Wealth Enhancement Group

Brent Muller
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Brent has been advising Wealth Enhancement Group clients since 2007. As a believer in the power of teamwork, Brent often leverages the vast knowledge and resources of Wealth Enhancement Group to provide great service and smart strategies to his clients. Specializing in values-driven planning and retirement income planning, he takes pride in his ability to listen and help clients pursue their life goals through comprehensive financial planning.

A St. Paul, Minnesota native, Brent attended the University of Minnesota and is a U.S. Army Veteran. He completed his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ coursework through Boston University in 2013 and received the Chartered Financial Consultant^® (ChFC^®) designation from The American College of Financial Services.

Brent and his wife Angela live in St. Paul with their three children: Owen, Nathan and Josephine. His family enjoys camping, boating and water sports in the summer and skiing in the winter.

ChFC^®, Series 7 Securities Registration, Series 66 Advisory Registration, Insurance License

Michele Newhouse
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Michele has been serving clients with Wealth Enhancement Group for more than a decade. Her specialty is comprehensive retirement and financial planning, along with estate planning review. She has extensive experience in tax strategies, investments and income generation. She understands that the economic climate and current events affect our day-to-day markets and that implementing and maintaining proper planning is essential to good financial health.

Accumulating retirement assets and distributing assets during retirement are two distinctly different planning events; her goal as a financial planner is to ensure that her clients avoid the pitfalls and stay on track so they can live comfortably in retirement. In her position of Vice President, Financial Advisor, she considers herself fortunate in having the opportunity to assist people with their financial needs.

Michele is married with two children, Aaron and Haley. In her time away from the office, you can find her watching Haley on the softball fields or riding motorcycle with her husband Charlie.

Series 7 Securities Registration, Series 66 Advisory Registration, Insurance License

Morgan Schleif
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Morgan's goal is to generate income while keeping taxes to a minimum. Known as "The Retirement Income Specialist", he focuses on making potentially confusing financial issues easy to understand. Using his extensive knowledge of investments, tax implications, and the overall marketplace, he emphasizes overall portfolio diversification.

Morgan began his career in 1978 after graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business. Morgan spent time in the banking industry and corporate management as well as a familiar local financial planning firm before joining Wealth Enhancement Group in 1997.

Series 7 Securities Registration, Series 66 Advisory Registration, Insurance License

Edwina Allee
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Edwina has more than 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has a strong background in retirement and values-based financial planning. She has a passion for helping people understand what they truly value in their lives and how their values are intimately connected to their goals. She enjoys helping people understand how they are positioned financially with respect to important life goals, such as retirement and estate planning. Helping families, especially during life's unplanned transitions, is something Edwina takes great pride in. She's able to connect her clients with resources for planning for Social Security, health insurance, and a wide range of other services.

A graduate of Augsburg College with degrees in Education and English Composition and Literature, Edwina uses this background to help her clients learn and understand the finer details of managing their investments. She lives in Minnetonka with her husband, John and daughter, Katie.

Rob Burley
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Rob has been with Wealth Enhancement Group since 2001. His dynamic combination of analytical and interpersonal skills gives him the ability to explain the intricate details of financial planning to his clients to help them make educated decisions for the future. The importance of teamwork and coaching was instilled in Rob at an early age as he grew up playing and coaching a variety of team sports. These passions have led him to build comprehensive, values-based strategies for his clients, which in turn has created many long-lasting relationships.

He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in Financial Management and Business Management.

Rob and his wife Jodi live in Prior Lake with their three kids, Jack, Drew and Sidney. Rob's favorite time of the year is summer, when he enjoys spending time at Leech Lake with his family.

Peg Chromy Webb
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Peg is an industry veteran who has specialized in financial consulting for more than 30 years. Her tireless pursuit of ne information distinguishes her among her peers and has made her a popular co-host of WCCO Radio's "Your Money", sponsored by Wealth Enhancement Group.

She has a passion for education and teaching kids regarding career and money. She also volunteers her time with BestPrep and other charities.

Peg lives in Edina, Minnesota, with her husband Mike. She enjoys working on her golf game in a sunny vacation locale.

