Alicia serves as the Marketing Specialist at Gifford Financial, overseeing our client-focused initiatives. From coordinating events and presentations to content creation and management of our marketing materials, social media platforms, and website, she collaborates with our advisors to enhance client engagement and brand visibility. She plays a pivotal role in managing Marshall’s schedule and takes joy in commemorating significant client milestones such as births, adoptions, weddings, and retirements. Alicia is licensed in life and disability insurance.

Katie is Gifford Financial’s Investment Specialist.  She collaborates with clients as they initiate new accounts and make changes to current investments. Katie works closely with the investment companies, fostering those relationships to better be able to assist in how our clients interact through the various stages of account opening and finalization. She places trades and welcomes any investment, service, and general questions you may have. Katie is a Registered Administrative Assistant with Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.

Bert is Gifford Financial’s Disability Insurance Coordinator. He runs illustrations, walks our clients through insurance applications and the underwriting process, and facilitates policy finalization. He also assists with policy increases as well as maintaining and servicing client information. Bert welcomes any questions related to disability insurance applications (individual and business) and underwriting that you may have. Bert is licensed in life and disability insurance.

Megan oversees the risk management portion of Marshall’s practice as Insurance Coordinator. In addition to insurance, she coordinates all eMoney-related services and collaborates with clients throughout the process. From application to finalization, Megan welcomes any questions you may have while navigating the complexities of the underwriting process together. She works closely with insurance companies to better assist clients through the various stages of policy opening and placement. Megan is licensed in life and disability insurance.

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.

Michael joined the North Star property and casualty department in 2019. As a team, the North Star insurance specialists focus on finding gaps in coverage and providing clients with customized solutions based on their specific needs.

Working out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Michael is licensed to work with clients throughout the U.S.

Anne is a co-founder of the Medicare Supplement division at North Star, helping to simplify healthcare choices for Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As an independent agency, the Medicare team at North Star can look at an individual’s health care needs and find a suitable plan with multiple different carriers. The team’s goal is never to sell a policy but to educate and guide clients to a suitable choice. Aligned with these values, Anne hosts regular no-cost, no-obligation informational meetings about Medicare.

A College of Saint Benedict graduate, Anne has served clients in the Medicare field since 2010, and she currently works out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis.

As a member of our employee benefits team, Chloe works closely with businesses to analyze, design, and administer comprehensive employee benefits programs.

Chloe brings with her extensive experience in client service and insurance administration, and she uses these skills to support business clients with the communication, training, and ongoing assistance needed to implement a successful employee benefits program.