
Taxation of Real Estate Transactions
Business Problem Solving
Earned Degrees:
Bethel University; B.A. – Business
Metropolitan State University; MBA
Certifications:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Professional Organizations:
Minnesota Society of CPAs
American Institute of CPAs
Other Accomplishments:
Frequent seminar speaker on tax planning and the implications of tax law changes.
Adjunct Professor in Business Department of Bethel University
Personal Statement:
Live with my wife, Laurel, and two of my sons in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Enjoy family activities with my wife, three sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Hobbies include golf, in-line skating, and reading (fiction, fantasy, history)
Member of numerous business and civic organizations.
Actively involved in a local church.
Job Title: CFP® and Investment Advisor, Focus Financial Network, Inc.
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Investment Planning
Earned Degrees:
Williams College; B.A. - Psychology
University of Hartford; MBA - Finance
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner®
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota
Personal Statement:
My wife and I live in Greenwood, MN and have two grown children and four grandchildren. I especially enjoy travel and golf.
Job Title: Retired Professor of Law
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Estate Planning
Income Tax Planning
Earned Degrees:
University of California, Los Angeles; A.A., B.A. – History
Harvard University School of Law; J.D. (formerly LL.B.)
William Mitchell School of Law; LL.M. (Taxation)
Certifications:
Certified Specialist, Taxation, California (15 years)
Other Accomplishments:
Author, California Decedents’ Estates (West),
Community Property in a Nutshell, 1st and 2d (with Boykoff) editions,
Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell, 1st and 2d editions (Thomson West) and numerous articles in law publications and journals.
Personal Statement:
I am currently working, with a co-author from the University of New Mexico on a third edition of Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell. I live with my wife in Roseville, Minnesota. Our four children are a priest, two lawyers and a PhD. in university administration. My hobby is entering sweepstakes.
Jim is owner of O'Halloran Tax & Financial Services LLC and a Registered Representative with H.D. Vest, a non-bank subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company. He specializes in tax and financial planning for small businesses and individuals.
A graduate of Minnesota State University, Jim has a B.S. Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. He also has a MBA (finance concentration) and a MBT from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. His past work experience includes public accounting and industry positions as Vice President of a finance company, Treasurer of a manufacturing company, Tax Director, Tax Manager and Senior Corporate Accountant.
Jim is a member of the AICPA, The Minnesota Society of CPAs and the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Within the FPA's Minnesota Chapter Jim participates in one of three study groups.
Jim lives and works in Burnsville, MN. His hobbies include golf, tennis, music, reading and family activities.
Howard is a Registered Representative with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker/dealer, member NASD/SIPC, and is an Investment Advisor Representative with Securus Wealth Management, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor. He operates his own financial planning practice under the dba name WISE Financial, in Long Lake, Minnesota.
The focus of his practice is on comprehensive financial planning for clients who are seeking advice on investment management, estate planning, and business succession planning. His investment management business is fee based, with an emphasis on managed portfolios of mutual funds and separately managed accounts.
Howard graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972 with a general business degree, and in 1973 earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado. He spent 18 years in the banking industry before becoming securities and insurance licensed in 1991. Howard has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1995. He resides in Mound, Minnesota.
I own an American Express Financial Advisors Franchise. My staff and I help both individual and corporate clients reach their goals by providing objective and specific advice in all six areas of financial planning. I have been a Financial Advisor since 1990 and hold a series 7, 63 security licenses as well as Life and Health insurance licenses.
I have extensive experience training financial advisors in all areas of financial planning as a Manager for American Express from 1990 - 2000.
I have been teaching the Investment course as an Adjunct Professor with the Financial Planning Certificate Program for Minnesota State University, Mankato since 2001.
In 1989 I earned my degrees in finance, economics and business administration from The College of St. Thomas. During 1992 I earned my Certified Financial Planner designation from The College of Financial Planning. During 2000 I earned my Chartered Financial Consultant designation from the American College.
I am actively involved with the city of Vadnais Heights, where I live with my family, as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.
