Helen Bost, CFP®

Financial Advisor

Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Helen Bost, CFP®

Financial Advisor

A personal approach to building wealth

I partner with professionals and their families to realize their values, live their priorities, and get their time back.

Get Started >

About

Welcome! I’m Helen Bost, a financial planner with over a decade of experience guiding professionals, couples, families, and business owners toward achieving their financial aspirations. My journey in finance began at Merrill Lynch, where I honed my skills and deepened my understanding of the complexities that come with substantial wealth for 11 years. During this time, I also received the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, a hallmark of excellence in financial planning.

I joined North Star Resource Group after a long search for an independent firm that shares my commitment to personalized, transparent, and comprehensive financial planning. This transition allowed me to extend my services to those just starting out in their careers to well into retirement—anyone who wants to be more purposeful with building and managing wealth.

My goal is to understand your priorities and values. Then, I can incorporate those into your financial plan, so it reflects what is most important in your life.

Once a plan is established, my priority is to give back time to you. Whether that be time spent navigating all your options for corporate benefit plans, trying to reach a real person to complete a contribution to your investment account, and even the time you get back with the peace of mind of knowing your financial future is in good hands.

I live in St. Paul, Minnesota, with my husband, Sam, our daughter, Millie, and  Toulouse the dog. My family is my bedrock, and they inspire me daily to help others secure their financial future for the ones they cherish most.

If you’re seeking a financial partner who combines deep industry knowledge with a personal touch, I’d be honored to embark on that journey with you.

Let’s connect >

Team

As your personal wealth manager, I am your on-call partner for creating and managing wealth. However, I also coordinate with other financial advisors and specialists at North Star to provide a high level of expertise and service.

Jon Ylinen
Jon Ylinen

Senior Partner - Financial Advisor & Wealth Manager

Wesley Sharp
Wesley Sharp

Financial Advisor and Wealth Manager

Carrie Hancock, ChFC®, CLU®
Carrie Hancock, ChFC®, CLU®

Vice President, Financial Planning Resource Center

Steven Vacinek, CIMA
Steven Vacinek, CIMA

Director of Investments

Max Miller
Max Miller

Disability Insurance Consultant

Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®
Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®

Vice President Life and Long-Term Care

Wealth management services

I give DIY investors their time back—time researching options, managing accounts, and wondering if they are making the most of their opportunities—and provide personalized strategies unified around your vision.

Get started >

Financial planning

Your financial plan encompasses both a current financial snapshot and a long-term roadmap. It considers all aspects of your insurance and investment strategies, from home and auto insurance to legacy planning, and aligns them with your overarching vision.

ABOUT THE PROCESS

Asset management

Customize your portfolio with our evidence-based, academically backed recommendations that holistically address growth, diversification, and fee and tax costs of each asset selection to help you build sustainable wealth.

*No account minimum

Learn more

Risk management

Life, disability, and long-term care insurance

Protecting existing and future assets is a pillar of effective wealth-building. As an independent advisor, Helen can recommend solutions from various carriers to help ensure you have the protections in place for a solid foundation for future wealth strategies.

Get insured

Debt management

From student loans to high-interest debt, I help navigate the refinancing and repayment process within the scope of your overall financial well-being.

First, we balance your current payments against your monthly income, expenses, and savings goals. Then, we look at your interest rate and loan duration to project the long-term impact of your repayment options.

The result is a debt repayment strategy tailored to you—manageable for today and strategic for your future.

Start here

Estate planning

When we take inventory of your accounts and policies as well as identify your money values in your financial plan, we lay the groundwork for a future estate planning conversation.

Then, our team can facilitate the estate planning process, collaborating with your attorney and tax professionals or providing referrals for specialists in our network.

More about our process

Service Levels & Fees

I can work with you through fee-based financial planning, flat-fee asset management, or both.

Determining which solution is right for you depends on your life stage and the complexity, scope, and detail you are looking for from your financial advisor.

Financial Planning

 ➤ Starting at $150 per month, plus initial set up charges

Financial planning fees are based on the complexity of your financial plan. I recommend a solution that best fits your situation and provide transparent fee information every step of the way. Please reach out for a complementary introduction call to learn more.


Personalized Investment Management

 ➤ Percentage of assets under management with a declining fee schedule

This includes personalized portfolio recommendations that are specifically aligned to your situation, financial goals, and risk tolerance.

Book your meeting >

Our financial planning process

What it’s like working with me:

30-minute consultation

First, let’s have a simple conversation about your money goals and stressors.

Before we jump into your financial plan, we’ll start with a free introductory call to learn our personalities are a fit and that my financial planning process and services would help you accomplish your goals.

Book your first call >

Step 1: Discover

If you decide to pursue a financial planning relationship, our first “official” meeting is about establishing the foundation.

First, we uncover your core values and goals. Then, we create a document checklist to start the process of organizing all your financial documents and accounts in one place.

The result of this meeting is a clear picture of where you are and where you are going.

Step 2: Plan

Next, we will design a financial plan personalized to you and your goals.

This plan is intended to give you freedom—whether it is through permission to spend or by increasing your savings rate to broaden your choices for the future. Either way, the action steps are focused on you and your financial well-being.

Step 3: Live it out

At this point, we set you up with mindfully timed meetings to tackle the core phases of your plan.

As we begin acting on your financial plan, life will, of course, keep moving. When milestone events and decisions come up, I will be available to talk through your choices—balancing every option with the goals and values we defined at the very beginning of our relationship.

With this relational approach, you can navigate all life’s changes with confidence in your long-term results.

Let’s get started >

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lot of money to begin a financial plan?

I don’t maintain account minimums or require you to take home a certain income—I work with clients from all life and net worth backgrounds, as long as there is desire and ability to be intentional with their finances.

How do I know we will be a good fit?

I take a relational approach to wealth management, aware that money is so often entangled with life experiences both positive and negative, I also have the industry experience to maximize wealth-building tools, believing no one should need to sacrifice their results or their humanity as they use money as a tool for life and legacy.

If you are looking for financial planning rooted in your values and priorities and advanced by investment expertise and coordination of experts, let’s talk!

What is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™?

Working with a financial planner starts with a foundation of trust, and designations are just one way to decide who will earn your trust.

Out of thousands of financial professionals, less than 35% of financial advisors have been certified by the CFP board. 

To receive this designation, you must meet rigorous qualifications for advanced financial planning through coursework, as well as adhere to a high ethical standard.

There are 263,030 personal financial advisors in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2021). There are 93,997 CFP® professionals in the U.S. according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (Sept. 2022).

Are you a fiduciary?

Yes! In financial planning and investment management relationships, I have a fiduciary duty to make recommendations that put your interests first—regardless of all other circumstances.

With any advisor you are considering working with, you should double-check their reputation with trusted industry regulators. You can learn more about my registrations and licenses at FINRA Broker Check.

What does it mean that you are independent?

Being an independent advisor means I can provide a range of products and services, and I can recommend investment and insurance options to my clients based on what suits their plan, with no corporate obligation to push certain products.

I don’t live in Minnesota. Can I still work with you?

Absolutely! The beauty of technology is that it connects like-minded people regardless of geography. I work with clients throughout the United States.

How do you get paid?

I believe in full transparency in the fees I charge to work with me, as well as how I get paid for anything I recommend. You can read more in-depth about my services and fees, but I will also disclose the specifics as they relate to you before entering any official financial advising relationships, and I am an open book on the subject if you have specific questions you’d like to ask.

Let's connect!

    Minneapolis. MN

    2701 University Ave SE
    Minneapolis, MN 55414