My Story
My Story
For over thirty-five years Kristi L. Andersen, CFP® has worked in the financial services industry in a variety of roles. Nineteen of those years she served as Vice President of Client Services at the American Express Asset Management Group, collaborating with corporations, small business, foundations, endowments, and high net worth individuals.
During her time at American Express she received numerous calls from women looking for a financial professional they could trust. Her firm did not allow her to serve women below a certain account size, frustrating Kristi because she knew no professionals focusing on the needs of women that she could refer them to.
Another common heart-breaking scenario she often saw was women who had not focused on their financial matters and found themselves in bad situations about money. It was no surprise to Kristi in researching the financial needs of women, she found that one of the fastest growing areas of poverty is women over the age of sixty-five. This disturbing statistic compelled Kristi to start her own company in 2006.
Her passion is to provide services that help women, and their families pursue and maintain financial independence.



Who I Work With
My firm focuses on the financial needs specific to women and their families. Over two thirds of my clients are single, widowed or divorced women.
The common thread with our clients is the desire to take care of themselves, their families and the people they love.
Taking care of themselves may mean not relying on others for financial security, providing and protecting their families financially or creating a charitable legacy.
How I do this work is specific to each client. Please read more under Services for You.
My Credentials
I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, an eight-year winner of the FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER Award. (2014, 2016-2017, 2019-2023)* I am also Accredited with the Better Business Bureau and have maintained my A+ rating since 2007.
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.
In addition, I am a licensed life, health and accident insurance agent, Investment Advisor representative and hold my securities registrations with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC.
*Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria - required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively registered as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not: A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a registration being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria - considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth managers. Award does not evaluate 2022 Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, 11-0298 CAN Communications with the Public Guidelines 06/22 39 / 64 quality of services provided to clients. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager Award list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient for participation or in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.