North Star is proud to welcome these valued speakers to this year’s Summer Summit!
Featured Speaker
Scott Welle, CSP
Founder of Outperform the Norm
Outperform the Norm | Thursday, July 23 | 3:30 PM – 4:35 PM
Scott Welle is a #1 international best-selling author, speaker, and founder of Outperform the Norm, a leading program for business leaders and athletes looking to raise their game and perform at the highest level.
Scott’s ten best-selling books, articles, videos, podcasts, and online programs inspire hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. He has a Master’s degree in sport psychology and is an adjunct professor at St. Olaf University in Northfield, MN. He regularly speaks and consults with top-performing executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs, as well as elite athletes.
Scott enjoys pushing his own physical and mental limits, completing five Ironman triathlons, 30 marathons, and a 100-mile ultramarathon run. He and his brother, Jason, have long participated in at least one marathon together each year.
Guest Speakers
Jacquelyn Mann
Senior Director, Executive Consultant at Invesco
Priceless: “The Language of Value” | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Jacquelyn works to help top-performing financial teams enhance their practices by helping them implement actionable business growth and referral strategies. She also coaches financial professionals on engaging in more effective and meaningful conversations with their clients.
Jacquelyn joined Invesco in 2011 and has held multiple roles at the firm in Client Development and Business Development. Prior to becoming an executive consultant, she served as national manager for Invesco Global Consulting in Australia, where she worked closely with high-performing teams on client communication, organic growth, and practice management strategies.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Jacquelyn now resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Dale, teenage daughter, Chloe, and Border Collie, Cooper. Outside of the office, she enjoys cycling, traveling, and exploring Chicagoland and all it has to offer.
Eric McDermott
Managing Partner at Pacific Advisors
Breaking Into the Business Markets | Thursday, July 23 | 10:05 AM – 11:20 AM
Eric is a managing partner of Pacific Advisors, a financial services firm with over 60,000 clients and more than 200 financial advisors, specialists, and staff. He leads the Advanced Financial Strategies Team, new initiatives, operational strategy, and enterprise marketing.
As a financial advisor, he focuses on connecting business leaders with strategies to protect and grow their business, net worth, and estate. An entrepreneur at heart, Eric uses his more than 20 years of innovation and marketing capability as a partner/owner in several enterprises.
He commits to hundreds of hours a year of continuous learning, mobilizing and inspiring change and innovation through public speaking, and mentoring those around him. For fun, he enjoys family vacations, time with his wife and three children, reading, designing, sketching, and tennis.
Jim Shoemaker, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CFS, CKA®
Financial Advisor at Shoemaker Financial
Insights on the Profession | Thursday, July 23 | 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Jim began his professional career in the financial services industry in 1973, and in 1978, founded Shoemaker Financial, a firm that represents a fully integrated array of financial services and products for individuals and businesses of all sizes.
Jim received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College. He and his wife, Linda, have been married since 1972 and have two adult daughters and five grandchildren. They are members of Bellevue Baptist Church, where Jim serves as a deacon and teaches a Bible fellowship class for adults. Jim enjoys fly-fishing, hunting, and is an avid reader.
North Star Advisor Speakers
Todd Bramson, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® (Madison)
Senior Partner
Closing Comments | Thursday, July 23 | 4:35 PM – 4:50 PM
Todd has been a financial advisor with North Star since 1987. While his office is in Madison, he maintains a national practice with clients in 45 states. As a member of the North Star Medical Division, he specializes in working with physicians and other medical professionals.
Todd is the author and creator of the Real Life Financial Planning book series, which now includes 16 different books on financial planning, with nine of those specifically for medical professionals. He has been a past editorial consultant with Medical Economics magazine and has contributed to many articles for that publication. He is also a frequent speaker at many residency programs and organizations.
Mikaela Doe Harmon, ChFC® (San Diego)
Financial Advisor
Panel: Pricing Your Financial Plans | Thursday, July 23 | 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
Mikaela is a financial advisor based in North Star’s San Diego office. Mikaela works largely with medical and dental professionals, focusing on providing individuals and families with the tools they need to become financially secure and pass good habits on to the next generation.
Mikaela is originally from Huntington Beach, CA, graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor’s in finance and real estate, and is now furthering her career in San Diego. Outside of work, she enjoys soccer, wakeboarding, tennis, and DJing.
Andrew Jacobs ChFC®, AIF®, RICP®, CLTC®, CPFA® (St. Cloud)
Senior Partner at Jacobs Financial
Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Andrew is a senior partner at Jacobs Financial and combines professional expertise with the personal, values-based approach that defines the family-owned firm. He helps business owners, families, and individuals plan confidently for retirement and life beyond work.
