Biographic Story

Financial, Business and Life Experiences

If Rod’s initial career goal was to be a financial planner, he would not be a very good one. Wide-ranging experience in business, individual growth and financial expertise are all essential ingredients to being a good financial planner. Rod’s preparation comes from experience as a financial professional, bank executive, small business owner and priority-changing life experiences. Each Money Matters project begins from the perspective of professional expertise, business experience, life’s on-the-job training.

Did you know that financial planners usually migrate to the profession from other careers? Most develop skills in selling life insurance and investments and later gravitate to more sophisticated levels of selling. Some become proficient in a profession – such as public accounting, law and banking – and then specialize in financial planning. Rod followed the professional route to financial planning.

Rod’s expertise comes from proficiency in the CPA profession, banking and risk management. He has technical expertise in investments, taxes, managing debt and risk protection. His first-hand business experience is important to help clients launch a new business, or to counsel someone with corporate career and benefit options. Finally, he has gained wisdom from experiencing life’s ups and downs in order to guide others through their financial ups and downs.

Before Money Matters

• Became a CPA and climbed the professional ladder to become Partner in the large CPA firm of KPMG Peat Marwick.
• Left the large CPA firm environment to found a CPA and consulting firm focused on banks and insurance.
• His firm provided risk protection consultation to Lloyds of London underwriters on their insured bank clients throughout the US.
• Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Highland Bank, a community banking group with six locations in the Twin Cities.

Key Career Events

One’s career can be described as a series of key events. Leading up to founding Money Matters, five key experiences uniquely qualified Rod to become a good financial planner. They are described below.

Money Matters

The firm was founded by Rod in 1998 as an independent, fee-only financial advisory firm. During the 12 years since then, the firm has been dedicated to guiding individuals and small businesses through financial turmoil, organizing for success and managing financial risks.