Your Voyage Team
Your Team of Experts
At Voyage Wealth Architects, you receive personalized attention and enhanced client service from a team of 14 professionals who are experts in their fields. From experienced financial planners & analysts, to current & former CPAs, to knowledgeable client service managers, the Voyage team is here to serve you.
Through our team approach to wealth management, instead of having just one point of contact, you will have the support of our entire firm. Plus, we are building a generational firm, developing talent across all generations so you can rest assured that when it’s time for your kids and grandkids to start managing the finances, they will have a partner who knows the history & insight of your unique family.
With offices in both Lake Elmo and Deephaven, MN, we are well-positioned to serve clients across the Twin Cities metro, as well as nationally.
Meet your Voyage team of experts below or click here to meet the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management team.
Background & Experience
With more than 15 years of financial planning and business ownership experience, Co-Founder & Partner, Brian Eder, specializes in partnering with entrepreneurs, business owners and established professionals to manage the complexities that come with accumulating and managing significant wealth. Through thousands of conversations with clients, he’s seen the unique challenges this group of professionals face and has been part of the solutions that help them through things like succession planning, employee benefits, equity compensation and exit strategies. Also experienced in comprehensive financial planning, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge in charitable giving strategies, investment portfolio analysis and multi-generational family planning.
“My role is amazing because I get to focus on growing & building our organization and still stay actively involved in providing advice & counsel to families and business owners. This unique role gives me perspective in helping other business owners because I understand what they’re dealing with as a peer, not just as an advisor.”
Personal
A resident of Lake Elmo, MN, Brian loves spending his free time golfing, cooking, reading, traveling and being with his family – wife, Gretta, daughters, Bea and Pearl, and their English bulldog, Clover. In addition to chasing their girls around, Brian and Gretta started a charity dedicated to helping those who’ve been impacted by brain injury.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Finance & Management – St. John’s University
- CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
- FINRA Series 6, 7, & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Jesse Bergland , CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, RICP®
Co-Founder and Partner
Jesse Bergland , CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, RICP®
Co-Founder and Partner
Background & Experience
With nearly 20 years of experience in financial planning and strategic leadership, Co-Founder & Partner, Jesse Bergland, serves as a trusted advisor to executives/established business professionals and their families, as well as people nearing retirement. Jesse’s extensive background in equity compensation, things like stock options, RSUs, PSUs and ISOs, makes him the perfect fit for professionals looking to manage the complexity that comes with variable compensation plans. Through his experience helping hundreds of clients shift from living on an income to living on retirement assets, Jesse is skilled at helping clients find the right balance of enjoying the resources they’ve worked hard to build and making sure their money lasts in retirement.
“I love helping clients think through planning topics that are both emotionally and intellectually complex. A lot of advisors are good at the tactical and product side of our business, I’ve worked hard to develop a skill set that leans into the emotional side of money to better integrate the tactical solutions into a wholistic and comprehensive plan based on each client’s unique journey.”
Personal
Born & raised in Roseau, MN, now a Minnetonka resident with his wife, Britta, their two daughters, Willa and Izzy and their family dog, a golden lab named Theo, Jesse and his family love to travel, golf, spend time on the lake, volunteer and get together with friends. In 2019 Jesse was recognized as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year for his achievement of fundraising over $170,000 in a 10 week period.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Finance & Entrepreneurship - University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management
- CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CAP®
- FINRA Series 6, 7 & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
Voyage Wealth Architects Partner, Chris Crubaugh, brings 15 years of financial planning experience and an expertise in pre-retirement planning, tax efficient distribution strategies, comprehensive goal-based financial planning and risk management. Chris is known for helping emerging & established professionals to craft their vision and then making sure they take the right financial steps to achieve their goals. Sometimes called a "marriage counselor" by his clients, Chris partners with families to craft & implement sound financial plans that consider things like retirement goals, planning for kids, and investment portfolio analysis.
“I love building relationships and connecting with people. Helping clients craft their visions, goals and dreams, then guiding them to take the necessary actions to make them a reality is one of my favorite parts of my role.”