Andrew is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and resides in St. Cloud, MN, with his wife Angie, son Mason, and daughter Leah. He is an active member of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, River City Referral Professionals, NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors), Finseca, and NAPA (National Association of Plan Advisors). Outside of work, he enjoys lake time, golfing, traveling, attending community charity and sporting events, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Adam Jacobs, CRPC® (San Diego)
Senior Financial Advisor
Panel: Pricing Your Financial Plans | Thursday, July 23 | 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
As a third-generation advisor, Adam learned the value of wise financial principles at an early age from his father, James. Early on, he inherited a passion to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families through financial advice. Now as a wealth management advisor, he provides comprehensive financial guidance for professionals and their families to build and protect their wealth and leave the legacy they want.
Adam strives to be a lifetime resource to help clients establish and reach their financial goals and develop strategies for the future with the continuity of care that they deserve.
Jane LaLonde, CFP®, CDFA (Minneapolis)
Senior Partner
Panel: Pricing Your Financial Plans | Thursday, July 23 | 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
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 help 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.
Damon Lichtenberger, CLTC® (Durham)
Senior Partner
Annuities Panel | Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Damon Lichtenberger, CLTC®, is a senior partner and senior vice president at North Star. Damon has developed a national financial advising practice that services clients in roughly 35 states and has been distinguished as a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals™. He focuses on helping physicians, dentists, attorneys, business owners, and executives reach financial independence.
Damon is active with the Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation, the GAMA Foundation, Finseca, Bikes for Kids, the Durham Rescue, and Animal Shelters/Rescue. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family (especially boating at the lake or spending time on the coast). He loves to play, spectate, or help teach/coach his twin boys (Corbin & Hollis) in virtually any sport. Damon is also an avid dog lover, and his Vizsla, Odin, gets to go with him on many adventures.
Dave Nordmeier, CFP®, CFS (Elk River)
Founding Partner of Midwest Wealth Advisors & Financial Advisor
Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Dave’s goal is simple: to help clients enjoy life more by bringing clarity and confidence to their financial decisions. He believes wealth management is about much more than choosing investments—it’s about understanding how all the pieces of a client’s financial life work together and providing advice that’s always centered on their best interests.
When not working with clients, you’ll likely find Dave fishing, gardening, hunting, or planning his next trip. He and his wife, Nikki, live in Elk River, MN, with their children, Anna and Chet. Together, they’re actively involved in their local church, conservation groups, and local charities.
Holly Ruckel, RICP® (Austin)
Financial Advisor
Negative Eighty-Four Dollars | Thursday, July 23 | 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
As an advisor, Holly seeks to truly understand her clients and their goals to help put their dreams in perspective. By digging deeper into their “why,” Holly uses solid financial strategies to guide them toward a feasible pathway to pursue their dreams.
While Holly proudly works with clients in a wide variety of industries, she specializes in working with nationwide lawyers, their law firms, and their clients. With their unique needs necessitating a customized approach, Holly provides financial planning services tailored specifically for members of this group while serving as their financial advocate.
Holly grew up in Cleveland, OH, but moved during her teenage years to Austin, TX, before attending the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. There, she earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, actuarial science, and finance. In her free time, Holly rides, trains, and shows horses. She is also a self-proclaimed animal lover who strives to be in nature as much as possible.
Anthony Schau, CFP® (Iowa City)
Financial Planner & Regional Vice President
Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Anthony has been a financial advisor with North Star since 1992. He helps people organize their complete financial picture—from retirement plans to personal insurance to investments—so they can spend less time worrying about their money and more time living.
As a graduate of the University of Iowa, Anthony is a devoted Hawkeye fan, and he enjoys hunting, fishing, and snow and water skiing in his free time. He and his wife live in North Liberty, IA, with their three kids, and he is a past president of the Coralville-North Corridor Rotary Club, past treasurer of the Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, and past president of Iowa NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors).
Ann Wengronowitz, CFP®, RICP® (Minneapolis)
Senior Partner
Sink Or Swim: My Advisor Story | Thursday, July 23 | 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Ann started with North Star in 1981. She and her business partner, Emily Malecha, CRPC®, ChFC®, co-founded Confidere Financial on a foundation of collaboration and personalized service in 2019. By focusing on a team approach, they were able to forge stronger relationships with clients and provide tailored financial plans.
Ann has been recognized nationally as a leader among her peers, serving on Cetera’s Advisor Engagement Council, a small and exclusive group of advisors selected to represent over 10,000 advisors by providing strategic input and guidance to Cetera’s executive team. Ann is the past president of WISE, an organization committed to the growth of women financial professionals at Cetera, and she serves as the past president of Premier Resource Group (PRG)’s board of directors, a national organization for financial professionals.
