Austen is a proud alumnus of Pacific Lutheran University, where he earned his MBA and leveraged his 6’7” frame playing for the Lutes basketball team. In his holistic advisory approach, Austen is driven by a passion for connecting with clients and listening to their unique stories. From his experience, he recognizes that wealth lacks genuine value without good health, family, quality relationships, and faith. He aims to empower clients financially, emotionally and spiritually, guiding them to ascend towards true wealth.

As a Pacific Northwest native, Austen finds joy in serving as an unofficial salmon fishing guide in his free time. He also enjoys reading, traveling and cherishing quality time with his wife, Allegra, and daughter, Giada. In his personal and professional life, Austen is guided by the philosophy that success is born out of consistency and commitment, with his personal mantra being to challenge himself and inspire others to do 1% better every day.

With a background in engineering and business, Cody entered the financial industry to merge his love for numbers and problem-solving with his passion for making an impact in the lives of those around him. Guided by biblical principles, Cody emphasizes the importance of viewing money as a tool rather than a master (Matthew 6:24) and encourages purpose-driven financial decisions aligned with a Christ-centered perspective (Matthew 6:21). 

Cody relocated from his home state of Minnesota to South Carolina to assist with a church planting project. It was there that he met his wife, Ellis, and in 2024, their family grew with the joyful arrival for their son, Fields. While Cody has clients in most states, his primary offices are in the Low Country, Nashville, and Traverse City.

J.W. joined Thrivent in 2020, driven by a desire to integrate his passions for entrepreneurship, personal finance, and mission work into his professional career. As an advisor, J.W. leverages his talent for simplifying complex financial topics through engaging whiteboard visuals and compelling social media posts. 

J.W. finds fulfillment in giving back through his mission work and volunteering with his church. Outside of work, he cherishes moments with his wife, Kaitlin, his son, Eli, and his beloved Great Pyrenees Mix, Abe.

Since joining the financial industry in 2009, Jared has cultivated a wealth of experience that he brings to his role as an Associate. With a degree in Theology and Psychology from Wisconsin Lutheran College and ongoing studies at the American College of Financial Services, Jared brings a unique perspective to personal financial planning. His comprehensive approach fosters authentic, trust-based relationships with clients, consistently working to help them achieve greater simplicity, security, and control in their financial lives.

Guided by the principle "More Christians, More Secure, More Generous," Jared finds fulfillment in stewarding God-given blessings and creating positive impact within communities. When not serving clients, he enjoys traveling with his family, training for half-marathons and spending weekends at their retreat in northern Wisconsin. Jared and his family also share a love for the arts and enjoy actively participating in local community choirs and their church. 

With over 7 years of experience as a financial advisor, Caty feels called to leverage her talents and expertise in guiding clients to optimize their financial opportunities. Through her work, she finds profound fulfillment in returning to God what He has graciously bestowed upon her and feels blessed to witness clients achieve goals that align with their purpose. Caty's approach starts with recognizing the 'why.' It is essential for her to understand her clients' perspectives and motivations so that she can then use meaningful and measurable data to help them achieve their objectives. As an advisor, she strives to deliver exceptional value, ensure efficient results, and serve with unwavering integrity.

After taking a hiatus to raise her three children, Caty rejoined the industry in 2023. In her personal life, she treasures moments with her husband and three children. As an active church member, her heart feels full when serving God and giving Him thanks.

In his 6 years of service as an EOD tech in the army, Brian cultivated the invaluable skill of being prepared for anything - a quality he applies to his work today as a service advisor. Having seen the importance of having a plan in his own life, he is passionate about assisting families in creating a comprehensive strategy, ensuring they are thoroughly equipped for whatever the future holds. Brian also finds great reward in exploring various scenarios with clients and witnessing the shift in their perspective from uncertainty about their retirement to excitement about the possibilities. 

Brian is dedicated to delivering prompt, high-quality service and demonstrates a keen eye for detail. Outside of work, Brian is a loving father to his beautiful daughter, Grace, whom he loves to take on outdoor adventures. He also enjoys hunting and fishing with his father whenever he finds time to visit him in Mississippi. 

A Minot State graduate with dual degrees in Management Information Systems & Marketing, Kasey brings 12 years of energy sector tech leadership, a Master of Business Administration, and a Harvard cybersecurity credential to financial strategy. He first joined Thrivent in 2021 establishing his own successful practice before merging with Ascend in 2025, united through a shared commitment to transparent, integrity-driven planning.

When he’s not advising clients, Kasey can be found coaching his kids’ sports teams, officiating local hockey and football games, or sneaking in a round of golf. A dedicated father to three kids, he finds purpose in Romans 12:2’s call to approach life with renewed perspective – whether strategizing portfolios or coaching from the sidelines.

