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Our mission is to develop enduring relationships with clients and provide guidance for generations of financial security.

Pillar Financial Group

At Pillar Financial Group, we focus on the best interests of our clients to improve their lives and the communities we serve. Our core values of integrity, excellence, service, growth, and collaboration drive the work that we do and the relationships we build with our clients each and every day.

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Trudy Leen and Her Team Joins Pillar Financial Group

Trudy Leen, an Associate Private Wealth Advisor, and her team members Dara Fogg and Ashley Scribner (Formerly of Gateway Financial Partners) have joined Pillar Financial Group, Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group. With this merger, Pillar Financial Group now has offices in Sandpoint and Priest River, ID. Trudy's personal and direct approach helps clients focus on their evolving goals. She believes that client education and involvement during the financial planning process is the most effective way to achieve immediate and long-term success. We're grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you with a team that is uniquely experienced and qualified to help you achieve your goals.

William S. Tippet, CLU®, ChFC® (Chicago, IL) Joins Pillar Financial Group

Effective March 1st, 2022, Will Tippet along with his team Sarah Hemmer and Shawn Manaloto, will officially join Pillar Financial Group. Will and his team bring decades of industry expertise, and give Pillar an opportunity to deliver an enhanced client experience by expanding our office footprint to Chicago, IL.

Will and his team were a natural fit for a partnership because we share the same mission; Develop enduring relationships with clients and provide guidance for generations of financial security. We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you with a team that is uniquely experienced and qualified to help you achieve your goals.

We all look forward to working closely with you to continue to provide you with exceptional service now and in the future.

Brad Mitchell Joins Pillar Financial Group

Being named one of only a handful of Northwestern Mutual’s Private Client Groups has inspired us to think differently about how to grow our team and portfolio support. We’re doubling down on finding the most talented financial professionals to be part of our growing team. Personal relationships have always been our founding partners’ top priority, and every one of our new advisors is dedicated to being a go-to, trusted confidante who you love working with.

In an effort to enhance the level of investment expertise we can bring to you, Brad Mitchell will be joining Pillar Financial Group, member of Northwestern Mutual. Brad has extensive knowledge in portfolio construction and provides clients with expert advice concerning asset allocation, security selection, and rebalancing, helping clients to implement their investment strategy.

Pillar Financial Group is excited to welcome Brad and his clients to our team. We look forward to formalizing our partnership in August 2021, at which point Brad’s existing clients will start to notice Pillar Financial Group, member of Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group reflected on the website and statements. Rest assured that Brad’s relationship with you will not change but will only grow stronger as we work together to help you achieve your goals.

John Kip O’Kelley Joins Pillar Financial Group Retirement Plan Team

Effective April 1, 2021 John Kip O’Kelley and his team Drew Guiney, Ericka Skeldon, and Marla Freeman will join Pillar Financial Group’s existing Retirement Plan Team in Seattle, WA. Clients will continue to work with the same team, while gaining access to Pillar Financial Group’s high level of knowledge and service.

Pillar Financial Group has a deep bench of professionals who will help you and your participants achieve a Successful Retirement. John Kip O’Kelley’s team combined with Pillar Financial Group will have over 150 years of experience working with all types of 401(k), 403(b) and Defined Benefit Plans. Meet Pillar’s Retirement Plan Team.

Pillar’s Retirement Plan Team Continues Growth With Addition of Asher Portfolio Advisors’ Retirement Plan Book

In preparation for his own retirement, Steve Mehlig, owner of Asher Portfolio Advisors located in Beaverton, Oregon, has agreed to begin transitioning his Retirement Practice over to Pillar Financial Group beginning April 1st, 2021. Throughout the transition, Steve will continue to work with Pillar’s Retirement Plan team to serve his clients. As a result, Asher Portfolio clients will continue to receive all of the great services that Steve has provided while gaining access to the additional services and expertise that Pillar Financial Group brings to its Retirement Plan clients.

Kyle Trautmann and Rolf Trautmann Join Pillar Financial Group Retirement Plan Team

Kyle Trautmann came to Northwestern Mutual in January 2021 to run the Pillar Financial Group retirement plan division. With more than 12 years in the retirement plan industry for a recordkeeper, Kyle brings a deep understanding of both Qualified and Non-Qualified Plans to Pillar, offering the same level of knowledge and service on the corporate side that Pillar Financial Group provides on the individual wealth side.

Rolf Trautmann has extensive experience in the design and administration of Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Plans. He brought this expertise to Pillar Financial Group in January 2021 to build their Retirement Practice. His focus is helping clients structure their Plans to effectively meet their goals and objectives. Previously, Rolf worked as a Consulting Actuary running his own private business of 30 employees and 350 clients here in the Pacific Northwest.

MEET THE TEAM