"Brett embodies a rare combination of seasoned competence, approachability, and a personal commitment to bettering the lives of everyone he touches."
—Brady Rumpel
Over a 40-year career as a financial advisor, Brett has dedicated his life to creating genuine connections with clients, shaping their financial journeys with trust, compassion, and clarity. A prolific author, he’s written over two dozen books, offering invaluable insights to professionals, business owners, and retirees alike.
Let’s Start at the Beginning
Brett’s story starts on July 19, 1960, in the Chicago suburbs, which saw the early formation of his tenacity and focus. He attended Libertyville High School, where he wrestled, a sport that cemented his understanding of persistence and goal-setting. Graduating from MacMurray College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Accounting, and Economics, Brett’s academic journey was far from over. He spent his early years learning from his father, Duane Machtig. His example as a dedicated business owner, husband, and father set Brett on lifelong learning and self-improvement. The years spent with Duane were formative, providing Brett with an enduring model of integrity and care.
Brett furthered his education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, a rigorous program that nurtured his natural drive and vision. While attending the MBA program in the early 1980s, he became the president of Duke’s IBM Users Group, helping advisors at Merrill Lynch automate their offices with IBM Personal Computers. Through this experience, Brett found his passion for merging technology with financial planning and discovered his calling.
The Power of Mentorship
Mentorship has been a core element of Brett’s approach to success, and he credits much of his professional growth to the guidance he received from mentors in the industry. He developed close relationships with top leaders in financial services, using their insights to enhance his skills. By adopting the best practices of his mentors, Brett strengthened his asset management techniques, a skill he would continue to refine over the next four decades. The lessons learned from these relationships became part of his core, enabling him to continuously evolve and expand his financial expertise. Today, he passes those lessons on to his clients, offering them the wisdom of countless experienced minds.
His Financial Approach: Balancing Growth with Protection
In managing clients’ wealth, Brett follows a few fundamental principles:
Risk Management: He assesses each client’s comfort level with risk and uses sophisticated tools like Monte Carlo simulations to create tailored strategies that align with their goals and expectations.
Strategic Investing: Brett emphasizes active asset management, using technical and fundamental research to “tilt” investments towards opportunities with optimal growth potential while minimizing downside risk.
Due Diligence: Each portfolio is curated with third-party research from respected sources such as Guru Focus and VectorVest, and his investment committee rigorously evaluates performance and risk factors.
Behavioral Insights: Brett knows that human nature often favors avoiding loss over achieving gain. He incorporates this understanding into his strategies, especially for retirees seeking security in their golden years.
Leveraging Seasonality and Momentum: Brett considers seasonal trends and market momentum, like the “January Effect,” to help maximize returns.
Early Career Breakthroughs
In the late ‘80s, Brett joined Prudential Securities’ training program in New York, where he quickly proved himself as a rising star. Through intensive study and networking, he developed a strong foundation in financial advising and built a network back in Minnesota. By 1988, he was back in Minneapolis, ready to hit the ground running. Within his first year, Brett was recognized as one of the firm’s top advisors, a testament to his skill and dedication.
The early ‘90s marked a turning point in Brett’s career when he made a promise to a beloved client on their deathbed. He assured the client he would help his widow manage her finances, but despite his best efforts, he couldn’t prevent her from making poor financial choices that rapidly depleted their savings. This experience deeply affected Brett and inspired him to write Wealth in a Decade (Irwin-McGraw Hill, 1996), his first book, which brought him national recognition. Appearances on programs like CNBC’s Your Money and PBS’s Financial Freedom followed, solidifying his reputation as a trusted financial advisor with a distinct approach.
In 2003, Brett embraced a new phase in his career by transitioning to the independent advisory channel with Pershing. This move allowed him to prioritize flexibility and client-focused service—his shift to a fee-based model aligned with his belief in transparency and a client-centered approach.
Expanding Horizons and Lifelong Learning
Throughout his career, Brett has actively pursued opportunities to grow his expertise. He attended Tony Robbins’ Life Mastery program and learned alongside renowned speakers such as Peter Lynch, Colin Powell, and Deepak Chopra. Inspired by these experiences, he integrated their teachings into his advisory work, shaping his clients’ financial paths and personal growth.
Brett’s commitment to educating others didn’t stop with his clients. He developed a financial literacy program for the University of Tennessee to help young adults make sound financial decisions, a program that has continued for over 20 years. With co-author Josh Gronholz, Brett expanded the program to the Normandale College system, Minnesota’s largest community college. As a Normandale’s Business Advisory Group member, Brett remains committed to shaping the next generation’s financial futures.
Family and Personal Life
When Brett isn’t in the office or writing his latest book, he devotes himself to his family. He and his wife, Nikki, are partners in guiding their children through life’s challenges and helping them find purpose. Brett takes particular pride in the paths his children have chosen: Abby, who is studying to become a Financial Advisor; Ashley, who is focused on the healing arts; and Jonathan, who performs and teaches music and chess in California.
Brett’s connection to family and his commitment to their success parallels his care to his clients. He’s a true family man, understanding that personal values are inseparable from professional integrity. His clients, many of whom he considers friends, benefit from this dedication and feel valued and understood in every interaction.
Lessons for Every Day
Over the years, Brett has developed principles that he believes are essential to personal and financial success:
The Importance of Questioning: Brett believes the most profound questions are the simplest. “Why are we here?” or “What is our purpose?” He encourages clients to revisit these questions as they go through life, knowing the answers evolve.
Learning from Failures: Brett is no stranger to setbacks and sees them as essential to growth. According to Tony Robbins, people learn more from failure than success, a principle Brett has embraced. He has learned more from his setbacks than his achievements, using each experience as a stepping stone for future success.
Continuous Self-Development: He believes in constantly refining and re-evaluating his strategies, whether through mentors, reading, or engaging with industry peers. By regularly challenging himself and learning from others, Brett keeps his skills sharp and relevant, ensuring his clients benefit from the latest insights and best practices.
Family and Connection: To Brett, true success involves treating others with respect and compassion, from his clients to his family. He firmly believes in empathy and understanding, treating everyone with the dignity they deserve.
The Philosophies That Define Brett’s Approach
Brett has developed a unique philosophy guiding his life and work. He believes in the power of knowledge and the importance of constantly challenging assumptions. He advocates for a curious and open mind, knowing that success isn’t just a destination but a journey of discovery and adaptation.
Brett encourages his clients to explore new perspectives, test the limits of their understanding, and seek truth. His commitment to lifelong learning has led him to study diverse subjects, from political events and human dynamics to philosophy and art, understanding that knowledge from all realms contributes to better financial decision-making.
Commitment to Values:
Trusted, Accessible, Genuine, Competent, and Caring
For Brett, financial advising is much more than numbers on a page; it’s about building trust and creating meaningful, lasting relationships. His clients aren’t simply portfolios to manage but individuals with goals, fears, and dreams. Every piece of advice he offers is rooted in genuine care and a commitment to helping others succeed.
Final Reflections
After four decades of helping clients secure their financial futures, Brett’s dedication remains unwavering. He’s the advisor who listens, cares, and is there for his clients every step of the way. He encourages those seeking a partner in financial planning to reach out and explore what a meaningful, impactful advisory relationship can look like.
If you’re ready to discuss your financial future, Brett invites you to call him at (612) 325-9999. It’s not just about planning your wealth; it’s about building a legacy, one thoughtful decision at a time.
