TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Todd Larson, CFP®, CKA®, ChFC®, CRPC®, APMA® CLTC®

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Todd Larson, private wealth advisor and president of Embassy Wealth Advisors, serves as a paragon of ethical financial guidance. Founded in 1998, Embassy Wealth Advisors distinguishes itself by embedding canonical truths into its financial advisement. The company aims to offer not only strong wealth management, but also building blocks to finding joy, purpose, and peace through money.

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With over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, Todd leads a team dedicated to delivering tailored advice in retirement planning, estate strategies, charitable giving, and tax planning for small businesses. His role orbits around strategic leadership, complex case design, and intentional networking. Certified as a Kingdom Advisor®, Todd’s approach is deeply rooted in his Christian faith. His approach profoundly shapes his empathetic engagement with clients. One poignant moment with a client helped solidify why Todd leads with logic and empathy: a husband and wife came in to record a Legacy Video at Todd’s office. The husband, a terminally ill client and in too much pain to bend over, asked his wife to tie his shoes. Todd offered to tie the shoes himself, marking a touching and human moment that he considers one of the most significant of his career. This client passed away shortly after, making the gesture a lasting memory that Embassy’s reason for “why we exist” goes beyond wealth management advice.

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Before rising to the helm of Embassy Wealth Advisors, Todd started as an associate advisor at Ameriprise Financial and built a teaching platform to give back to new advisors called Advisor Basics. In that class, he taught new advisors the importance of ethics and client-centered service. His educational background includes a master’s degree in financial services and a robust suite of certifications including CFP®, CKA®, ChFC®, BFA®, APMA®, CLTC®, and CEPA®.

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Todd's excellence in his field has not gone unnoticed. His accolades include AdvisorHub’s Fastest Growing Advisors to Watch in 2023, the Five Star Wealth Manager Award from 2021 to 2023, and a continuous presence in the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list from 2019 to 2023. Furthermore, Embassy Wealth Advisor has consistently won the Ameriprise Client Experience Award from 2020 through 2023; these awards underscore Todd and the firm's commitment to both client satisfaction and outstanding service.

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Todd’s career is a testament to the powerful blend of professional acumen and personal faith. His legacy in the financial world demonstrates how financial advisement, when done conscientiously and in alignment with deeper values, can transcend mere money management to become a life-affirming pursuit. We spoke with Todd to learn more about his inspirations and initiatives.

 

Todd, what inspired you to be a faith-centric firm and wealth advisor?

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It's much like the Nightingale's song. A Nightingale kept in isolation never sings; yet when accompanied by another, it will sing for the rest of its life. There's a prevailing notion that we should accept mediocrity simply because it's faith based. I don't agree with that perspective. For me, it’s essential to achieve excellence while remaining true to my faith. We shouldn't have to compromise on quality because of our values. Indeed, it is possible – and preferrable - to have both.

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How is your approach to both advice and asset management unique?

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Let's begin with asset management. We strive to steer clear of investments that detract from human value. We avoid profiting from industries like pornography, abortion, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, and payday loans. Instead, we focus on enterprises that contribute positively to society, such as national hardware chains that supply materials for building homes across America. This approach allows our clients to feel proud when they review their portfolios, knowing their investments align with their values and contribute to noble causes.

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On the advisory side, our mission is to alleviate stress and enhance family unity by helping clients manage debt and simplify estate planning. This ensures that wealth transfers smoothly between generations. Drawing inspiration from the Biblical story of Abraham's lineage, we recognize the importance of teaching financial stewardship to ensure that wealth grows and benefits multiple generations. We aim to prevent wealth from becoming a burden that drives families apart. A potential curse becomes a blessing when families plan, communicate, and pattern wise wealth management.

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Our approach to multigenerational family planning involves engaging the entire family early on. We encourage financial education from a young age: start with piggy banks for newborns; savings accounts at five; checking accounts at eight; investment clubs with parents at twelve; and Roth IRAs at sixteen. This comprehensive strategy is designed to cultivate a legacy of financial responsibility and prosperity.

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Can you tell us about Legacy Videos and Estate Mapping.

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We offer these services to foster financial understanding and unity. We create Legacy Videos so couples can share their life stories and impart values to their descendants, encapsulating family lessons and narratives for future generations.

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Our estate mapping tool guides families on the steps to take after the loss of a family member. This tool outlines the distribution of assets, necessary contacts, and coordination with existing wills and beneficiaries, aimed at reducing uncertainty and conflict during mourning periods. We also explain inheritance timelines and expectations to foster responsibility and clarity. Collaborating closely with each family's CPA and attorney, we consolidate these plans into a comprehensive guide (particularly transformative for widows of business owners). This proactive approach not only preserves family harmony, but also equips executors and beneficiaries with the knowledge to manage their inheritances effectively.

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Lastly, Todd, what do you enjoy most about your work?

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Money often represents a significant source of stress because it touches on personal and spiritual dimensions. There's a noticeable correlation where financial strain often accompanies spiritual challenges. The opportunity to assist people, alleviate their financial anxieties, and empower them to make sound decisions brings profound fulfillment. The responsibility to be a trusted advisor to individuals and families as they navigate their financial journeys with confidence is one I wholly embrace as a worthwhile career commitment.

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Todd Larson

Private Wealth Advisor and President

Embassy Wealth Advisor

Website: www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/embassy-wealth-advisors  

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toddelarson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmbassyWealthAdvisors/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embassywealthadvisors/

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The views expressed here reflect the views of Todd Larson as of November 30, 2021. These views may change as market or other conditions change. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, will not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not account for individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor's specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.  Past performance does not guarantee future results and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either.