Business Details
Trusted Fiduciary Financial Planning in Edina, MN
SilverOak Wealth Management is a fee-only independent wealth management firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services. We operate as a fiduciary, prioritizing client interests through transparent, commission-free advice. Our team of certified professionals holds advanced credentials including CFA, CFP, CPA, and PFS, delivering expertise in retirement planning, estate strategies, tax optimization, and socially responsible investing. Founded on principles of trust and long-term relationship-building, we coordinate with external advisors to align financial plans with clients' personal values and life goals.Our commitment extends beyond individual clients to community initiatives like Toys for Tots and Feed My Starving Children. With a rigorous investment due diligence process and quarterly educational webinars, we focus on helping clients navigate complex financial landscapes while maintaining disciplined investment strategies tailored to risk tolerance and life stages.
Services
Investment Advisory Services
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Executive Counseling
Charitable Giving
Education Planning
Estate Planning
Tax Strategies
Risk Management
Retirement Planning
Socially Responsible Investing
Highlights and features
- We operate as fiduciaries, legally bound to act in clients' best interests
- Our team holds advanced certifications including CFA, CFP, and CPA designations
- We implement proprietary Investment Quality Scoring System for rigorous due diligence
- We coordinate with external advisors to create holistic financial solutions
- We host quarterly educational webinars on market trends and planning strategies
What people say
Five Star Wealth Managers
Strong credentials
Community involvement
Quarterly webinars
Fiduciary commitment
Services
Investment Advisory Services
We develop customized investment strategies aligned with clients' financial goals and risk tolerance. Our fiduciary-driven approach utilizes a proprietary Investment Quality Scoring System to select low-cost, tax-efficient investments. With ongoing portfolio monitoring and quarterly reviews, we ensure strategies evolve alongside clients' changing needs while maintaining disciplined asset allocation.
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Our holistic approach integrates retirement planning, tax optimization, and estate strategies to create actionable financial roadmaps. We analyze cash flow, insurance coverage, and investment strategies while incorporating behavioral coaching to overcome financial decision biases. Plans are continually updated to reflect life changes and evolving market conditions.
Executive Counseling
Specialized guidance for executives navigating complex benefit plans and stock option strategies. We optimize deferred compensation, restricted stock units, and retirement savings while minimizing tax liabilities. Our services help corporate clients align personal financial goals with employer-provided benefits through personalized analysis and strategic recommendations.
Charitable Giving
We help clients incorporate charitable objectives into their financial plans while maximizing tax advantages. Our strategies include donor-advised funds and structured giving arrangements that align with personal values. We educate clients on tax-efficient methods to support causes important to them during their lifetime or through estate planning.
Education Planning
We provide projections for future education costs and develop tax-efficient funding strategies. Our services address private school, college, and graduate education expenses while balancing other financial goals. We help clients navigate 529 plans and other savings vehicles to create sustainable education funding solutions.
People
Jonathan Scharlau
Partner
CFA charterholder with expertise in investment strategy and portfolio management. He leads SilverOak's research efforts and contributes to developing the firm's investment philosophy while working directly with clients on wealth management solutions.
Shannon King
President, Partner
Certified Public Accountant and tax planning specialist. He oversees the firm's compliance framework and coordinates tax-efficient strategies across investment and financial planning services while maintaining direct client relationships with high-net-worth households.
Kathy Nelson
Partner
CPA and Certified Financial Planner with focus on estate planning coordination. She works with clients to integrate wealth transfer strategies with comprehensive financial plans while serving as a key contact for insurance analysis and risk management solutions.
Janelle Luense
Partner of Compliance
Certified Financial Planner overseeing regulatory compliance and operational frameworks. She ensures adherence to industry standards while maintaining client relationships focused on implementing wealth management strategies across multiple generations.
Emily Rogers
Director
Strategic client coordinator with focus on onboarding new relationships. She facilitates coordination between client advisory teams and supports implementation of financial plans while maintaining ongoing client communication and service delivery.
Questions
What makes SilverOak different from other financial advisors?
We operate as fiduciaries with fee-only compensation, eliminating conflicts of interest. Our team's advanced credentials and proprietary investment analysis process ensure objective, comprehensive advice tailored to individual client needs.
What services do you offer beyond investment management?
We provide comprehensive planning covering retirement, tax optimization, estate strategies, executive compensation, education funding, and charitable giving. Our services integrate with clients' existing professionals like attorneys and accountants.
How are your investment strategies developed?
We use our proprietary Investment Quality Scoring System to evaluate investments across risk-return profiles. Portfolios combine active and passive strategies tailored to clients' goals while maintaining tax efficiency and liquidity.
Can you help with executive benefit plans?
Yes, we specialize in analyzing stock options, restricted stock units, and complex compensation structures. Our team provides tailored recommendations to optimize deferred compensation and retirement savings for corporate executives.
What credentials do your advisors hold?
Our team includes Certified Financial Planners, Chartered Financial Analysts, Certified Public Accountants, and other advanced designations like Personal Financial Specialist and Chartered Advisor for Philanthropy.
How do you approach charitable giving planning?
We help clients incorporate philanthropy into financial plans using tax-efficient strategies like donor-advised funds. Our approach aligns charitable objectives with overall wealth transfer goals while maximizing income tax benefits.