Preston Koenig
Assoc. Financial Advisor
Preston has been in the financial services industry since 2006. He assists the team by pursuing the goals and objectives of current and prospective clients. Before joining Wealth Enhancement Group in 2012, he worked for two financial institutions focusing on plan sponsorship and portfolio management.

He graduated from the University of North Dakota-Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and spent seven years in the aviation industry before deciding to make a career change. He then pursued his interest in finance by completing his Master of Business Administration at Metropolitan State University.

Preston grew up in Fargo, N.D., and currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Jessica and sons, Deacon and Pierce. In his free time he enjoys playing a variety of sports, traveling, spending time with family and attending various sporting events and concerts.

Michael Bishop
Vice President
Michael has been a member of the Wealth Enhancement Group team since 2006 and seeks to provide exceptional care and service for our clients. He has a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a Master of Science in Financial Services from the Institute of Business and Finance, and has also earned several professional designations as a means to better serve our clients including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional, Enrolled Agent and Certified Fund Specialist^®.

Outside of work, Michael and his wife Kristy live in St. Louis Park and are raising two daughters, Kayleigh and Kelsey, and a golden retriever, Lambeau.

Bruce Helmer
Co-Founder
Bruce has been in the financial services industry since 1983 and is one of the founders of Wealth Enhancement Group. Since 1997, he has hosted the "Your Money" radio show, a weekly program that focuses on delivering financial advice in a straightforward, jargon-free manner. Bruce also hosts with the "Mid-Morning" crew on WCCO-TV each Tuesday morning to discuss relevant, consumer driven topics. A frequent lecturer on personal finance topics, Bruce has authored three books; his most recent publication is entitled Real Wealth: How to Make Smart Money Choices for What Matters Most to You.

Bruce serves on the board of three privately held companies and is a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota, Morris where he received his bachelor's degree.

Bruce lives in Chanhassen with his wife and has two children.

Steve Hess
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional, Steve combines nearly 20 years of experience along with his technical expertise and communication skills to solve comprehensive planning issues. He understands that a successful plan relies on implementation, ongoing monitoring, and fine-tuning. Through his exceptional client service team and the expertise of Wealth Enhancement Group, he is able to help ensure that his clients' values become reality.

He resides in Mound with his wife Carri, daughters Alexa and Mariah, and their dog Harley. On summer weekends you will find Steve and his family out fishing, boating, and having fun.

Pat Wolfe
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Pat brings 25 years of experience in the securities industry to his clients on a daily basis. Before coming to Wealth Enhancement Group, he worked as the chief executive officer of a mutual fund company, and he owned and operated a Registered Inves ment Advisory firm. Pat provides customized financial planning services for his clients combined with a values-driven and consistent approach to money management.

Pat and his wife Ruthie have lived in Orono for 25 years raising their three children.

Nick Beissel
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Nick has been with Wealth Enhancement Group for more than 13 years after spending his early career with a large financial services firm in downtown Minneapolis. He is registered in securities and licensed in insurance and is a practicing CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional.

Nick received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Management from St. Olaf College, where he met his wife, Shelly. They live in Maple Grove with their two sons, Brady and Max, and their dog, Ole.

Chad Essman
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Chad has played an instrumental role in the Hockert-Whiley-Essman team's success for nearly a decade. His passion is educating clients about the risks they face in retirement by breaking down complex situations into easy-to-understand pieces so they can make the best financial decisions for their retirement. He enjoys helping clients pursue their retirement goals by leveraging his financial background and unique combination of designations.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Business with a bachelor's degree in Finance, Chad has obtained the rare combination of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional and Charter Financial Analyst^® designations.

Chad and his wife Maddie enjoy spending their free time traveling, cooking and volunteering within the community.

Mike Hess
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Mike, a Senior Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional, is the team's primary advisor in Plymouth. Mike spent seven years in the information technologies industry before joining Wealth Enhancement Group in 2003.

As a Senior Project Manager for an international business analytics company, he was exposed to many diverse cultures and communication styles. This experience enhances his ability to effectively interpret and understand his clients' objectives.

Jeff Hockert
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Jeff, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional, has been a Financial Advisor for more than 20 years. He is passionate about educating his clients on the most comprehensive strategies to help minimize their investment risk and maintain their current lifestyle during retirement. He considers listening to his clients his greatest strength and applies the knowledge of the entire Wealth Enhancement Group team to help manage the assets that clients already have and help them make educated decisions for the future.

