Chase 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.

Ashley is a property and casualty specialist at North Star’s Austin, Texas office. Here, she combines her prior experience in risk management to assist the Property and Casualty department as they provide asset and income protection solutions for clients nationwide.

Prior to joining North Star in 2024, Ashley was a risk management specialist for nearly eight years at North Star affiliate, Twin Oak Advisors in Austin, Texas. Following this, she enhanced her risk management skillset through a position at State Farm before returning to North Star in the Property and Casualty department. Now, she leverages her unique experience in risk management to ensure North Star’s clients’ property and casualty needs are met.

Ashley grew up in Carver, Minn., and now resides in Austin, Texas. She attended Robert Morris University in Chicago, Ill., and graduated with a B.A. In her time away from the office, she enjoys spending time on a lake or pool during the summer, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She also enjoys going out to new restaurants and playing pool.

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.

Steven has spent 31 years supporting advisors and clients through effective investing solutions, and he joined North Star in 2021 as a consultant in our investments division. Steven assists clients in portfolio construction, investment strategies, wealth management case design, economic trends, and retirement distribution ideas.

Austin is the Director of Tax Services at North Star Resource Group in Minneapolis, where he provides tax advice to North Star advisors in their mission to attract and retain clients.

Prior to joining North Star in 2023, he was a tax manager for private client services at BDO LLP. He managed between five and 10 tax associates and senior associates while servicing pass-through entities, REITs, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals who had a high degree of tax complexity. He also advised individual and trust clients on year-end tax planning while clearly communicating the results of projections and discussing potential tax strategies.

Before BDO, Austin served as a Senior Tax Associate at Deloitte Tax LLP. In this capacity, he served high-net-worth individuals across athletics, real estate development, retail, and manufacturing industries. He also researched, planned, and performed accounting method changes, entity restructuring, and liquidations as part of his role here.

After growing up in Cook, MN, Austin graduated with a B.A. in Accounting from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN. He has also completed the CPA certification exam from the State of Minnesota Board of Accountancy. In his free time, he enjoys muskie fishing, spending time outdoors, and attending Minnesota Twins baseball games. His family also runs Vermillion Dam Lodge, a resort in northeastern Minnesota, which he still visits to this day.