
The Haunty Team
Advice-based wealth management
Client account access
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
The Haunty Team
Advice-based wealth management
The Haunty Team of advisors and specialists to provide clients at any life stage with a comprehensive advice-based wealth management experience.
Individual services
- Comprehensive fee-based financial planning
- Asset protection strategies*
- Retirement strategies
- College funding
- Debt management
- Estate planning
- Investments
- Mutual funds
Business services
- Comprehensive fee-based financial planning
- Wealth transfer
- Business succession planning
- Debt management
- Asset protection strategies*
- Tax minimization strategies*
- Wealth management
Advising team

Thomas A. Haunty, CFP®, RHU, REBC, ChFC, AIF®
Senior Partner and Team Leader

Kayla Nikula
Financial Advisor

Stacey F. Washa
Financial Advisor and Practice Manager
Support team
Resource team
Aside from the knowledge and experience you will receive from your advisor, North Star Resource Group provides a team of experts within their specialties dedicated to helping your advisor choose well-suited products or services for you.

Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®
Vice President Life and Long-Term Care

Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®
Vice President Life and Long-Term CareChris helps financial advisors at North Star identify the strongest insurance product solutions for their clients. Joining North Star in 1996, Chris’s career path has taken him from financial advisor to manager of external insurance brokerage to long-term care specialist to his current role as vice president of insurance brokerage and long-term care. He is very passionate about both brokerage and long-term care given the consequences families face without proper planning.
In an industry with hundreds of companies and thousands of products, Chris helps narrows down the choices to the few that truly make sense based on each client’s unique situation.
Chris attended St. John’s University in St. Joseph, Minn., and he currently works out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis.
Registered representative of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC.

Chase Brakke, DIA, DIF, CEPA®
Vice President of Business Owner Solutions

Chase Brakke, DIA, DIF, CEPA®
Vice President of Business Owner SolutionsChase leads our disability insurance, property and casualty insurance, and employee benefits divisions, ensuring clients have a customized protection strategy for their specific individual, family, and business needs.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Chase joined North Star as a financial advisor in 2008. In 2011, he transitioned to becoming North Star’s national disability insurance consultant and expanding the division and its services nationwide.
Then, in 2019, he became the vice president of disability insurance and property and casualty. Under his leadership, the two divisions have grown and developed to serve clients throughout the U.S. with valuable asset and income protection solutions.
As a former financial advisor, Chase understands how to integrate risk management into an overall financial strategy. Now serving as Vice President of Business Owner Solutions, much of his time is spent working directly with advisors and their clients by bringing in the expertise he oversees in North Star’s Disability Insurance, Property and Casualty, and Employee Benefits teams.
Chase is heavily involved in his community as a board member for BestPrep, a non-profit providing Minnesota students with financial literacy skills. Each year, Chase volunteers over 100 hours with the organization as an eMentor, classroom speaker, and fundraiser organizer. He received BestPrep’s Service Award in 2015 and, reflecting his dedication to volunteering with organizations like BestPrep, was named an honorable mention for the Volunteer of the Year award from Invest In Others in 2024.
Chase lives in Stillwater, Minn., with his beautiful wife, Jenn, and two children.
Registered administrative associate of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.
2024 BestPrep Service Award. Issued to the top volunteers in the BestPrep volunteer programs for those that go above and beyond in their commitment to the students and teachers of Minnesota. 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.
2024 Volunteer of the Year Award Honorable Mention Issued by Invest in Others. Nominees must be currently working as registered representatives, registered investment advisors, or financial advisors with a professional designation. Nominees must be active financial advisors, defined by spending at least 75% of their time providing financial consultation with clients. Nominees must have worked in this capacity for at least three years. Volunteer involvement with the nonprofit organization must be current and ongoing for at least three years. Nominations are evaluated based on an advisor’s leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration and impact on a nonprofit and the community it serves. Three finalists are selected in each of the six categories with one winner being chosen for each award. Award finalists and winners receive generous donations from Invest in Others to their designated charities. 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.
The charitable entities and/or fundraising opportunities described herein are not endorsed by or affiliated with (BD name) or its affiliates. Our philanthropic interests are personal to us and are not reviewed, sponsored or approved by Cetera.

Jeff Landt, CFA, CFP®
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer

Jeff Landt, CFA, CFP®
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment OfficerWith over 25 years’ experience in financial services, Jeff’s expertise is the investment management process. As vice president and director of investments, he coaches North Star financial professionals on portfolio strategies, construction, and management for a diverse group of clients.
Jeff helps quiet the noise of investment advice, providing a calm, trustworthy voice to help individuals reach their investment goals and prepare for life’s important milestones.
In addition to his leadership roles, Jeff also works one-on-one with clients, specializing in retirement distribution and wealth management.
Jeff holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession, and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, noted for its extensive knowledge, experience, and ethical requirements.
Jeff works out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis.
Investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.

Sean McTeague, CFP®
Financial Planning Specialist

Sean McTeague, CFP®
Financial Planning SpecialistSean is a member of our Financial Planning Resource Center and provides a high level of planning support and guidance to North Star associates and their clients.
Sean’s favorite part of working at North Star as a Financial Planning Specialist is the fact that he has the ability to help advisors grow their practice while also helping their clients by creating plans.
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 Saint 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.
Investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.

Max Miller
Disability Insurance Consultant

Max Miller
Disability Insurance ConsultantSince joining North Star in 2016, Max has been using his expansive knowledge and commitment as a disability expert to provide counsel to our associates. Today, he is available to speak with clients about their disability insurance needs and options.
Serving individuals nationwide, Max is committed to ensuring each client has a customized protection strategy for their specific needs.