Jeff and his family live in Greenwood, where they are active in the community with their kids, sports and outdoor activities.

Bruce Santjer
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Bruce has worked with Wealth Enhancement Group clients for more than 17 years, first as the head of portfolio management and now as a Financial Advisor on the Santjer-Beissel-Weiland team.

Before working for Wealth Enhancement Group, Bruce gained experience as an analyst for a large regional broker-dealer and a regional bank. Bruce has a master's degree from the Carlson School of Management and a bachelor's degree in Business from North Dakota State University.

Ben Schaefer
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
In 1996, after graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor's degree in Financial Economics, Ben started his career as a financial advisor in Minneapolis. In 2000, he started working with Wealth Enhancement Group. Ben has spent his time in various roles as a key member of Bruce Helmer's team, an Investment Manager and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional. In 2009, he launched his own team in Plymouth. Ben believes that to help ensure the success of the client, it is essential to plan for life's uncertainties, while keeping the client's goals and values central to the financial planning process.

He and his wife Lindsey live in Chaska with their three daughters. In his spare time, Ben enjoys an occasional round of golf and spending time with his family and friends.

Dustin Smith
Vice President, Wealth Co
As the key point of contact for the team, Dustin works with the Roundtable team of specialists and advisors to create, monitor and adjust your comprehensive wealth management plan.

Before joining Wealth Enhancement Group, he created and implemented custom financial planning strategies at a Fortune 500 financial services company. Dustin has expertise in financial literacy initiatives and is an Adjunct professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he teaches CFP^® courses.

Adam Weiland
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Adam has been with Wealth Enhancement Group for more than 8 years, and he has earned his CFP^® designation. Before joining Wealth Enhancement Group, Adam worked as a mortgage consultant and as an advisor for a large local financial institution.

When he's not working, he enjoys playing golf, sports, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. A graduate of Iowa State University, Adam resides in Plymouth with his wife Jenna and their three children, Wynn, Nora, and Rosy.

Justin Whiley
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Justin began his career in the financial services industry more than 25 years ago, having been a part of the company since its inception. As one of the original members of Wealth Enhancement Group, Justin has been instrumental in helping create the "Team Approach" that makes Wealth Enhancement Group distinct. In addition to being a Senior Financial Advisor, Justin has held roles in the financial planning, marketing, and account review departments. Justin understands the importance of the team approach to helping clients.

One of Justin's primary passions in life is martial arts and he is currently a coach of the U.S. National Kickboxing team. Having been a martial arts coach and mentor for more than 30 years, Justin's strength is listening and guiding people to help them pursue their personal and financial objectives.

Margaret Beggs Towle
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
With more than 18 years of experience in estate and financial planning, Margaret has been adding her expertise to the St. Croix Valley team since 2004. As a Certified Public Accountant, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Margaret is constantly working to implement effective financial strategies for each and every client.

Margaret enjoys traveling, playing golf and cooking in her spare time. She resides in Maplewood with her husband.

Bill Sukup
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
With 20 years of experience in personal financial planning, Bill has the knowledge and experience to help his clients make smart financial decisions. He takes an educational approach to financial planning, continually breaking down complex issues to make them easier to understand. He strives to know his clients well, understand their needs, and design and implement specific strategies for each one.

Bill graduated magna cum laude from the University of Northern Iowa with a major in Finance and minor in Economics. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional and a Retirement Income Certified Professional^®.

He resides in Woodbury, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Andrew Thelander
Sr. VP, Financial Advisor
Andrew is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional and Retirement Income Certified Professional^®, who has been with Wealth Enhancement Group since 2007. His love of learning and for helping clients achieve clarity in their financial lives is evident within his approach to thoughtfully understanding each client's individual needs, values and goals.

Andrew earned a Master of Business Administration from Augsburg College and a Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from The College of Saint Scholastica. They have since recognized him with the Young Alumni Achievement Award, as well as one of only 100 people inducted into their Century of Saints.

Andrew resides in Stillwater where he loves spending time with his wife and two sons. He also enjoys volunteering with Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare where he serves on their Philanthropy and Advancement Committee.