ADVISING APPROACH

Derek’s specialty is in helping people articulate and realize their vision, whether he’s working with clients or setting the course for the Park Street practice. When clients join the firm, he gets to know them on a personal level, asking poignant questions to better understand their values and help them clarify their idea of meaningful success. Then he collaborates with his team and their network of professionals to create a practical plan that brings their vision to life. As he works with clients, he focuses on education, simplifying the planning process and helping them understand the “why,” behind each strategy. His mission is to give people the clarity and comfort to make wise, non-emotional decisions about money, and he never shies away from the tough conversations. By providing transparent advice, practical education, and personal support, he helps clients gain confidence and peace of mind about their financial futures.

DEREK’S SPECIALTY

Derek specializes in serving established business owners, helping them create a unified vision for their personal and professional financial worlds. Many of his clients are planning to exit their business in the next several years, and they’re looking for alternative strategies to maximize their success, minimize taxes, and protect their wealth. He works with them to implement tools such as executive compensation benefits that help retain and reward key employees and maximize the value of their business. From there, he guides them through the transition into retirement, helping them increase the longevity of their money, reduce their tax burden, and efficiently transfer wealth to the next generation.

INDUSTRY DESIGNATIONS & AFFILIATIONS

• Accredited Estate Planner®
• Retirement Income Certified Professional®
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
• Chartered Financial Consultant®
• National Association of Estate Planners & Councils – member

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Derek has always had an entrepreneurial spirit; at age 12, he started his own eBay business selling jewelry and audio equipment (not to mention his first-grade toy-selling gig). Fascinated by not only how money works, but how people relate to it, he pursued a degree in finance with a minor in industrial psychology. While working as an assistant manager at a bank during college, he discovered advising and knew he’d found his forever career—one where he could channel his passion for finances and entrepreneurship while having a direct, positive impact on others. He started his practice in 2011 and has since built a strong team dedicated to helping people realize their visions of success.

PERSONAL LIFE

Derek and his wife Alex live in Minneapolis with their son Parker and their beagle, Hazel. An active, adventurous family, they enjoy exploring the outdoors together, trying new restaurants, and traveling. Derek himself enjoys many hobbies, some of which include four-wheeling, golf, shooting/hunting, exotic cars, biking, and pickleball. His favorite hobby, however, is training in mixed martial arts: boxing, jujitsu, and Muay Thai.

FUN FACTS

What is one thing every person should add to their daily routine?

Fight relentlessly to optimize your mind and body. Optimization starts by waking up early so you have time for a morning routine of meditation, prepping for your day, meal prep, study/think time, and exercising. That sense of accomplishment will stay with you throughout the rest of your day.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Batman. Or a baseball player.

What are you reading right now?

I read about 20 books a year, and right now I’m reading a book on how to educate clients based off storytelling opposed to charts and listening to a book on how to successfully communicate in high stake situations!

ADVISING APPROACH

As an advisor, Sam’s mission is to help people optimize the decisions they make with their money so they can do the things they want with their life. He recognizes wealth is merely a tool, and that it’s only useful if it helps his clients accomplish their most important goals. He builds deep relationships with those he serves, giving him the ability to see things from his clients’ perspectives as they work together. By seeking a genuine understanding of what makes them unique and what matters to them, he’s able to provide relevant advice that helps them align their resources with their vision of a great life.

Leveraging a collaborative approach to planning, Sam asks insightful questions that help his clients better understand their motivations, desires, and reasons for financial planning. His goal is that through their work together, his clients will learn more about not just their finances, but themselves.

SAM’S SPECIALTY

Sam works primarily with individuals, business owners and people who are nearing retirement. He addresses not only what his clients want during their life, but their wishes for the next generation, facilitating conversations about how to transfer important values and principles as well as wealth. His clients typically have complex financial lives, and his goal is to provide peace of mind through thorough, values-based planning.

Sam also works with a select group of young professionals to help them develop their success and protect their futures. With his experience serving established business owners, he provides a valuable perspective that helps them anticipate potential challenges and maximize their unique opportunities today.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND & ACCOLADES

Sam started his career with Northwestern Mutual while simultaneously earning a degree in finance from the University of Minnesota through Northwestern Mutual’s internship program. He quickly became one of the company’s top interns, ranking 5th out of approximately 3,000 nationally. He fell in love with the career, knowing it was a way he could put his skills to use while helping people. He graduated college in just three years and continued his work with the firm on a fulltime basis, starting his career as the national runner-up in the Mike Gish Competition. For several years, he ran the firm’s internship program he was previously part of, which was ranked #1 in Northwestern Mutual in 2022, and #3 of all time at the company. Sam then partnered with Derek to form Park Street Advisors. In 2023, Sam received the Finance and Commerce Rising Young Professionals Award as well as earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.

PERSONAL LIFE

Sam lives in New Brighton, Minnesota, with his long-term girlfriend Brianna, and their two rescue cats, Oscar and Oakley. They enjoy hanging out with friends and family, working out, traveling, and making dinner together (though Sam admits he’s not a great cook, just an excellent assistant). Sam also likes to watch football (go Vikings!), snowboard, and golf with Brianna (who usually beats him).

FUN FACTS

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?

I studied abroad in Sydney, Australia, for about four months. Getting to be in such a unique place for an extended period of time really gives you the opportunity to learn about a culture and experience the people unlike any other trip I’ve taken.

Who makes you laugh?

My coworkers. I think this team is really funny.

