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Paul L. Parnell, APMA®, CRPC®

Paul Parnell

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
683 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 208
Woodbury, MN 55125-1715
ballastadvisors.com

Paul L. Parnell, APMA®, CRPC®

Managing Partner | Wealth Advisor 

Paul is a Founding Partner of Ballast Advisors.  He has over twenty-three years of experience in guiding clients and helping them prepare for a sound financial future. He specializes in financial planning, including wealth management solutions and risk reduction strategies for a select group of families, professionals, business owners, and retirees. Paul also oversees the general business and strategic direction of the firm. He serves on the firm’s Executive and Investment Policy Committees.

He is an Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA®) and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association. He serves on several local boards, including the board of directors for the Woodbury Community Foundation, where he works to enforce their mission connecting people and organizations with causes that matter.  

Paul resides in Woodbury, MN with his wife, Gloria and children.  In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoys golfing, reading and running.

 

Rich Gerczak, CFP®

Tel: 651.200.3110
[email protected]
3820 Cleveland Ave N, Suite 500
Arden Hills, MN 55112-3298
ballastadvisors.com

Richard Gerczak, CFP®

Managing Partner | Wealth Advisor | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ 

Rich is a Founding Partner of Ballast Advisors. As a Certified Financial Planner for the past 22 years, Rich has helped many families reach their financial goals.  Rich focuses his practice on helping clients invest soundly, minimize taxes, educate their children, retire comfortably and preserve their estates.  He also serves on the Executive and Investment Committees within the firm.

Rich has been recognized numerous times by local publications and organizations for his work as a Financial Advisor.  He has also served in many leadership roles for the development and training of other Financial Advisors.  He is an active community member serving in many church and civic organizations.  Rich has served on a few local non-profit boards, worked as a mentor for The Boys and Girls Club and served as a local school board member.

Rich graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a degree in Business Administration and major in Accounting.  He began his professional career as an Accountant for a Fortune 500 company here in the Twin Cities.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Rich resides in St Paul with his family.  He enjoys time at his family cabin, reading history books and spending time outdoors.

 

Steven Schmidt, CFP®, APMA®, ChFC®, CLU®

Tel: 651.200.3113
[email protected]
3820 Cleveland Ave N, Suite 500
Arden Hills, MN 55112-3298
ballastadvisors.com

Steven Schmidt, CFP®, APMA®, ChFC®, CLU®

Managing Partner | Wealth Advisor | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ 

Steve is a Founding Partner at Ballast Advisors. He is a seasoned investment manager with over 24 years of experience.  Since 1993 he has advised small business owners and professionals with wealth management in St. Paul, MN  and serves on the firm’s Executive and Investment Policy Committees.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN.  In addition, Steve has earned designations as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA®), the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®).  He is  a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).  

Steve and his wife Mari reside in Arden Hills, MN with their four children.  In his spare time he enjoys reading, spending time outdoors – including the Boundary Waters,  and golfing with family and friends.

 

Richard M. Juckel, CFP®, CRPC®

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
 683 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 208
 Woodbury, MN 55125-1715
ballastadvisors.com

Richard M. Juckel, CFP®, CRPC®

Vice President, Advice and Wealth Management | Wealth Advisor |CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

For over a decade, Richard has enjoyed helping individuals and small business owners throughout the country balance long-term financial goals and short-term wants and needs. At Ballast Advisors, Richard is responsible for overseeing the advice and wealth management operations and serves on the Investment Committee.

He is a current member of the Financial Planning Association and holds the designations of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®). Richard is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and an avid Golden Gopher sports fan.  He and his wife Candi reside in Stillwater, MN with their two children, Ezra and Elouise. 

 

Andrea Nease

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
ballastadvisors.com

Andrea Nease

Vice President, Operations and Compliance

Andrea is the Vice President of Operations and Compliance Delegate of Ballast Advisors. She is responsible for oversight of service delivery, compliance, and overall operations for the firm.

Andrea earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and has a Masters degree in Organizational Ethics and Compliance from the University of St Thomas School of Law.  She also received a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility from St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business.

 

 

Patrick Groff

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
683 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 208
Woodbury, MN 55125-1715
ballastadvisors.com

Patrick Groff

Financial Planning Specialist

Patrick is a Financial Planning Specialist in our Woodbury office. He lives in Forest Lake with his wife. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family or being out on the lake.

 

Stevie Gerrells, FPQP®

Tel: 651.200.3102
[email protected]
3820 Cleveland Ave N
Arden Hills, MN 55112-3298
ballastadvisors.com

Stevie Gerrells

Client Service Manager | Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™

Stevie has worked in operational leadership and client service-centered roles for the whole of her career. She is committed to understanding client’s needs and strives to make every interaction with clients personable and memorable.

Stevie grew up in North Dakota and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota. In addition, Stevie has earned the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ designation. She is an animal lover and stays busy with her puppy, Winston. She also enjoys cooking, the outdoors, and traveling, especially to national parks.

 

Gwen Simonson

Tel: 651.200.3103
[email protected]
3820 Cleveland Ave N., Ste 500
Arden Hills, MN 55112-3298
ballastadvisors.com

Gwen Simonson

Client Service Manager

Gwen comes to Ballast Advisors after working three decades in the insurance industry.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.

Gwen lives in Shoreview with her husband Tom and pet Winnie, a rescue dog.  She has two grown daughters, Paige and Katie, who are her proudest accomplishments.   Gwen enjoys time volunteering with local non-profits, playing pickleball, spending time with family.

 

Kathryn Bergloff

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
683 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 208
Woodbury, MN 55125-1715
ballastadvisors.com

Kathryn Bergloff

Client Service Manager

Kathy has been in office administration since 1994.  Her focus is on supporting our Client Service Managers in the Woodbury, MN and Punta Gorda, FL  locations. She is committed to building relationships, providing timely client service, and ensuring an excellent client experience.

Kathy lives in South Saint Paul, MN with her husband Bill and her dog Elsa.

 

Gary L Swanson

Tel: 651.478.4644
[email protected]
683 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 208
Woodbury, MN 55125-1715
ballastadvisors.com

Gary L. Swanson

Investment Analyst

Gary has worked in the financial service industry since 1992. Gary is an integral part of the Investment Committee.  His focus is on research and investment selection, trade execution and the implementation of our asset allocation models.

Gary received his Bachelor of Art in Economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and has an MBA from the University of Minnesota.  In his free time, Gary enjoys reading, hiking, and walking his dog.