Four North Star financial advisors named finalists in 2025 InvestmentNews Awards
NEW YORK—April 29, 2025—Four financial advisors from North Star Resource Group have been named finalists in the 2025 InvestmentNews Awards, recognizing excellence across the financial services profession. Spanning multiple regions and areas of expertise, the honorees reflect North Star’s deep commitment to mentorship, innovation, and community impact.
- Shaun McDuffee, AEP, CLU®, ChFC®, CEPA, Senior Vice President — Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service
- Jane LaLonde, CFP®, CDFA, Senior Partner — Advisor of the Year (Midwest)
- Damon Lichtenberger, CLTC, Senior Partner — Advisor of the Year (Southeast)
- Amanda Charles, CSLP®, Financial Advisor — NextGen Advisor of the Year
McDuffee is being recognized for his unwavering commitment to Alzheimer’s research through Stop Alzheimer’s Now, the nonprofit he co-founded after losing both parents to the disease. Since 2013, McDuffee has helped raise nearly $900,000 to fund early-stage research, while also serving as Senior Vice President at North Star and founder of Twin Oak Advisors.
“Shaun McDuffee is one of the profession’s very best, and North Star is extremely proud to hear that he is a finalist for the Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service Award,” said North Star CEO Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®. “Being the founder of Stop Alzheimer’s Now (SAN) and his tireless fundraising for it is just one of the reasons this honor is well-earned.”
LaLonde is among the top financial advisors at the firm based on GDC. She is a co-author of the book, Real Life Financial Planning with Case Studies for Women (published in 2001) and is a nationally recognized speaker. In 2024, she founded a group of financial planners focused on providing exceptional client experiences and sound long-term financial strategies.
“Jane LaLonde is consistently one of the top advisors at North Star, so it’s no surprise that she is a finalist for Advisor of the Year (Midwest),” Deutschlander added. “She is devoted to ensuring the financial security of her clients, and she does it extremely well. We are very proud of Jane.”
Likewise, in the Southeast, Lichtenberger has built a nationwide financial practice and has become a regular keynote speaker at various teaching hospitals and medical groups throughout the country. He has also been published in Medical Economics, Dental Products Report and The Torch, which showcases his dedication to serving the medical community’s unique financial needs.
“Damon Lichtenberger has been a longstanding high-achieving advisor with North Star and a crucial anchor in our Durham office,” noted Deutschlander. “We’re thrilled that he has been named a finalist for the Advisor of the Year (Southeast) Award, and we admire his dedication to mentoring advisors in the Durham office and sharing his vast knowledge with others.”
Finally, Charles became an advisor in 2023 as a member of the North Star affiliate firm, Moxie Wealth Management. She is deeply committed to educating younger generations on smart money management, serving as the Moxie team’s student loan planning specialist and using her large social media following to expand financial literacy in this group.
“Amanda Charles has a bright future ahead, and we are very excited to hear that InvestmentNews has recognized that by naming her a NextGen Advisor of the Year finalist,” concluded Deutschlander. “Congratulations to Amanda and her mentors, Kristin Printon and Joe Burgess—a powerhouse team we are very proud to call our own.”
The advisors named above will be honored alongside the other award finalists and winners at the InvestmentNews Awards Ceremony on June 24, 2025, in New York.
To learn more about the InvestmentNews awards, visit www.investmentnewsawards.com.
About InvestmentNews
InvestmentNews is a trusted resource for financial advisors, providing investment news and analysis for financial advisors. They include extensive coverage and expert commentary on important topics in the financial advisory industry and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of journalistic and editorial integrity. To learn more about InvestmentNews, visit www.investmentnews.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 207 full-time advisors and over 202 employees. In a network of 37 offices in over 21 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 December 2024
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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.
2025 Advisor of the Year – Regional finalist issued by InvestmentNews. The call for nominations is open to all wealth management professionals and organizations – including financial advisors, advisory brokerages, BDMs, fund providers and service providers – from across USA. The InvestmentNews Awards team will conduct research and draw on knowledge and information gained through InvestmentNews to support and supplement nominations received. Once all nominations are considered and research is complete, excellence awardees will be selected in each category (except the Lifetime Achievement category). submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria. 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.
NextGen Advisor of the Year – 2025 finalist issued by InvestmentNews. To be eligible, nominees must have been accredited as an advisor(must be registered with a regulator) on or after January 1, 2022. The call for nominations is open to all wealth management professionals and organizations – including financial advisors, advisory brokerages, BDMs, fund providers and service providers – from across USA. The InvestmentNews Awards team will conduct research and draw on knowledge and information gained through InvestmentNews to support and supplement nominations received. Once all nominations are considered and research is complete, excellence awardees will be selected in each category (except the Lifetime Achievement category). submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria. 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.
Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service– 2025 finalist issued by InvestmentNews. The call for nominations is open to all wealth management professionals and organizations – including financial advisors, advisory brokerages, BDMs, fund providers and service providers – from across USA. The InvestmentNews Awards team will conduct research and draw on knowledge and information gained through InvestmentNews to support and supplement nominations received. Once all nominations are considered and research is complete, excellence awardees will be selected in each category (except the Lifetime Achievement category). submissions from our excellence awardees are forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising industry leaders and senior representatives. The panel will assess and vote for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria. 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.
Jane, Shaun, Damon and Amanda are registered representatives offering securities through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.
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Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.