Our team listens to your needs. We are interested in and care about your personal and financial well being.
To help you reach your goals, members of the BFG team draw on multiple areas of expertise and experience. Each team member is a top notch professional with strong values and the ability to make a positive impact over a long-term relationship.
JERRY WADE, CFP®
jerry@wadefinancialgroup.com
"I feel clients choose BFG based upon the objectivity offered by the "You First" approach and the personalized attention clients receive.”
Career Summary: A native of New Castle, Indiana, Mr. Wade is a 1981 graduate of Ball State University (BSU) in Muncie, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications. While at BSU, Mr. Wade was a collegiate swimmer and worked in radio.
Before merging with BFG in 2016, Jerry was founder/CEO of Wade Financial group from 1994-2016. Prior to 1994, Mr. Wade spent 10 years associated with American Express Financial Advisors. During his tenure with Amex, Mr. Wade functioned as a financial planner, trainer and strategic consultant to IDS/Amex senior management.
Role at BFG: Mr. Wade is Chairman of BFG's Investment Comitttee and Vice President of BFG's Board of Directors.
Professional Credentials: Mr. Wade is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner.
Media Exposure
Radio & Television
Mr. Wade has appeared on the following: CBN’s “700 Club”, Public Television’s “The Financial Advisors”, KARE 11, KMSP Channel 9, KCCO and WCCO with Dark Star and Rita Maloney. Jerry Wade was also the host of the financial talk show, "Make Money Now" with Jerry Wade on 1570 AM the Patriot II in Minneapolis.
Print - Published
Mr. Wade has had articles published in MN Business & Opportunities, The Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Mutual Fund Magazine, RIA News, St. Paul Pioneer Press and Financial Planning Practitioner. He is also a contributing author to “Building Your $1,000,000 Nest Egg” by Aspatore books.
Print – Contributions
Mr. Wade has been quoted in, contributed to or featured in: Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Bloomberg Financial, Mature Outlook, Black Enterprise, The Robb Report, RIA News, Mutual Fund News, Financial Planning Magazine, Dow Jones Investment Advisor, “Sound Money” newsletter, Journal of Financial Planning, Smart Money Interactive, Investment News and Financial Planning Interactive.
TOM BRUNBERG
Manager BFGs Tax Department
tom@wadefinancialgroup.com
"I enjoy developing creative, money-saving tax strategies for each client's unique financial situation."
Career Summary: Mr. Brunberg has a substantial history of working with Minnesota's wealthiest families. Tom was COO of WFG from 2012-2016.
Founder and CEO of Brunberg, Blatt and Company, Inc., a leading Minneapolis provider of tax and accounting services, Mr. Brunberg has served hundreds of high net worth individuals. Previous positions include Managing Tax Partner at the Minneapolis office of Pannel, Kerr, Forster (now PKF International) and Tax Manager at Ernst & Young.
Role at BFG: Mr. Brunberg is the manager of BFG's tax division and member of BFG's Board of Directors.
Professional Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, St. Cloud State University; extensive graduate coursework in taxation; numerous CPE courses and credits. Mr. Brunberg has over 30 years of experience as a CPA.
Association Involvement: Honorary Life Member, Minnesota Society of CPAs
NICK ASMUS
President / Wealth Advocate
"I believe that my wide range of experience and expertise, combined with my personality, complement the organization and culture at BFG."
Career Summary: Prior to BFG, Nick was President of WFG. Previously he worked for a family of independent broker dealers as a trader/analyst, serving 700 institutions and 5000+ financial professionals, a trader with various firms, and a Broker in downtown Minneapolis.
Role at BFG: Mr. Asmus is a Financial Advisor, President of BFG, a member of BFG's Investment Committee and member of BFG's Board of Directors. Nick manages existing client relationships in order to aide clients in achieving their financial goals. He oversees the Investment Department and is responsible for researching, analyzing, and managing investment options for BFG's proprietary portfolios.
