Meet Steve Drost, CFA, CFP®
I’m a financial planner with a very simple goal: to help my clients align their financial resources (i.e. what they have or will have) with their goals, dreams, and values. I am convinced that one will have a more fulfilled life when they can spend their time and money on the things, people, and causes that mean the most to them.
I’ve always been a huge numbers nerd. I studied finance and commercial real estate at the University of Northern Iowa and graduated Magna Cum Laude in five semesters. I received the Purple and Old Gold Award, given to just one graduating student per major, for academic excellence. I moved to Minneapolis after college and immediately began the CFA program and then, shortly afterward, the CFP® program. In 2022, I was recognized as a top financial advisor in the country by InvestmentNews.
My free time is filled spending time with my wife, Marissa, and our sons, Calvin and Carter. We enjoy our trips up north to the lake and cheering on all Minnesota sports teams (especially the Twins). I also proudly served my community as a firefighter and actively volunteer on my church’s finance council.
Designations & Affiliations
Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
Steve belongs to the CFA Institute, and is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. A global membership organization, the CFA Institute leads the investment industry in setting the highest standards of ethics and professional excellence and by vigorously advocating for fair and transparent capital markets.
To earn the CFA charter, candidates must pass three sequential, six-hour examinations over two to four years. The three levels of the CFA Program test a wide range of investment topics, including ethical and professional standards, fixed income analysis, alternative and derivative investments, and portfolio management and wealth planning. In addition, CFA charter holders must adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
certified financial planner™ (CFP®)
Steve has been certified by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), to advise on U.S.-related financial planning matters. The CFP Board is a nonprofit certification and standards-setting organization whose mission is to benefit the public by granting the CFP® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning.
Being certified by the CFP Board requires mastering nearly 100 integrated financial planning topics, passing the CFP® Certification Exam (average preparation time 1,000 hours), and a minimum of 3 years of related work experience
financial planning association
Steve is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), a global membership organization for the financial planning community. FPA members are committed to supporting the financial planning process and to helping people make smarter decisions to achieve their goals and dreams. The FPA believes that everyone needs professional, objective advice to make smart financial decisions.
FPA members demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure for financial planning professionals. Members cultivate the body of knowledge necessary for financial planning, as well as share best practices and encourage professional development.