With more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, Michael specializes in retirement planning at all stages, from retirement saving to transferring wealth and leaving a legacy. Michael earned his B.A. in Elective Studies from St. Cloud State University, and his Charter Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from the America College of Financial Services. Michael has also been an active member of the Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, with a strong emphasis on tax reduction planning.
As the leader of our Comprehensive Wealth Management Services Team, Michael is responsible for implementing and overseeing best practices for managing client relationships, developing customized and comprehensive financial plans, implementing tax management strategies, providing tailored and simplified estate planning, and directing personalized income and growth investment strategies.
Michael enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and their two children, along with fishing, deer and waterfowl hunting, boating, and many other outdoor activities. Michael also enjoys volunteering in his community serving many great organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Little Falls Exchange Club, Mary of Lourds School, and youth baseball.
Born and raised in Walker, Ray graduated from Bemidji State University in 1970. He built a career spanning more than 50 years working with life insurance. During that time, some of the most gratifying moments came when he was able to help his clients stay in their home and maintain their lifestyle after the loss of a loved one.
Ray wanted to further help his clients in the area of financial services and retirement planning, so he acquired his securities licenses in 1993. In 2017, Ray joined Wochnick Financial Services as a Financial Advisor.
Raised in Alexandria, Mary Sue graduated from Jefferson Senior High School. She went on to earn a degree in Hospitality Management from Moorhead State University and Alexandria Technical College.
Since joining Wochnick & Associates in 2014, Mary Sue has played an integral role in delivering a great client experience. She is responsible for executive assistance, scheduling, client meeting prep, and account processing. In addition, she leads the planning and implementation of client appreciation events and initiatives.
Outside of the office, Mary Sue enjoys spending time with her husband Terry, her three children, son -in -law, grandson, and her close friends. Her favorite pastimes include traveling, boating, and riding horses.
*Not registered with LPL Financial.
Andrew was born and raised in St Cloud, MN. He attended Apollo High School and finished in the top 10 of his graduating class. From there, he went on to attend the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and global studies. While enrolled as a student, Andrew was very involved with the university’s Learning Abroad Center. As a result, he was fortunate enough to be able to participate in four separate study abroad programs during his four years as an undergraduate. He spent time studying in Ghana, Scotland, New Zealand, and France.
After graduation, Andrew embraced an opportunity to pursue two of his greatest passions – travel and helping people. He joined the United States Peace Corps and spent 7 months living and volunteering in Ukraine. He was part of the first cohort of volunteers sent back to that country following the 2014 Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea. Andrew describes his time in Ukraine as a very rewarding experience and a great opportunity to learn a new language while being immersed in another culture.
Andrew went on to obtain his securities registrations in early 2018. In February 2021, he joined the team at Wochnick Financial Services. Andrew is happy to have found himself in a career where he can continue to help people. He enjoys making connections with his clients and appreciates the opportunity to build long-term relationships. He also enjoys helping his clients navigate the complexities of the financial industry, and he takes pride in knowing that he is making a positive impact in his clients’ lives.
In his free time, Andrew still enjoys traveling. He has visited more than 30 states, and he has traveled to more than 20 countries across 5 continents. Andrew also enjoys going to the movies, playing trivia, and spending time with family and friends.
Alicia was born in Wichita, KS, and moved to the Ft. Ripley, MN area at two years old. She graduated from Brainerd High School and attended Rasmussen College, earning a degree in Paralegal Studies. After college, Alicia worked in the legal field for 12 years before obtaining her securities licenses in early 2019, and eventually made her way to the team at Wochnick Financial Services.
Alicia enjoys working with her clients to help simplify and understand the financial industry and create customized plans to prepare for and transition into retirement.
Alicia enjoys spending time with her husband, Mark, three children, and friends. Her time outside the office is spent attending her children’s sporting events, camping, and reading. Alicia also enjoys volunteering in her community, sitting on multiple non-profit boards, and participating in many other community clubs and events.