Personal
Chris grew up in Woodbury, MN, and now resides in Lake Elmo with his wife, Katie, their son, Charlie, and their daughter Izzy. One of his major passions is being a dad, but when he’s not with the kiddos you will find him golfing, cooking, traveling, snowboarding, going to sporting events, cheering for the Packers and spending time with friends.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Finance – University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business
- CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®
- FINRA Series 6, 7 & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Chris Koenig , CFP®, RICP®, WMCP®
Associate Wealth Management Advisor
Background & Experience
As an Associate Wealth Management Advisor with 6 years of experience in financial planning, Chris Koenig brings expertise in both the advising side and the analytical planning side of wealth management. As a partner to emerging & young professionals, as well as individuals nearing retirement, Chris helps clients understand the fundamentals of financial planning and focuses on things like comprehensive planning, risk management, tax efficient distribution strategies and investment portfolio analysis. He is particularly passionate about behavioral finance – understanding how people think and feel about money, why they act the way they do and how a better understanding of our psychological makeup can drive desirable outcomes in financial planning.
“I love my role because the work we do matters. Clients share with us their goals and dreams, then trust that we will come up with creative solutions and hold them accountable to reaching them.”
Personal
Chris and his wife, Maddi, live in Rosemount, MN, with their dog, Cooper, and their cat, Evy. In his free time, Chris enjoys hiking state parks with Maddi & Cooper, golfing, traveling and being able to experience different parts of the country and world.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies – University of Minnesota
- CFP®, RICP®
- FINRA Series 6, 7 & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
Anne Anderson started her career in 2009 as a Sales Execution Team Associate with Northwestern Mutual. In 2011, Anne had the opportunity to join Brian Eder’s team as a Client Service Representative, handling any and every client need that came through the door. Continuing in a similar capacity with Voyage Wealth Architects today, Anne ensures our clients have an exceptional experience.
“What I like most about my role is working to help clients outline their dreams & goals and then getting to watch them come to fruition.”
Personal
Anne and her husband, Mat, live in Woodbury, MN, with their son, Thatcher, their daughter, Evelyn, and their dog, Melvin. When she’s not playing outside with the family, you’ll find Anne cooking or baking in the kitchen, or curled up reading a good book.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Science, Healthcare Administration – University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire
- CLU®, ChFC®
- FINRA Series 6, 7, & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
Tyler Patoka started his career in the insurance industry, working for two different property & casualty agencies in finance, sales & client service roles before transitioning to Voyage Wealth Architects in May 2022. As our Client Service Coordinator, Tyler supports clients throughout their financial planning journeys, focusing on delivering best-in-class service and assisting with the implementation of planning strategies.
“I'm excited to be part of a team and organization that has the kind of impact on the community as Voyage does and I love getting to know our clients.”
Personal
Tyler and his fiancé, Abbey, are Wisconsin natives and high school sweethearts who recently moved to the Twin Cities. In their free time, they love to do anything on the water (boat, surf, waterski, tube, etc…), play yard games & cards with family & friends, hike and travel. Tyler is also passionate about volunteering, coaching, and giving back to his local community.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Finance & Management – University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
- Master of Business Administration, Applied Leadership & Decision Making – University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
After spending 14 years as a public accountant and controller in the construction & manufacturing industries, Jason Fredrickson joined the Voyage team in 2019 as our Director of Planning Operations. In this role, Jason leads our planning & analysis team, handling the behind the scenes modeling and analytics that go into our uniquely crafted financial plans. Integrating multiple planning tools and models into a comprehensive, well-documented, client-centric plan and roadmap is his specialty.
“My background as a CPA, coupled with the time I spent in corporate accounting, gives me a unique perspective on tax efficient strategies and business planning which I love using to help our clients.”