Professional Credentials: Mr. Asmus graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Financial Management from the University of St. Thomas.
HEIDI BERTRAM
"My position allows me to be the first point of contact for our clients and to help them with their day to day needs."
Career Summary: Prior to joining BFG, Heidi was Director of Client Relationships at WFG from 2006-2016 and previously worked for 10+ years in the financial industry for RBC Dain Rauscher as well as Wells Fargo Securities.
Role at BFG: Heidi is the leader of client service responsibilities for BFG as well as a member of the BFG Senior Management Team. She assists clients with all aspects of the client experience and is the primary liaison between Schwab and clients.
Volunteer: FANS Race volunteer, Meals on Wheels, Feed My Starving Children, Treasurer of Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation
BOB SMREKAR, CFP, AIF®
Wealth Advocate
bob@wadefinancialgroup.com
"I enjoy working with a variety of clients helping each of them meet the goals that are unique to their individual situation."
Career Summary: Mr. Smrekar was a lead financial advisor at WFG from 2006-2016 and previosuy an advisor with Stephens Foster Financial Advisors. Prior to that he served as a financial advisor at Wings Financial Federal Credit Union and Greater Midwest Financial Group. He was also with Analysts International Corporation for ten years working in the areas of accounting and finance.
Role at BFG: Mr. Smrekar is responsible for meeting with clients and developing plans with strategies that deal with retirement planning, investment planning, stock option planning, maximizing employee benefits, diversifying concentrated stock options and minimizing tax liabilities.
Professional Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Augsburg College. Bob is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®). The Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation is the mark of commitment to a standard of investment fiduciary excellence. Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. AIF designees demonstrate a thorough understanding of Prudent Parctices for investment advisors and stewards.
Association Involvement: National Association of Professional Financial Advisors (NAPFA), Minnesota Fiduciary Roundtable, Suburban Hockey Referees' Association, Various Committees at River Valley Church, Lakeville Fastpitch Softball Association Board Member
Volunteer: FANS Race Volunteer, Girls' Softball Coach
BLAINE CONKLIN, CFA
Portfolio Manager / Wealth Advocate
“I admire WFG's client first philosophy and continue to use my knowledge and experience to contribute to the investment department on a daily basis.”
Career Summary: Mr. Conklin works with Jerry Wade and Nick Asmus in the investment department, researching and managing client portfolios. Before coming to WFG, Mr. Conklin worked for an investment firm in Wayzata, MN as a Registered Sales Associate.
Professional Credentials: Mr. Conklin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics and a minor in Computer Science from Gustavus Adolphus College.
Career Summary: Ms. Munkvold handles client service responsibilities for Wade Financial Group. She assists clients with paperwork, prepping for review meetings, and maintaining continuous contact with the clients. Ms. Munkvold also serves as Mr. Wade's Executive Assistant. Prior to joining WFG, Ms. Munkvold worked for 10+ years in various businesses.
Career Summary: Ms. Port handles the internal accounting for Wade Financial Group as well as some client service responsibilities. She processes client billing, payroll accounts receivable/payable as well as assisting clients and prepping for review meetings. Prior to joining WFG, Ms. Port worked for 10+ years in various businesses.
“My training, life experience and position at WFG allow me to help our clients consider, design and prepare comprehensive and reassuring estate plans.”
Career Summary: Mr. Gosman helped design WFG's Estate Planning Service and has seventeen years of experience in estate planning and implementation for high net worth families. His prior experiences include adult education, IRS Taxpayer Service, executive management of local non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial enterprises in print and community TV media. Mr. Gosman is a consulting paralegal (epis.net) for WFG, and also is a part-time officer for TSA-US Department of Homeland Security.
Professional Credentials: Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania; Paralegal Certificate, Minnesota Paralegal Institute. Various certificates from advanced professional seminars.
Association Involvement: Minnesota Paralegal Association; Minnesota Bar Association (non-attorney member).
Volunteer: Twin Cities Schools Telecommunications Group, Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace