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Our mission is to enhance our clients’ lives by providing advice that can help improve their financial well-being. We built our business with a goal of being the primary source of financial advice for many generations of clients—our planning, investment and service strategies are all designed to better our clients’ long-term interests. We believe in honesty, transparency and a firm commitment to placing client needs first. Our team is multi-generational, with more than 60 years of combined financial experience.

Proud to work with nationally recognized team members 

At The Great Northern Team, we are incredibly honored to have team members that have received the following prestigious awards:

Alex Rykken
  • Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors - 2025
  • Forbes Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors - 2022, 2023 and 2024
  • Financial Planning's Top 40 National Brokers Under 40 - 2025
  • Financial Planning's Top 40 Regional Brokers Under 40 - 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
  • AdvisorHub "Advisors to Watch" - 2022, 2023
John Conlin
  • Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors - 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025

We are also honored to be recognized as a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team in 2024 and 2025.

Write your personal retirement story

Rewriting retirement Cover imageAccess Rewriting Retirement to explore strategies and tactics for growing a nest egg, planning for longevity, and maximizing Social Security benefits. Rewriting Retirement also contains a checklist of actions for various stages in your destination as you transition to retirement and beyond. Contact us to help you prepare for your next chapter.

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We welcome you to experience the RBC Wealth Management difference yourself. Contact us today to set up a meeting.

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Meet our team

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Learn more about The Great Northern Team.

Contact

The Great Northern Team

952-838-8162
greatnorthernteam@rbc.com

Pleased to serve you in multiple locations

We are proud to serve clients in multiple locations. We invite you to contact us to set up a meeting in one of our convenient locations:

Edina, MN office

7650 Edinborough Way, Suite 800
Edina, MN 55435

North Oaks, MN office

520 West Highway 96, Suite 100
Shoreview, MN 55126

Important Information for Clients

Global Insight Monthly

Global Insight Monthly cover - April 2025

Global equities: a confluence or possibilities

Equity markets have followed diverse paths in the first three months of 2025. We think several factors are now in play that will influence the direction they take from here. Read the Global Insight Monthly »

Disclosures

The 2022 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" and "Top 40 Regional Brokers Under 40" award was announced February 2022. Data as of 9/30/21. Financial Planning annually ranks the industry’s top producers under 40. Nominations were received from advisors and managers and ranked according to production totals. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award.

The 2022 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2022. Data as of 6/30/2021. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2022 "Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced August 2022. Data as of 3/31/2022. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2022 AdvisorHub “Advisors to Watch” award was announced September 2022. Data as of 12/31/2020 and 12/31/2021 was provided and considered for this award. The ranking recognizes advisors across the country for their quality of practice, professionalism, character and community involvement. Criteria considered included: assets under management, production/revenue, team size and more. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This award is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2023 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" and "Top 40 Regional Brokers Under 40" award was announced February 2023. Data as of 9/30/22. Financial Planning annually ranks the industry’s top producers under 40. Nominations were received from advisors and managers and ranked according to production totals. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award.

The 2023 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2023. Data as of 6/30/2022. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2023 AdvisorHub “Advisors to Watch” award was announced June 2023. Data as of 12/31/2021 and 12/31/2022 was provided and considered for this award. The ranking recognizes advisors across the country for their quality of practice, professionalism, character and community involvement. Criteria considered included: assets under management, production/revenue, team size and more. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This award is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2023 "Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" award was announced August 2023. Data as of 3/31/2023. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1984 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams award was announced January 2024. Data as of 3/31/23. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and team, and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results.  Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2024 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" and "Top 40 Regional Brokers Under 40" award was announced February 2024. Data as of 9/30/23. Financial Planning annually ranks the industry’s top producers under 40. Nominations were received from advisors and managers and ranked according to production totals. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award.

The 2024 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2024. Data as of 6/30/2023. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor based on qualitative criteria such as: best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2024 Forbes “America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors” award was announced August 2024. Data as of 3/31/2024. Forbes/SHOOK considered advisors born in 1985 or later with a minimum 4 years’ experience. Ranking is based on telephone and in-person interviews, professional credentials, advisor’s compliance records, firm recognition, and assets under management. Investment performance was not considered, and this ranking is not indicative of future advisor performance or any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients.  For more information, visit www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2025 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams” award was announced January 2025. Data as of 3/31/24. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information:  www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2025 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" and "Top 40 Regional Brokers Under 40" award was announced February 2025. Data as of 9/30/24. Financial Planning annually ranks the industry’s top producers under 40. Nominations were received from advisors and managers and ranked according to production totals. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award.

Alex Rykken is currently registered to conduct business with residents of the following states: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI. California Insurance License # 4352974.

Alex Rykken, NMLS # 1856639, John Conlin, NMLS # 1568621, and Thomas Conlin, NMLS # 2245347 through City National Bank, may receive compensation from RBC Wealth Management for referring customers to City National Bank. Banking products and services are offered or issued by City National Bank, an affiliate of RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC and are subject to City National Banks terms and conditions. Products and services offered through City National Bank are not insured by SIPC. City National Bank Member FDIC.

Investment products offered through RBC Wealth Management are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by City National Bank and may lose value.

John Conlin is currently registered to conduct business with residents of the following states: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY. California Insurance License # 0F98777.

Thomas Conlin is currently registered to conduct business with residents of the following states: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY.

Jacob Bresser is currently registered to conduct business with residents of the following states: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI.