Gaylen J. Harms, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, CPFA
Founding Partner of Fortune Financial
Helping create and preserve wealth since 1983.
Gaylen J. Harms, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, CPFA
Founding Partner of Fortune Financial
Helping create and preserve wealth since 1983.
About
Gaylen J. Harms, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, CPFA is a founding partner of Fortune Financial, an independent financial services firm in Minnetonka, Minn.
For nearly 40 years, Gaylen has provided financial alternatives helping business owners, professionals, and pre-retirees pursue financial success. He helps clients make high-quality decisions about their financial resources by defining and quantifying their financial goals and providing access to a wide range of financial products and services to help them arrive at their objectives.
The founding partners of Fortune Financial have over 120 combined years of experience in the financial services industry. Gaylen and his co-founders continually strive to make Fortune Financial a trusted wealth management firm for comprehensive financial planning. Fortune Financial is affiliated with North Star Resource Group, who is regularly named one of the largest wealth management firms in the twin cities.1
Qualifications
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™practitioner
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), American College – Bryn Mawr, PA
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), American College – Bryn Mawr, PA
- Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC), CTLC Board of Standards – Newton, MA
- Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), National Association of Plan Advisors – Arlington, VA
- S. in Business, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
- Member, Financial Planning Association
- Registered Representative and Investment Advisor, Representative of CRI Securities, LLC and Securian Financial Services, Inc.
- FINRA Series 7 and 63 Registered
- Numerous seminars to professionals and corporations
Personal
- Resides in Bloomington, MN, with wife Julie and has two children, Jackie and Vicki
- Past Chair, Board of Directors of Walker Methodist
- Past Chair, Board of Directors of the Walker Methodist Foundation
- Eagle Scout
1Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. (2021 and 2020). Twin Cities Largest Wealth Management Firms
The Largest Wealth Management Firms ranking was presented by the Minnesota Business Magazine in 2020 & 2021. It 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.
Services
Business owner solutions
Increase your corporate and personal net worth through expert guidance and solutions tailored to you.
Gaylen walks executives and business owners through managing concentrated positions, stock option exercise and sale, succession planning, estate planning, and business transition strategies.
He also helps coordinate employee benefit programs designed for your needs. His goal is to provide benefits options that your employees value to create lasting employee satisfaction and security to help your business thrive.
Comprehensive financial planning
With long-range financial strategies and your choice of investment and insurance products, you can be on your way to the lifestyle you desire for today and for your future.
Gaylen prioritizes the necessary time to thoroughly understand your financial situation through conversation and specific questions. Then, with a clear picture of your current situation and your desired outcome, he and his team develop specific, achievable goals on the way toward your life and legacy objectives.
Retirement strategies
Retirement planning allows you to identify your specific retirement goals and develop a strategy that gives you confidence in your ability to outlive your money.
As you plan for your future lifestyle, Gaylen will come alongside you with guidance and insight through the asset accumulation phase and into the distribution phase of your life, helping you balance predictable cash flow and legacy.
Risk management
Risk management is a critical component of a sound financial strategy, serving as the foundation of your wealth-building journey.
Gaylen can help you and your family select from a wide range of products to select the life insurance, disability insurance, and other coverage options most aligned to your overall financial strategy.
Tax-efficient investment strategies*
Keep more of your money with a tax-efficient investment strategy. Gaylen will consider your income and assets to develop investing recommendations that make the most of tax-deferred and tax-exempt vehicles for better long-term growth.
Team
Gaylen works with advisors Patrick Olson and Reid Meyer to provide a high-level service to clients and their families.
As members of the Fortune Financial team, Patrick and Reid share a similar financial planning philosophy and approach to Gaylen, and they are each experienced, talented financial professionals leading individuals and business owners on the path toward financial security.
Additionally, Gaylen’s clients can expect exceptional administrative assistance through this client support team and insight on especially complex situations through his insurance and investment specialists.
Associate advisors
Patrick Olson, CFP®
Financial Advisor
Reid Meyer, CFP®, CPFA®
Financial Advisor
Financial resource team
Carrie Hancock, ChFC®, CLU®
Vice President, Financial Planning Resource Center
Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®
Vice President Life and Long-Term Care
Jeff Landt, CFA, CFP®
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Office locations
Gaylen is an investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. CA Insurance License #OM72497.