Somer has been working for North Star for 20 years; most of those years, she has been working with Todd. She makes sure that the practice runs smoothly and assists with all insurance-related business and eMoney services. In addition, Somer helps manage Todd’s consulting firm, Bramson & Associates. In her spare time, she loves to explore all the Madison area has to offer, and she enjoys cooking, reading, and yoga.

Greg and Todd have worked together for 23 years. He started as a marketing coordinator for Todd, which eventually led to his current role as a financial associate. Greg assists with portfolio design and management, setting up and prepping for client reviews, securities applications, placing trades, and helping answer client questions on a wide range of topics.  Like Todd, he was awarded the Evans Scholarship (a scholarship for golf caddies) and went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his spare time, Greg likes to be active, especially playing golf.

Registered representative of Cetera Wealth Services, LLC.

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.

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.

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.