North Star honored for leadership development at Finseca’s LAMP program
ORLANDO, Fla.—March 24, 2025—North Star Resource Group and five of its senior leaders were recognized across three award categories at Finseca’s annual LAMP program, an international event focused on advocating, developing and promoting the work of financial professionals.
North Star received the Master Agency award, which recognizes firms that reach rigorous commission and premium levels, marking a commitment to promoting and advancing financial security for all. North Star has received this award every year since 1987, and in 2024, it also received Finseca’s Community Impact award, highlighting a commitment to giving back to others.
In addition to North Star’s firm award, five leaders were also recognized for their impact on the profession:
- Shaun McDuffee, AEP, CLU®, ChFC®, CEPA, Senior Vice President – International Management Award
- Thomas Kuykendall, Associate Vice President, Twin Cities Advisor Development – International Management Award
- Davin Bell, Associate Partner – Frontline Leader Award
- Niccolo Gonzales, National Senior Recruiter – Frontline Leader Award
- Stephanie Tsang, CPA, CFP®, ChFC®, CEPA, CDFA®, Senior Partner – Frontline Leader Award
“Once again, we are honored to receive the Master Firm Award, recognizing the top 100 firms in Finseca,” stated North Star CEO Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®. “North Star is one of the very few companies that have won this award every year since its inception in 1987, are proud to be a part of the Finseca family whose mission is to provide financial security for all.”
The International Management Award recognizes high-achieving Finseca members who supervise full-time career agents, advisors or sales representatives at a firm or agency, and the Frontline Leader Award recognizes current Finseca members who are frontline managers and who have direct responsibility for a portion of an agency or firm’s success.
McDuffee joined North Star in 1990 and is the founder of North Star affiliate Twin Oak Advisors in Austin, Texas, which specializes in serving the medical community. McDuffee also serves on North Star’s leadership team as senior vice president and helped found the North Star Medical Division in 2001, which provides members with the resources to deliver holistic financial planning for medical clients. Additionally, he also served as a member of the Finseca Board of Directors between 2022 and 2024, along with its political advocacy and acceleration committees.
Kuykendall coaches early-career advisors out of North Star’s Minneapolis headquarters, a role he has held since 2018. He leverages his experience as a financial advisor to support the growth of financial advisors in all stages of their careers across the state of Minnesota.
Since 2001, Bell has worked out of North Star’s Austin, Texas, office as a financial professional and the Austin office’s dedicated growth leader. He has a clear focus on developing emerging financial leaders and training them for success in the industry, using lessons imparted to him throughout his career as a financial professional. He has also served as a member of the Finseca Foundation Board of Trustees since 2019.
Gonzales joined North Star in 2022 to lead the firm’s rapidly growing Durham, N.C., office before transitioning to leading new advisor recruiting in 2024. Having worked as a financial advisor at prior firms, he uses his understanding of the challenges early-career advisors face to guide them in their professional journey.
Finally, Tsang has been a financial advisor with North Star since 2006 and is a leader in the firm’s Southwest division. She mentors new advisors in North Star’s Scottsdale, Ariz., and San Diego offices as they build their businesses and help clients work toward financial independence.
“I am extremely honored and excited to congratulate the North Star leaders who qualified for these prestigious leadership awards: Shaun McDuffee, Thomas Kuykendall, Davin Bell, Nick Gonzales and Stephanie Tsang,” added Deutschlander. “To have one person in a firm receive it is a great accomplishment, but to have so many hail from one organization is a testament to the leadership and impact North Star has on the 450 families that make up North Star and the over 150,000 clients we serve.”
North Star leaders received these accolades at Finseca’s annual LAMP program in Orlando, Fla., which occurred from March 22-25.
To learn more about Finseca’s LAMP awards, go to www.finseca.org/lamp/leadership-awards.
About Finseca
Founded in 2020, Finseca is the home of the top financial security professionals. Achieving financial security means improving people’s lives, protecting their livelihoods, and enhancing their well-being for the future. Finseca members have access to the tools, support, and network needed to grow businesses and advocate for effective policies affecting the industry. To learn more about Finseca, visit www.finseca.org.
About North Star Resource Group
North Star Resource Group is a Minneapolis-based financial services firm that provides both individuals and businesses with the resources to help create, preserve, and protect their wealth. North Star has more than 207 full-time advisors and over 202 employees. In a network of 37 offices in over 21 states, they have contributed to the financial security and well-being of over 150,000 individuals and small businesses**. To learn more about North Star Resource Group, visit www.northstarfinancial.com.
**Data as of December 2024
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Ian Rich at 612.617.6076, or email him at ian.rich@northstarfinancial.com.
2025 Finseca Master Agency Award issued by Finseca. Master Agency/Firm Awards are given to an agency head who is a Finseca member at a firm with at least $8,500,000 USD in commission levels or $17,000,000 USD in premium levels during the previous year. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial advisor by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.
2025 Finseca International Management Award issued by Finseca. The International Management Award recognizes the achievements of first-line managers (heads of agencies or firms). All qualifiers must be active Finseca members and must personally supervise full-time career agents, advisors, or sales representatives in the agency or firm. Six classes are awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Titanium. Each has a set min qualifying commissions (USD/ICE) and min qualifying premiums (USD/ICE). Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.
2025 Front Line Leader Award issued by Finseca. The Frontline Leader Award recognizes frontline managers, such as unit, division, or district managers who have direct responsibility for a portion of an agency or firm. All qualifiers must be current Finseca members. This award has five classes Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each has a set min qualifying commissions (USD/ICE) and min qualifying premiums (USD/ICE). Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.
2024 Community Impact Award issued by Finseca. The Community Impact Leadership Award honors financial security firms/ agencies that are having a tangible, measurable effect on their clients and their communities. That impact might be the result of a number of activities, such as lives secured, charitable efforts or DE&I initiatives that promote doing well by doing good. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient for participation or in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.
Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.