What’s your favorite book or the book that has most impacted your life?

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins or The Third Door by Alex Banayan. The theme of both is very much about how your mind can influence what you’re capable of. I thrive on thinking, “There’s definitely a way to make this happen, and I’m going to figure it out.”

RYAN’S SPECIALTY

As a CFA® charterholder, Ryan specializes in investment planning. He oversees all the investment strategies for our practice, constructing investment models, reviewing clients’ plans, and identifying the most effective solutions to help them meet their goals. With thorough attention to detail, he ensures every strategy is implemented with the utmost care and precision. Motivated by a genuine desire to improve the lives of others, he takes a hands-on approach to planning, taking time to get to know clients, educate them, and give them clarity about their situation, resources, and opportunities. Through this process, his goal is to help them connect their most important values and goals to their financial resources so they can maximize their wealth in a meaningful way.

EDUCATION & DESIGNATIONS

• University of Minnesota Duluth – B.B.A. in financial markets finance and economics
• Chartered Financial Analyst®
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
• Retirement Income Certified Professional®

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

With his analytical mind, Ryan always knew he’d pursue a career involving numbers. He appreciated the real-world application of financial planning, and during college, he began exploring the world of investments. During that time, a friend introduced him to Derek, and Ryan knew he’d found his career path. He officially joined the practice in 2018.

PERSONAL LIFE

Ryan grew up in St. Michael, Minnesota, and lives in Maple Lake with his wife, Melissa. They are active in their church, St. Timothy’s, and Ryan often proclaims the readings during Mass. In their spare time, they enjoy being outside, whether they’re taking walks with their black lab, Molly, ice fishing, or cross-country skiing in the winter. Ryan also likes to hunt and play golf.

FUN FACTS

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Police officer or firefighter.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Glacier National Park, we honeymooned there.

What’s your favorite book or the book that has most impacted your life?

Moneyball by Michael Lewis is my favorite book, while The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell has been the most impactful for me.

JOSH’S ROLE

Josh’s primary goal is to ensure our clients’ plans are carried out in an efficient, timely fashion. He facilitates each step of the process, acting as a sort of quarterback who helps each team member leverage their unique skills to best support the client’s goals. He becomes a primary point of contact for clients, guiding them through the process as they navigate retirement strategies, estate planning, tax mitigation, and other aspects of planning. He enjoys building close, lifelong relationships, and he often gains genuine friendships in the process. Clients count on him to be there every step of the way, whether they have a question, want help researching something, or need the accountability to implement their plan efficiently. Josh knows that the better shape his clients’ finances are in, the more freedom they have to enjoy their success, and he works hard to make a lasting difference in their lives every day.

JOSH’S SPECIALTY

As a Qualified Plan Financial Consultant, Josh holds special expertise in group benefit planning, and he works with business owners to create strategic employer sponsored plans that support both their personal and professional goals. He becomes their trusted guide, leading them through the benefit-planning process and often hosting educational meetings for their employees regarding the retirement plan. With a focus on tax mitigation and cohesivity, he helps business owners choose and implement strategies like life insurance, disability insurance, and executive benefits to maximize the value of their business as they grow or prepare for an ownership transition.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Josh was inspired to pursue a career in financial planning from a young age. His mother ran her own practice for 37 years, and he witnessed the joy she experienced by building genuine relationships and helping people every day. He earned a degree in financial planning from Minnesota State University of Mankato. During college, he interned with Northwestern Mutual for two years before starting his career in financial planning. He loved the challenges and constant learning advising afforded, and when he met Derek in 2020, an advisor with similar growth-oriented values, Josh knew he’d found the perfect team with which to grow and serve his clients.

PERSONAL LIFE

Josh lives in Eagan, Minnesota (not far from his hometown of Lakeville), with his wife Sam and their two cats, Duck and Goose. Content in each other’s company, Josh and Sam are happy to enjoy a night out together, watch a movie at home, or even hang out doing crossword puzzles. They both like to stay active, often participating in co-ed volleyball and softball teams. In his free time, Josh likes to hunt, lift weights, and play golf. He also enjoys supporting different charities with his family, leveraging his high-school choir skills to go caroling with his mom and raise money for the Salvation Army.

FUN FACTS

What fictional character would you choose to spend the day with?

Harvey Spector from Suits.

What is one thing you can’t live without?

My watch. It’s an old-school, automatic, Swiss-made watch.

What is one thing every person should add to their daily routine?

Think time. This is something Derek taught me to do. It’s devoted time every single day to either learn something new or reflect on something you’re trying to implement in your personal or professional life.

Ashley joined the team in November of 2022. She oversees and facilitates the operations for both our insurance and investment services for new and existing clients. Ashley has worked in the financial industry for several years and has a passion to serve each client with an exceptional experience they can count on. Ashley is Life, Accident, and Health insurance licensed. She is from Mayer, Minnesota and has a daughter named Eleanor. Ashley enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, spending time outdoors, exploring new restaurants and breweries and attending live music events.

Ross joined the team in October of 2023 and has several years of background experience working within the financial services industry. As a Relationship Manager, Ross is dedicated to fostering strong connections and partnerships with clients. He is passionate about delivering exceptional service, committed to exceeding expectations and providing personalized support every step of the way. Ross is from Marshfield, Wisconsin and has a wife named Sarah and a son named Wesley. Ross enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it's taking walks, embarking on hiking expeditions, or enjoying camping trips with his family. Additionally, he finds enjoyment in mountain biking and pickleball matches with his friends.