Ann and her husband, Jon, live in Victoria, MN. They have two daughters, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Liz Witzel (Madison)
Partner
Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Liz is a financial advisor in North Star Resource Group’s Madison, WI office. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, she understands each stage of client care. Her skill lies in bringing structure to the emotional aspects of personal finance, creating a clear, measurable plan that aligns with long-term retirement goals and her clients’ vision for financial independence.
Liz has been married for over 20 years to her husband, Josh. They have a son, Jadon, who is 15, and two rescue dogs. Together, they are on a mission to visit all the U.S. National Parks and as many ski hills as possible. Liz also has an annual goal of reading 75-100 books per year.
Other North Star Speakers
Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®
Chief Executive Officer
Remarks From Ed | Thursday, July 23 | 8:30 AM – 9:10 AM
Ed Deutschlander has been the CEO at North Star Resource Group since 2016. He joined North Star as a financial advisor in 1993 right off the college campus, but quickly transitioned to recruiting before moving into greater leadership roles within the firm, where he has spent his entire career. Having experienced the industry as an advisor, recruiter, and executive, he brings a multi-faceted perspective to his leadership.
Ed serves as a founding member of the Scott Richards North Star Foundation, which donates 10% of North Star’s annual profits to national and local nonprofits (totaling $7.67 million as of December 2025). He is also a founding board member for Bikes for Kids, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that has gifted over 5,000 bicycles and helmets since 2004.
Ed was born and raised in Chicago and is a 1993 graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. He currently lives and works in Austin, TX, with his wife of 35 years, Toni. Together, they have four adult children (three of whom are team members at North Star) and two rescue dogs.
Gary Schwartz, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPC®
Executive Vice President
Performance That Scales: How Top Advisors Keep Advancing | Wednesday, July 22 | 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
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.
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 lives in Edina, MN, where he enjoys time in outdoor activities and reading books on leadership and business. Gary also takes time to travel, especially to visit family in Seattle.
Robin Bjella
IT Director
Working Lunch: New Technology to Support Practice Management | Wednesday, July 22 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Robin joined North Star as its IT Director in 2020, and he has championed initiatives such as Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Microsoft OneDrive, 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-disciplinary experience has made him a valuable resource to all advisors and associates at the firm.
Angela Konz
Senior Marketing Specialist
Working Lunch: New Technology to Support Practice Management | Wednesday, July 22 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Since joining North Star in 2022, Angela has focused on strengthening the firm’s visual identity and digital presence. She partners with financial advisors to develop branding, marketing materials, and graphic design elements.
Angela also enhances internal and external platforms through leading the firm’s SharePoint strategy and website design, improving how its teams collaborate and how clients engage online.
Tony Hill
Distribution Specialist
Annuities Panel | Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Tony Hill serves as a distribution specialist in North Star’s Minneapolis headquarters. In this role, he helps clients ensure they have reliable income streams in retirement while also optimizing for tax efficiency and longevity.
Tony has a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and management from the University of Jamestown. His prior professional experience includes roles at Allstate, U.S. Bank, Highland Bank, and Weichert Realtors. He also previously worked as a financial advisor with North Star and proudly returned to the firm in 2025.
Sean McTeague, CFP®
Financial Planning Specialist
Panel: Pricing Your Financial Plans | Thursday, July 23 | 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
Sean is a member of the North Star Financial Planning Resource Center and provides a high level of planning support and guidance to North Star associates and their clients.
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 St. 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.
Steven Vacinek, CIMA®
Director of Investments
How North Star Investment Resource Center is Supporting Your Success | Wednesday, July 22 | 2:15 PM – 2:50 PM
Steven has spent 31 years supporting advisors and clients through effective investing solutions, and he joined North Star in 2021 as a consultant in its Investments department.
Steven assists clients in portfolio construction, investment strategies, wealth management case design, economic trends, and retirement distribution ideas.
Matt Vasos
Disability Insurance Specialist
Kick off | Wednesday, July 22 | 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Matt is a disability insurance specialist working out of North Star’s Minneapolis headquarters. Using his professional background with North Star, he supports the Disability Insurance department as they provide excellent insurance solutions to clients nationwide.
Matt began his career with North Star as an intern in 2019. Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2020 with a degree in business marketing and a minor in management, he pivoted to his current role at North Star.
Matt grew up in Bloomington, MN, as the son of North Star Executive Advisor, David Vasos, CFP®. Matt continues to live in Bloomington today, alongside his wife, Carly, and golden retriever. In his free time, he loves playing golf, watching Minnesota sports teams, brewery hopping, and finding new places to explore with his dog.