Career:
Working in the financial services industry since 1980. Regional Managing Director and Certified Financial Planner™ certificant for Five Point Financial. Specialty includes working with closely-held business owners to minimize risk, maximize wealth and create meaningful legacy plans through the application of proven and innovative financial, estate and tax-exempt planning strategies. Chief Financial Officer of IFC National Marketing, Inc., an independent insurance broker that provides insurance, financial concepts and complex case design support to insurance agents, CPA's, attorney's and financial planners.
Education and Designations:
Masters of Science, in Management, from the American College in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania. Designations include, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certificant, licensed with the CFP Board of Standards. Certified Advisor in Philanthropy ( CAP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Chartered Life Underwriter ( CLU) Professional Designations from College of Financial Planning, Denver, CO and the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA.
Licenses:
Securities licensed in 1983, Series 6 (Mutual Funds & Variable Products), Series 65 (Investment Advisor) and Series 26 (Limited Supervising Principal) Insurance Licensed in MN, IA, WI, ND, SD, MA, VI, MI, NE, TX for Life, Health, Disability and in MN for Property/Casualty.
Professional Activities:
Lecturer for continuing education courses in Financial and Estate Planning, Charitable Planning, Insurance Planning and Risk Management for Financial Planners, CPA's and Insurance Agents. Instructor for Mankato State University, MN and the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA for courses in the Certified Financial Planner curriculum and (LUTC) Life Underwriters Training courses. Member of the (FPA) Financial Planning Association, (NAIFA) National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the American Society of Financial Services Advisors. Serves the FPA of Minnesota as the Pro Bono Chairman for the Public Awareness Committee and liaison from the Minnesota FPA to the leadership of the local chapters of the American Red Cross.
Civic Activities:
Member of the Church of the Epiphany and serve on the Finance Commission and as Chairman of the Budget Committee. Member of the Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Planned Giving Council and the National Planned Giving Council.
Personal:
Resident of Coon Rapids, MN. Wife, Kathy is a Para in public and private schools. With 3 children, Tony 19, Megan 15 and Eleacia 13, they enjoy their cabin, fishing, snowmobiling, golfing, bike riding, the kid's sports and travel. Dave also enjoys reading, hunting, and classic cars.
Investment advisory services and securities offered exclusively through Ameritas Investment Corp. ("AIC"), member NASD/SIPC. AIC is not affiliated with IFC National Marketing, Inc. and/or Five Point Financial Services.
Job Title: Financial Planner & Investment Consultant, Wipfli Hewins Investment Advisors LLC
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Financial Planning Process
Retirement Planning
Earned Degrees:
University of Saint Thomas; B.A. ’93, double major- Accounting and Economics
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner™
Certified Public Accountant
Personal Financial Specialist
Certified Investment Management Analyst
Professional Organizations:
Financial Planning Association of Minnesota -- Director of Public Relations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants -- Personal Financial Specialist national committee member
Investment Management Consultants Association
Paladin Registry
Other Accomplishments:
Has been frequently featured or quoted in publications such as the Journal of Financial Planning, USA Today, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Financial Planning Magazine, Corporate Board Member, Christian Science Monitor, and Chippewa Valley Business Report. Also had financial planning ideas included in the personal finance book, Tips From the Top, by Edie Milligan.
Personal Statement:
I am a strong believer in comprehensive personal financial planning. I believe in taking the time to help my clients define their true financial and non-financial goals in life as part of this planning. I live with my wife and three kids in Minneapolis, and am an avid hiker and bicycler.
Job Title: Tax Director, Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP
Area(s) of Expertise (courses taught):
Estate Planning
Tax Planning
Earned Degrees:
Concordia College; B.A. – Business Administration -Accounting
William Mitchell College of Law; JD
Certifications:
Certified Financial Planner™
Certified Public Accountant
Licensed Attorney
Personal Financial Specialist
Insurance License
Professional Organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
Other Accomplishments:
Dave is a frequent speaker and has been quoted in many magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and has interviewed on television nationally. He formed a national Family Wealth Institute and served as its executive director while working for a Big 4 Accounting Firm.
Personal Statement:
My goal is to assist my clients in achieving their dreams by creating and implementing balanced plans that accomplish their personal objectives in an economically effective and tax efficient manner.
