Chris 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.

As Senior Vice President, Chase oversees the operations of Business Owner Solutions, Distribution Planning, and North Star’s insurance brokerage operations, which include Property and Casualty Insurance, Disability Insurance, Medicare/Individual Health, and Employee Benefits.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire with a degree in business administration and finance, Brakke joined North Star in 2008.

As a trained former financial advisor, Chase understands how to integrate complex strategies into overall financial goals. In his current role, much of his time is spent working directly with advisors and their clients and connecting them with North Star’s supporting team of specialists to serve clients holistically.

Chase is heavily involved in his community and has seen firsthand how financial literacy and preparedness can positively impact others. He serves as a board member for BestPrep, an organization that provides educational programs to students in grades 4-12 through professional mentorship opportunities. Each year, Chase volunteers over 100 hours with the organization as an eMentor, classroom speaker, and student essay judge.

For his volunteer work in furthering financial literacy, Chase was the recipient of the BestPrep Bunzel Volunteer of the Year award in 2018, was recognized as a Notable Leader in Finance honoree by Twin Cities Business in 2021, and 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 wife, Jenn, and two children. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, basketball, volleyball, and tennis, along with spending time with family, especially at his lake cabin.

With 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.

Sean 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.

Since 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.