Kristin Strom named a Finance & Commerce Top Women in Finance for outstanding professional and personal leadership
MINNEAPOLIS—September 18, 2025—Recognized for her forward-thinking approach to holistic financial planning and her commitment to mentoring the next generation, Kristin Strom, AIF®†, a financial advisor at Fortune Financial (an affiliate of North Star Resource Group), was today announced as a Top Women in Finance honoree by Finance & Commerce.
This award recognizes outstanding contributions made to the financial services profession by women across Minnesota, as well as their dedication to their profession, communities and society at large.
“I am honored to have been nominated for this award, and I feel fortunate I have so many people supporting me,” said Strom. “I have always had a passion for customer service, and it was no accident that I joined a practice that focuses on building long-term relationships with clients. As a second-generation advisor, it has been exciting getting to know existing clients, approach planning with a fresh perspective, and start working with the next generation.”
Strom has been a financial advisor since 2023 and is a member of Fortune Financial in Minnetonka, Minn. Here, she provides holistic financial planning solutions to clients across the nation under the mentorship of her father, Jeff Jarnes, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®†, a senior partner at Fortune Financial.
“We are incredibly proud that Kristin Strom and Fortune Financial are part of the North Star family,” stated Ed Deutschlander, CLU®, CLF®†, CEO of North Star Resource Group. “Kristin’s talent and passion will serve her and her clients well for the many great years she has ahead of her.”
Since becoming an advisor, Strom has rapidly established herself as a respected figure among clients and peers alike. Named the 2023 Top New Advisor in the Securian Financial network and a 2024 InvestmentNews NextGen Advisor of the Year finalist, she has championed industry advancements such as ESG investing, ETFs and modern annuities tailored to retiree and pre-retiree clients—demonstrating her commitment to innovation and client-centered planning.
In addition to her professional achievements, Strom is an active member of Women Inspiring and Supporting Excellence (WISE), a national professional development organization for women advisors, serves as the OSJ manager for the Fortune office and volunteers with the Breast Cancer Awareness Association. She also mentors other early-career financial advisors and support staff within North Star, further positioning her as an inspiration for others and a leader in her field.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Kristin Strom on this well-deserved recognition,” said Jarnes. “Kristin’s commitment to excellence, coupled with her passion for serving clients, truly exemplifies the values we uphold at Fortune Financial. We are proud to have her as a valuable member of our team.”
Strom and the other award honorees will be recognized at the 2025 Finance & Commerce awards and networking event on November 13, 2025, in Minneapolis.
To learn more about Strom, visit www.northstarfinancial.com/advisors/kristin-strom.
About Finance & Commerce
Finance & Commerce provides news, analysis and commentary on Minnesota business. Founded in 1887, they are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting, focusing on areas such as real estate, banking and technology. To learn more about Finance & Commerce, visit www.finance-commerce.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 12/2024
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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.
†Registered Representative of Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. 2701 UNIVERSITY AVENUE SE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414
2025 Top Women in Finance Hall of Fame Award Honoree presented by Finance & Commerce is nomination based and honors industry-leading executives, business owners and entrepreneurs in the financial sector for their outstanding contributions and dedication to their profession, their communities, and society at large. To be eligible for consideration, candidates must work in Minnesota. Nominations are reviewed and determined by the Finance & Commerce selection committee. 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 advisor 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 – 2024 (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.
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Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.