16 North Star financial advisors receive national recognition on AdvisorHub’s 2026 Advisors to Watch list
MINNEAPOLIS—June 16, 2026—AdvisorHub today announced its Advisors to Watch list, including 16 North Star Resource Group financial advisors who are committed to helping their clients meet their goals.
Advisors to Watch (Under $1B)
- Larry Altman, CFP®, CLU®, CLTC® – No. 387
- Todd Bramson, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® – No. 179
- Josh Evenson, CFP®, ChFC®, CASL® – No. 215
- Marshall Gifford, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC® – No. 77
- Gaylen Harms, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC®, CPFA® – No. 66
- Thomas Haunty, CFP®, RHU®, REBC®, ChFC®, AIF® – No. 195
- Brian Hensen, CFP®, ChFC® – No. 115
- Andrew Jacobs, ChFC®, AIF®, RICP®, CLTC®, CPFA® – No. 171
- David Jacobs, AIF®, CLTC®, CFP®, QPFC®, NQPA™ – No. 189
- Jeff Jarnes, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU® – No. 178
- Jane LaLonde, CFP®, CDFA – No. 111
- David Nordmeier, CFP®, CFS – No. 169
- Brad North, CFP® – No. 256
- Mike Rutter, CFP® – No. 56
Advisors to Watch (Over $1B)
Solo Advisors to Watch
- Joe Fox, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC® – No. 39
This annual list recognizes top financial professionals nationwide who lead practices devoted to a high level of service, dedication and innovative financial solutions.
“We are extremely thrilled and proud of these advisors for making this prestigious list from AdvisorHub,” said North Star CEO Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®. “This group represents some of the best within our profession, and they epitomize the values of North Star. We appreciate their commitment to serving others and upholding the North Star purpose.”
Seven North Star advisors earned repeat recognition from AdvisorHub after appearing in previous Advisors to Watch rankings.
Leading the way was Joe Fox, who ranked No. 39 on the Solo Advisors to Watch list, up from his No. 76 ranking in 2025. Since beginning his career with North Star in 1988, Fox has built a longstanding reputation for helping clients pursue their financial goals while also supporting community organizations, including Bikes for Kids, a nonprofit that provides bicycles and helmets to children of military families during the holidays.
Among the repeat honorees in the Advisors to Watch (Under $1B) category was Marshall Gifford, who ranked No. 77 after previously appearing on the same list in 2025 and appearing on the 100 Fast-Growing Advisors to Watch list in 2024. Gifford joined North Star in 1993 and, with his brother, Andrew Gifford, CFP®, JD, co-founded Gifford Financial, The MD & DDS Specialists, a division of North Star Resource Group, in 2017.
Jane LaLonde also earned repeat recognition, ranking No. 111 after placing No. 57 on AdvisorHub’s 100 Women Advisors to Watch list in 2025. Since joining North Star in 1986, LaLonde has become a nationally recognized speaker, author and advocate for financial education. In 2025, she founded LaLonde Wealth Advisor Group, an affiliate of North Star, and she leads a team of eight financial advisors and team members.
Additional repeat honorees included Madison, Wisconsin, advisors Brian Hensen (No. 115), Todd Bramson (No. 179), Thomas Haunty (No. 195) and Josh Evenson (No. 215). Hensen has served clients through North Star’s Madison office since 1992 and specializes in working with physicians and other medical professionals as a member of the firm’s Medical Division. Bramson, who began his career with North Star in 1987, maintains a national advisory practice and is a published co-author of the “Real Life Financial Planning” book series. Haunty joined North Star in 1982 and is a published author and frequent speaker on personal and business financial strategies. Evenson began his career with North Star in 1997 and is a co-founder of E|B Capital Management, an affiliate of North Star focused on helping clients make informed financial decisions.
In addition to its repeat honorees, North Star had nine advisors earn AdvisorHub recognition for the first time.
Mike Rutter of Minneapolis led the group of first-time qualifiers with a No. 56 ranking. Founder of The Vitality Group, Rutter has partnered with North Star Resource Group since 2007 and specializes in helping clients integrate financial planning into their broader life goals.
Fortune Financial, an affiliate of North Star Resource Group, had all four of its founding partners recognized by AdvisorHub. Gaylen Harms (No. 66) has spent more than 40 years helping business owners, professionals and pre-retirees pursue their financial goals through personalized, goal-based planning. Jeff Jarnes (No. 178) specializes in retirement, estate and investment strategies for business owners, executives and professionals. Larry Altman (No. 387) is known for his work with business owners, executives and special-needs families. Rounding out the group was Jim Quandt, who ranked No. 232 in the Over $1 Billion category and specializes in qualified retirement plans, investment management and estate planning.
Several other first-time recipients represented affiliated firms across North Star’s network. David Nordmeier ranked No. 169 and is a founding partner of Midwest Wealth Advisors, a firm devoted to helping clients gain clarity and confidence in their financial lives.
Brothers Andrew and David Jacobs ranked No. 171 and No. 189, respectively, in their first appearances on the list. Third-generation financial advisors, the Jacobs brothers continue a long family tradition of serving clients through Jacobs Financial.
Brad North was recognized at No. 256. Founder of AdviceLink® Wealth Advisors, a North Star affiliate, North has spent more than two decades helping clients pursue comprehensive financial wellness through holistic planning strategies.
Collectively, the recognized advisors represent decades of experience serving individuals, families, business owners and professionals through personalized financial planning, investment management and wealth preservation strategies.
The AdvisorHub Advisors to Watch rankings were determined based on each advisor’s score in three categories related to their financial practice: scale, growth and professionalism. Scale represents the size and profitability of the advisor’s business, with growth and professionalism representing business growth and the advisor’s regulatory record and community involvement, respectively.
To learn more about AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch list or to view the rankings for each category, visit www.advisorhub.com/resources/2026-advisors-to-watch/.
About AdvisorHub
AdvisorHub aims to be the financial advisors’ advocate and voice, by providing a definitive source for breaking news, relevant products and services, critical compensation data and a safe forum to share best practices and growth strategies. To learn more about AdvisorHub, visit www.advisorhub.com.
About North Star Resource Group
North Star Resource Group is a Minneapolis-based financial services firm that provides both individuals and businesses with the resources to help create, preserve and protect their wealth. North Star has more than 200 full-time advisors and over 218 employees. In a network of 43 offices in over 17 states, they have contributed to the financial security and well-being of over 150,000 individuals and small businesses.* To learn more about North Star Resource Group, visit www.northstarfinancial.com.
*Data as of 12/2025
###
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Ian Rich at 612.617.6076 or email him at ian.rich@northstarfinancial.com.
2026 Advisors to Watch issued by AdvisorHub. Methodology, advisors are ranked on a 100-pt scale in three categories. SCALE: relative size of assets, production and quality of service; GROWTH: relative year-over-year change in assets, clients and production; PROFESSIONALISM: regulatory record, community involvement, mentorship and team makeup. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient for participation or in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.