From the President

Now that the bitter -37°F wind chills are behind us, I hope this message finds you and your families well. As we look ahead to 2025, I’m excited about the lineup of events our board has put together.

It was wonderful to see everyone who attended our first meeting of the year on February 12th. Of course, in true Wisconsin fashion, the one day we planned to gather, a “snowmageddon” was in the forecast! Despite the weather, we had a fantastic turnout and heard from several outstanding speakers.

Looking ahead, I encourage you to mark your calendar for our next event on May 20th. This event will cover key financial planning topics, provide a valuable collaborative opportunity, and conclude with time to network and socialize. While it will be held at Luxe Bay Golf, you don’t need to be a golfer to attend—it's simply a great venue to host a happy hour following our meeting.

Two Key Initiatives
1.    Mentorship Program
We are exploring the introduction of a mentorship program within FPA of WI. More details will follow, but I’d like to encourage those who can to consider sponsoring an aspiring or early-career financial planner. We are all fortunate to work in this industry, and this program would be a meaningful way to give back. Our goal is to connect you with students or newer planners, providing an opportunity to share insights into your career and the field of financial planning.

2.    FPA of WI Study Groups
We are also gauging interest in study groups for our members. If there’s demand, we will compile a list of topics members would like to explore, then form groups of 4–8 based on shared interests. These sessions can take place either in person or via Zoom, offering a valuable opportunity to learn from one another on subjects that matter most to you. If you're interested, please reach out for more information.

A Final Thank You
Lastly, I want to extend a huge thank you to our incredible sponsors and partners. Please take the time to connect with them—we couldn’t do all of this without their support. We were selective in curating our 2025 sponsor list, and we truly believe each one can bring value to your firm.

Looking forward to a great year ahead!
Luke Kraft CFP® AIF® CAIA 

Welcome New Board Member

Current Board Members

Thank you to the outstanding FPA Wisconsin board members of 2024. Your vision and dedication have been key in advancing FPA of Wisconsin, and we’re grateful for your contributions to chapter success. 

President - Luke Kraft, CFP®, AIF®,CAIA
President Elect - Shannon Nook, FPQP ^_TM
Treasurer - Greg Nebel, CFP®
Secretary - Josh Strzelecki, CRPC, APMA
Chairman - Nick Ziarek, CFA, CFP®
Membership Director - Bethany Canfield 
NexGen Director - Ryan Rink, CFP®, EA, CLTC®, ChFC®
Program Director - Deanne Phillips, CFP®, CDFA®
Career Development Director - Tyler McConville, CFP®
Pro Bono - Sarah Knudson, CFP®
Public Relations Director - Anthony Stich
Board of Directors - Andrew Scott
Board of Directors - Preston Cherry, Ph. D., CFP®

Welcome New Members

Tania Aggarwal, CFP® 
Heather Bahillo
Tyler Bauer, CFP® - Mercer Advisors
Almann Brague, CFP® 
Steve Clasen - Thrivent
Robert Damm, CFP® 
Bradley Howe, CFP®, CFA, CLU 
Jake Janicek - WFA Asset Management
Kelly Lagore, CFP® - Wealth Enhancement Group
Michael Morrone, CFP® - Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Stephanie Rautio, CFP® 
Emma Schmelling - Baird
Eric Schmitz, CFP® - Klass Financial Asset Advisors, LLC
Patrick Sheehy
John Wheeler - John Patrick Planning Group

Membership

All members who enroll in the auto-renewal program will receive a 10% discount on their annual membership fee. To take advantage of this offer, simply select "auto-renewal" when you join or renew online, or contact FPA Member Services at [email protected] or 800-322-4237 option 2. We are thrilled to provide this added value to our members and hope it will make membership in FPA even more rewarding. 

Calendar of Events

Member Meeting
May 20th - Save the Date!
Luxe Golf Bays | 11:30 am - 5:00 pm 

Financial Planning Symposium - 
September 30th - October 1st - Save the Date!
Hotel Northland - Green Bay

New Member Breakfast - Virtual Event
March 21st - Register Now!

NexGen 
April 24th - Virtual - Save the Date!

For more information on each event visit the Events Page.  

Thank You to Our Partners

The success of our year-long programs and community outreach is a direct result of the dedication and generosity of our FPA Wisconsin partners. We extend our deepest thanks for their continued partnership and support.

Gold Partner
Prairie Trust
First Trust

Silver Partners
American Funds
Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions
CION Investments
Cliffwater
CPS Horizon Financial
CTaccess, Inc.
Edvest 529
Investors Associated
Luminate Bank
Nationwide Financial 
Natixis Investment Managers
Vesta Senior Network
Vizance

Bronze Partner
Artisan Partners 
von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

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