Awards and recognition
Striving for excellence for our clients, our teams, and our community
Established in our industry
In the time since Phil Richards acquired North Star in 1969, we have been on a steady path of growth as we diversify and evolve to serve our clients better.
Our continued success is a result of nearly a century of growing and adapting in the best interest of our clients.
- Twin Cities Largest Wealth Management Firms (2017-2021)
- Best in Class: Midsize Company Award by Minnesota Business Magazine (2016)1
- Top 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Nation (2007, 2009, 2014, and 2015)
- Master Firm Award by GAMA International2 (1987-2020)
Fast 50 (2022)
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business JournalThe Fast 50 awards recognize 50 privately held companies based in the Twin Cities with the fastest revenue growth between 2019 and 2021. Recipients will be recognized in the Minneapolis/St. Paul annual Fast 50 special publication on Friday, Oct. 28. Companies will also be celebrated at a reception hosted the evening prior at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Twin Cities Largest Wealth Management Firms (2017-2022)
by Minneapolis / St. Paul Business JournalThe Business Journal surveyed wealth management firms in the Twin Cities 24-county metro area to compile this list.
The Largest Wealth Management Firms ranking was designated for local banks and financial services firms in the Twin Cities Metro Area, and ranks firms by total assets under administration during the previous fiscal year. For the purposes of this award, assets under administration includes brokerage, investment advisory services and the cash value of life insurance policies. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
Best in Class: Midsize Company (2016)
by Minnesota Business MagazineThe Community Impact Awards acknowledge businesses across Minnesota striving to make a difference in their communities. The Best in Class: Midsize Company award is designated for companies with 51 to 250 employees for overall excellence in positively impacting Minnesota communities.
Top 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Nation (2007, 2009, 2014, and 2015)
by INC 5000With a 3-year growth rate of 65% from 2011 to 20141, North Star surpassed its previous growth rates and increasing its rank by 339 spots from the 2014 List. North Star was listed under the category of Financial Services, which was comprised of 247 companies out of the 5,000 companies on the original List.
North Star Resource Group was named by Inc. as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in 2020. Privately owned companies were ranked based on their revenue growth in the three previous calendar years. This ranking only includes companies that applied and paid a fee. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation OR (if organization & year(s) won named within the piece The Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America ranking includes privately owned companies which were ranked based on their revenue growth in the three previous calendar years. This ranking only includes companies that applied and paid a fee. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation
Master Firm Award (1987-2021)
by FinsecaThe selection from Finseca (formerly GAMA International) recognizes excellence in traditional and contemporary field management throughout the financial services industry. Finseca created the Master Firm Award to recognize those agencies that have met or exceeded $7.8 million in commissions.
Invested in our people
North Star’s greatest asset is our employees, and our mission is to equip each advisor and team member with the training and resources necessary for a fulfilling career and life.
- Top Workplaces USA (2021)
- Top Workplaces Financial Services Industry (2021)
- Top Workplaces Communication (2021)
- Star Tribune Top Workplace (2016)
- Top Entry-Level Employer according to CollegeGrad.com (2014-2021)
- Top Workplaces Work-Life Balance (2021)
- 100 Best Companies to Work For awarded by Minnesota Business Magazine (2015)
Top Workplaces USA (2021-2022)
by EnergageTop Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations, those with more than 150 employees, and those that may have operations in multiple markets. Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage.
Top Workplaces Financial Services Industry (2021)
by EnergageNorth Star was named a Top Workplace in our industry, solidifying our status as a destination workplace for thriving financial professionals.
Top Workplaces (2016 and 2021)
by The Star TribuneNorth Star is honored to be recognized in this list of distinguished public, private and non-profit organizations. Organizations were selected based on employee responses measuring engagement, organizational health, and satisfaction.
Purpose & Values — Culture Excellence Award (2022)
by EnergageTop Workplaces Culture Excellence awards celebrate organizations that excel in specific areas of workplace culture.
Work-Life Flexibility — Culture Excellence Award (2022)
by EnergageTop Workplaces Culture Excellence awards celebrate organizations that excel in specific areas of workplace culture.
Responsible to our communities
We believe in investing in the people and communities that surround us. Since 2004, we have contributed over $5.8 million to worthy charities and our team has put in hundreds of paid volunteer hours.
- Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota Torch Awards for Ethics (2019, 2015 and 2011)3
- Invest in Others Charitable Champion (2019)
- Finalist Corporate Philanthropy Award by Invest in Others (2015 and 2016)
- Minnesota Business Ethics Award for a Mid-Size Company (2015)
- Community Leadership Award by InvestmentNews (2010)
Torch Awards for Ethics (2020, 2015, and 2011)
by The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North DakotaThe Torch Awards for Ethics celebrate and recognize local companies that demonstrate integrity and a strong commitment to ethics in all that they do. North Star was selected as the winner in their category of businesses with over 175 employees.
Charitable Champion (2019)
by Invest in OthersThis list recognizes 20 financial services firms for their exemplary efforts to give back to their communities by promoting a culture of philanthropy amongst employees and financial professionals.
Finalist Corporate Philanthropy Award (2015 and 2016)
by Invest in OthersThis award recognizes advisory firms within the financial industry for their philanthropic involvements.
Midsize Company award was presented by the Minnesota Business Magazine. It was designated for companies with 51-250 employees for overall excellence in positively impacting Minnesotan communities. Applicants were evaluated based on criteria including philanthropic events and volunteer work
GAMA International is a membership organization for which individuals must submit applications and payment. The organization is geared toward those in a recruiting, training, or supervision role in the financial services industry. Awards are based primarily on -commissions, premiums, or fees generated from investment and insurance products and other criteria relative to leader-ship, achievement, and recruiting selected by the applicant. Individuals must be current with membership dues and submit an application fee for consideration. Working with this individual is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
Awards are based primarily on criteria relative to leadership, achievement, recruiting, management practices, community service, team unity and education. Sales are not a consideration. There is no fee associated with this award. Companies must be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau for consideration. Working with this advisor or firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
North Star Resource Group was a firm that was awarded the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics by the Better Business Bureau of MN & ND in 2020. Companies were evaluated in categories based on number of employees. In order to be eligible for the award, firms must be in business for three years or longer, earn an “A” rating from the BBB, meet financial obligations and not have won the award in the past three years. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
North Star Resource Group was named by Inc. as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in 2020. Privately owned companies were ranked based on their revenue growth in the three previous calendar years. This ranking only includes companies that applied and paid a fee. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation OR (if organization & year(s) won named within the piece The Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America ranking includes privately owned companies which were ranked based on their revenue growth in the three previous calendar years. This ranking only includes companies that applied and paid a fee. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
The Largest Wealth Management Firms ranking was designated for local banks and financial services firms in the Twin Cities Metro Area, and ranks firms by total assets under administration during the previous fiscal year. For the purposes of this award, assets under administration includes brokerage, investment advisory services and the cash value of life insurance policies. Working with this firm is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.
Giving back
We believe we have a responsibility to invest in the people and communities that surround us.