A leader of the Kuenster Group of Wells Fargo Advisors — a team of local, experienced professionals helping affluent individuals and families build, manage, and preserve their wealth — Mike is a dynamic advisor who sets high expectations and always strives to exceed them. He is driven to deliver for his clients every day, making an impact on their lives by helping them achieve the goals that are most important to them. The textbook definition of a “people person,” Mike is passionate about building meaningful relationships with his clients, his team, and his community.

Mike has more than 30 years of experience, including working as a CPA.* He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. As a lifelong learner committed to innovation, Mike strives to stay on top of technological trends and adapt to the ever-changing market environment.

A Wisconsin native, Mike grew up in a small town where his father ran several family businesses. He credits his upbringing and background as a student-athlete with instilling the values he holds today, including hard work, teamwork, and always doing the right thing. This is part of the DNA he shares with his brother, Kevin, and is part of the fabric of the Kuenster Group as well. Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and continued his love of sports playing college baseball. He has shared his passion for competing with future generations by coaching a variety of youth sports.

Today, he and his wife, Ellen, and their beloved golden retrievers, Roo and Winnie, live in Mendota Heights. They have four adult children who all share a love of sports. Away from the office, Mike dedicates time as a volunteer and advocates for two core initiatives, mental health and financial literacy. Preferring to spend as much time outdoors as possible, Mike enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing, and the stories that encompass them all.

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Backed by over 40 years of experience, Kevin utilizes two unique perspectives as a leader of the Kuenster Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. For more than a decade, Kevin worked as a CPA,* giving him deep knowledge of income and estate tax strategy. He also has experienced a series of personal life challenges which have not only strengthened his empathy and understanding, but have driven him to help his clients be better prepared for and thrive through their own difficulties, both personal and professional.

As a local, experienced professional helping affluent individuals and families build, manage, and preserve their wealth, Kevin takes pride in working with his clients to create a road map toward financial security. He strives each day to help them achieve their goals and enjoy the life they’ve worked hard to build. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), he is known for his analytic and research skills, as well as his knowledge of life insurance and estate planning strategies. Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Having grown up in a small Wisconsin town, he watched his father run several businesses. Being by his father’s side for many years, Kevin learned the importance of forming relationships with clients, and to this day, he is widely respected for always striving to protect his clients’ interests.

A proud member of the Financial Planning Association, Kevin adheres to its professional code of ethics. He also believes in giving back to his community, and he is active with his parish and its Men’s Club, in addition to teaching finance to high school students. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time in St. Paul with his wife, Cheryl, their three daughters and five grandchildren, in addition to exercising, playing softball, and golfing.

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Colleen brings a can-do attitude and steadfast commitment to excellence in her work as an integral part of the Kuenster Group. She leverages her analytic expertise, sophisticated planning, and investment management resources to help clients pursue their financial goals. Colleen is a focused, reliable, and solutions-oriented team player who doesn’t hesitate to roll up her sleeves to do what needs to be done for clients.

After earning her degree in Finance, Investments, and Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2017. As a highly self-motivated individual with a strong drive to learn, Colleen has since earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. She is dedicated to continuing to deepen her knowledge of portfolio management strategies and investment planning best practices in order to help her clients pursue their specific investment goals and objectives.

Colleen is an Eagan native and now lives in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis with her husband, Nyada, and their French Bulldog, Ramona. An avid downhill skier and former competitive skier, Colleen previously coached downhill ski racing with the Buck Hill Ski Racing Club, something she hopes to return to in the near future.

With nearly 20 years of planning and investment experience, Nate is the Kuenster Group’s go-to resource for unconventional solutions to help meet clients’ complex financial needs. He develops, implements, and evaluates clients’ investment strategies to help bring their goals and dreams to fruition. Nate is known as an out-of-the-box thinker with a passion for problem solving, and he enjoys discovering innovative solutions for clients’ financial challenges. After graduating from Bethel University with a degree in Business Finance, he went on to earn the Certified Investment Management Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designations.

After growing up in California and Florida, Nate moved to Minnesota and currently lives in Mendota Heights with his wife, Parisa, and they stay busy with their two
young children and two dogs. Nate’s enthusiasm for traveling to learn about new cultures and environments was instilled in him by his father, who ran a nonprofit mission organization. Nate has visited more than 30 countries and credits those experiences with keeping him grounded while also giving him a unique perspective about what’s important in life.

With over seven years of industry expertise, Patrick works with clients to build and help maintain their investment plans with an emphasis on cash flow planning. Patrick comes from a family of teachers, which has instilled in him a strong sense of servant leadership. He is glad to work in the financial services industry in a role where he can utilize this strength in a way that intersects with his interests. Patrick obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Politics from Loras College with a minor in Catholic Studies. He also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation and the Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation to better serve his clients’ wealth management needs.

Patrick lives in St. Paul with his wife, Kackie. He spends time outside of work serving as a technology tutor at Carondelet Village retirement community and is a supporter of the National Football Foundation. In his free time, he enjoys reading about history, gardening, and supporting the Minnesota Vikings and West Ham United.

Bringing over 15 years of experience in the financial services space, Melissa focuses on all things related to providing excellent client service. In her role, she assists individuals, families, business owners, and trustees with their comprehensive plans and ensures that any changes that affect their financial goals are documented and up to date. In an ever-changing and fast-paced industry, Melissa’s detail-oriented work and proactive communication keep the team focused on what really matters – their clients. She strives to anticipate client needs even before they arise and enjoys the day-to-day variety of getting to know and working with people. Melissa attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout and earned her B.S. in Business Administration there.

Today, Melissa lives in Stillwater with her husband, Chris, and their young son and daughter. In her (limited) free time, she enjoys staying active by working out and gardening. Her family loves hiking, and most summer weekends are spent near bodies of water, either on the St. Croix River or at the family lake cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Melissa is a big Minnesota Vikings fan, a devotion that was only deepened by attending college in Wisconsin surrounded by Green Bay Packers fans.