After stepping down as CEO of a publicly traded company in 2017, Monty transitioned to Thrivent to pursue his passion for assisting Christian families in aligning their financial plans with their faith and values. As a CPA certified in Financial Forensics, Monty employs tax-efficient planning and adaptable financial strategies tailored to clients' diverse life stages and circumstances. Central to his approach is the establishment of trust and dependability, aiming to provide his clients with risk-appropriate solutions to safeguard their financial futures.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Monty actively engages with his community and church, serving on the Pension and Benefits Board for the National Covenant Church. As the regional President of Men’s Ministry for the Pacific NW Covenant Church, he coordinates activities like Men’s Bible Study and quarterly Men’s breakfasts. Monty and his wife, Lorie, take pride in their roles as grandparents and parents to their five children.

As a leader, Alex believes by going the extra mile to be excellent for her team, she encourages them to extend the same level of commitment to others. She entered the financial industry in 2012, driven by a passion for connecting and coaching people towards improvement. Since joining the team in 2019, Alex has played a pivotal role in cultivating a dynamic and supportive culture by harnessing our team’s natural strengths and motivating them to bring their best for our clients.

Many of Alex’s leadership lessons stem from her role as a parent to her son, Beck, and as a partner to her husband, Kent. Through them, she has learned the value of humility, patience and unconditional love. Alex holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Her favorite pastimes include volunteering with her husband’s ministry, cooking, traveling and having quality chats over coffee.

Through her dedication to continuously raising the bar for client satisfaction, Ellis employs a thoughtful blend of creativity, compassion and analytical acumen. Her previous professional experience includes collaborating with businesses, managing multimillion-dollar inventories and implementing sophisticated system processes. Ellis measures success through positive client feedback, finding fulfillment in fostering meaningful connections and transforming financial conversations into positive, rewarding experiences.

Beyond her professional commitments, Ellis is an active church member and contributes to the Charleston community with her exceptional baking skills. She finds joy in interior design, hosting gatherings for friends and family, and teaching horseback riding lessons. Quality time with her husband, Cody, and their newborn son, Fields, holds a special place in her heart.

Blessed with a natural talent for providing attentive and thoughtful care, Melissa employs her skill set to ensure clients feel supported and advocated for throughout their financial journey. In 2021, we welcomed her to our team, impressed by her extensive background in customer service, meticulous eye for detail, and excellent communication skills. In the role of Relationship Manager, she shines at delivering prompt, proactive client care and diligent follow-up, ensuring clients can effortlessly address crucial tasks on their financial checklist.

Melissa enjoys singing with her church’s praise band and attending Bible study in her free time. As a devoted wife, mother to five children and grandmother, family is central to her life. She is also passionate about promoting natural health and wellness through her knowledge as a certified aromatherapist.

In his role as office manager, Tanner ensures the seamless operation of our office, prioritizing the efficient handling of client inquiries and managing our financial advisors’ schedules for timely access. Committed to delivering exceptional care, Tanner strives to assure every client of our dedication to their success by providing quick response times and transparency. In every interaction with our team, he aims for clients to feel valued and supported as they navigate the path God has laid out for their journey.

One of Tanner’s favorite ways to give back is as a counselor for Camp Croix’s Christian youth summer program. This camp holds special significance for him, being a cherished childhood memory and where he met his best friend and wife, Kenya.

Sarah first joined Thrivent in 2022 as a dedicated administrative professional. She now supports our operations team with her keen attention to detail and efficient administrative execution. Drawing from her background in customer service and ministry, Sarah brings a compassionate approach to her work. As a licensed insurance professional, she is committed to helping others secure their financial futures.

When she's not at work, Sarah loves spending quality time with her family, exploring new restaurants, attending live music events, walking her dog Lily, and bringing her two daughters to their local library.

Cassidy joined Thrivent in 2023 as an Office Professional, supporting a financial practice with care, efficiency, and strong organizational skills. She now joins our team, bringing a solid administrative background along with extensive experience in nonprofit work, ministry, and customer service. Committed to ensuring smooth operations and a welcoming client experience, Cassidy is known for her warmth, attention to detail, and ability to create order. She approaches her work with professionalism, kindness, and a positive, solutions‑oriented mindset.

Outside of work, Cassidy enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their two children. As a family, they love playing games, crafting, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

As a wealth advisor, Nick knows the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing extensive licensing and accreditations but feels it just doesn’t compare to the rewarding experience of helping people reach their financial goals. By bringing forth his knowledge, expertise and communicative skills, he helps clients build better strategies that can help them navigate the journey to financial security.

Kellen, a Pacific Lutheran University alum, approaches advising with an emphasis on cultivating meaningful relationships. Shaped by family and faith, he attributes his identity and success to these foundational pillars. Driven by principles of hard work, excellence and leadership, Kellen channels his passion into providing purpose-based financial guidance.

Kellen's commitment lies in helping clients make decisions aligned with their values, goals and financial situation.

Kellen Kranc, Financial Advisor in Bellevue, WA | Thrivent