John founded our firm August 24, 2001, having been recruited into the industry by his own trusted financial advisor and one of his lifelong friends, Mike Erpelding.
“I started my business with a simple idea. I wanted to occupy the financial center of my clients’ lives. I didn’t want to be a salesperson anymore.”
“My competitive advantage? I was already thirty-six years old with a young family, more than a few years of corporate culture and business experience, ten years’ experience working with my financial advisor, as well as a modest investment real estate portfolio – so unlike most new advisors, I knew what I was talking about!”
Almost twenty-five years later, John considers the most rewarding aspect of his work the personal relationships he has with his team and his clients and the impact he hopes he has made in their lives.
“I have the best job in the world! Essentially, I meet new friends, help them solve their financial problems, give them guidance on anything remotely financial, help them find their discipline, and do my best to bring them peace of mind.”
“I am equally proud to have created meaningful opportunities for my partners, Austin and AJ and our awesome team.”
John’s client focus:
“I really don’t focus on a particular type of client or industry, and I have never had a “minimum” client, both of which make me an anomaly in our industry. This approach has served me well over the years. As a result, I have a diverse collection of clients and an extensive personal “database” of experiences to draw from to serve them.”
A little bit about John personally:
“I love road trips, biking, reading, snowmobiling, pickleball, and spending time at “Koren’s Cabin” on Bay Lake in central Minnesota. My favorite hobby? I am an Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator, call sign “NG0Z” and I enjoy communicating around the world on my amateur radio station.”
John was born and raised in the Twin Cities. He and his wife Koren, our Chief Operating Officer, have three adult children, two sons-in-law, and live in Minnesota and Arizona.
John maintains the following professional designations and credentials:
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
- Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®)
- John is Insurance Licensed in several states.