Kristin Strom earns first appearance on Forbes’ 2026 Top Financial Security Professionals Best-In-State list
MINNEAPOLIS—July 9, 2026—Kristin Strom, AIF®, financial advisor at Fortune Financial, an affiliate of North Star Resource Group, has earned a place on the Forbes/SHOOK Research 2026 Top Financial Security Professionals Best-In-State list for the first time. Ranked No. 65 in Minnesota, Strom joins an elite group of financial professionals recognized for their commitment to client success, professional excellence and long-term financial guidance.
This annual ranking spotlights leading financial professionals across the country who demonstrate exceptional service and a steadfast commitment to helping clients pursue financial security.
“I’m honored and thrilled to be included on this list from Forbes for the first time,” said Strom. “Since joining Fortune Financial and beginning my career as a financial advisor, I’ve made it a priority to meet clients where they’re at and help them reach their financial goals, and this recognition affirms my commitment to excellent service. Thank you to my wonderful team and clients for making this possible!”
Strom has been a financial advisor since 2023 and is a member of Fortune Financial in Minnetonka, Minn. Here, she provides holistic financial planning solutions to clients across the nation under the mentorship of her father, Jeff Jarnes, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, a senior partner at Fortune Financial.
Since becoming an advisor, Strom has rapidly established herself as a respected figure among clients and peers alike. Named a 2025 Top Women in Finance honoree from Finance & Commerce and a 2024 InvestmentNews NextGen Advisor of the Year finalist, she has championed industry advancements such as ESG investing, ETFs and modern annuities tailored to retiree and pre-retiree clients—demonstrating her commitment to innovation and client-centered planning.
In addition to her professional achievements, Strom is an active member of Women Inspiring and Supporting Excellence (WISE), a national professional development organization for women advisors, serves as the OSJ manager for the Fortune office and volunteers with the Breast Cancer Awareness Association. She also mentors other early-career financial advisors and support staff within North Star, further positioning her as an inspiration for others and a leader in her field.
The Forbes ranking evaluates financial professionals using a combination of qualitative and quantitative elements in a survey conducted by SHOOK Research. Qualitative elements that SHOOK analyzed included production/premiums, death benefits, assets under management, client-related trends and data. Additionally, they also analyzed quantitative elements such as meetings with professionals, use of their team and team dynamics, level of community involvement, credentials and years of service.
To learn more about Forbes’ Top Financial Security Professionals list or to view the rankings on a national and state level, please visit www.forbes.com/lists/top-financial-security-professionals.
About Forbes and SHOOK Research
Forbes boasts 6 million readers and 116 million unique monthly visitors who rely on their research and content to plan their financial futures. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
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 200 full-time advisors and over 218 employees. In a network of 43 offices in over 17 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.
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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.
Author: Kristin Strom, AIF®
Kristin is a financial advisor with Fortune Financial, a North Star Resource Group affiliate firm that specializes in developing comprehensive, results-focused financial strategies. Working alongside her business partner and father, Jeff Jarnes, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, a founding partner and senior partner, she prioritizes educating others on the financial planning solutions available to them while accounting for the finest details in their situation. Kristin hails from Bloomington, Minn. Witnessing her father’s impact on the lives of clients as a financial advisor and his success in helping develop Fortune into a nationwide practice ultimately inspired her to follow the same path. As such, she obtained a degree from the University of St. Thomas in finance (with a sociology minor) and spent nine years at Allianz Life Insurance Company before joining Fortune in 2020. In this role, she served as a key resource to clients of the firm and successfully revamped many of the firm’s processes and practices. To this day, her critical work in this position ensures that Fortune clients have access to high-quality financial planning strategies and that the firm’s operations are streamlined and optimized for the needs of today’s clients. Most recently, Kristin transitioned to the role of financial advisor in 2023. Partnering with her father and serving as a key resource for developing the next generation of leadership and clientele at Fortune, she works closely with other high-achieving professionals as they identify and pursue their financial goals. Today, Kristin resides in Eden Prairie, MN. In her time away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, gardening, downhill skiing, and exploring Minnesota’s numerous lakes.
*Data as of 12/2025
2026 Forbes Best-In-State Financial Security Professionals, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on last year’s data. The algorithm is designed to fairly compare the business practices of a large group of financial service professionals (FSPs) based on quantitative and qualitative elements. Data is weighted to ensure priorities are given to dynamics such as best practices, business models, recent business activity, among others. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. The algorithm measures thousands of FSPs against one another. The listing is prepared by SHOOKTM Research and is based primarily on commissions and premiums generated from insurance products and other criteria relative to years of experience, credentials, client retention and servicing, business model, community involvement, financial professional and peer interviews, and compliance background. 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.
2025 Top Women in Finance Hall of Fame Award Honoree presented by Finance & Commerce is nomination based and honors industry-leading executives, business owners and entrepreneurs in the financial sector for their outstanding contributions and dedication to their profession, their communities, and society at large. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must work in Minnesota. Nominations are reviewed and determined by the Finance & Commerce selection committee. 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 advisor 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.
NextGen Advisor of the Year – 2024 (finalist) issued by InvestmentNews. The call for nominations is open to all wealth management professionals and organizations – including financial advisors, advisory brokerages, BDMs, fund providers and service providers – from across USA. The InvestmentNews Awards team will conduct research and draw on knowledge and information gained through InvestmentNews to support and supplement nominations received. Once all nominations are considered and research is complete, excellence awardees will be selected in each category (except the Lifetime Achievement category). submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria. 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.