Personal
Jason is married to his high school sweetheart, Desiree, and together they have two sons, Blake and Eli, a dog, Banditt and a cat, Baby. The Fredricksons call River Falls, WI, home and you’ll often find Jason coaching his sons in any and all sports that they participate in. He’s also an expert Zamboni driver and loves camping and volunteering.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Science, Accounting & Finance – University of Wisconsin at River Falls
- CPA
- FINRA 6, 7, & 63
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
After spending 14 years in the travel management industry doing everything from traditional integrated marketing to communications, advertising & promotions, Abby Schmidt joined Voyage Wealth Architects in March 2021 as our Director of Marketing. In her role, Abby focuses on telling the Voyage Wealth Architects story, building our brand within the wealth management industry and improving our overall client experience.
“I love getting to bring the Voyage Wealth Architects story to life and seeing that message resonate with our clients & prospects.”
Personal
A native Iowan turned Minnesotan, Abby calls Eden Prairie home and loves spending her free time with her husband, Andrew, and their two daughters, Madeline and Isabelle. Family walks, park play dates, cheering for MN sports teams, playing softball, traveling and anything involving the beach or water are on her list of favorite things to do.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Marketing & Finance – University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business
- Master of Business Administration, Marketing & Management – University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management
Background & Experience
Tate Chalmers joined Voyage Wealth Architects in June 2021 after completing his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to graduating, Tate spent the summer of 2019 interning with Co-Founder, Brian Eder, so we were excited to welcome him back. As a Financial Planning Analyst, Tate helps with the behind the scenes modeling and analytics that ultimately shape our custom financial plans for clients.
“I love delving into the details behind each of our custom financial plans, ultimately tailoring recommendations and solutions to each client’s unique situation.”
Personal
A native of Mahtomedi, MN, Tate recently returned to the Twin Cities where he is happy to once again be surrounded by fellow Minnesota sports fans! In his free time, Tate loves to golf, weightlift, travel, hike around the cities and lakes and in general, play and watch sports.
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Accountancy – University of Notre Dame
- Life, Accident & Health Licenses
Background & Experience
Currently studying Applied Economics and Management at the University of Minnesota, Jake joined Voyage Wealth Architects in May 2022 as our Financial Planning intern, supporting all areas of our financial planning process – everything from the development of financial plans to investment analytics to client reporting and operations.
“I love the process of helping clients create a unique financial plan that ultimately helps them to achieve their goals.”
Personal
Jake lives on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and loves being outdoors or playing sports in his free time. An avid soccer and Minnesota Loons fan, he also loves to fish, weightlift, and visit his family down in sunny Florida.
Background & Experience
Kelly Larson spent the first 5 years of her career in corporate accounting, then worked for a non-profit for 5 years before eventually joining Brian Eder’s Northwestern Mutual team in 2017 as an Executive Assistant & Office Manager. Continuing in a similar role today with Voyage Wealth Architects, Kelly is our utility player on the team, handling everything from Finance to HR to all of our philanthropic efforts. She keeps track of the details and makes sure our firm operates as smoothly as possible.
“I love taking care of all the details in the background to make sure the firm runs smoothly and that our clients receive the best possible service.”
Personal
A resident of Woodbury, MN, Kelly and her husband, Peter, love spending time as a family with their three sons – Noah, Jacob, and Hunter. You’ll often find them boating, skiing, attending sporting events or being involved in a variety of activities at their church. Kelly also loves to run, bake, work on jigsaw puzzles and has become a master of the game, “Mom, where is my _____?”
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Accounting & Business Administration – Northwestern College
Background & Experience
Brooklyn joined Voyage Wealth Architects in December 2022 as our Marketing Intern, supporting everything from social media to design to event planning. Prior to joining the team, she gained marketing experience at the University of St. Thomas as an Athletics and Promotions assistant and has also collaborated with The First Tee of St. Paul by managing their social media and assisting in other marketing needs both on and off the golf course.
“I love the creative planning process of marketing and enjoy creating graphics and collateral that represent the vision of a company.”
Personal
Brooklyn is originally from Shakopee, MN, and now lives in St. Paul where she enjoys living in the city and pursuing a Marketing Management degree from St. Thomas. She is also part of the dance club at UST and loves cheering on the Tommies. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, hiking, photography, spending time with family, traveling to new places, and doing anything that allows her to use her Polaroid.