Insights
Most people walk into a first meeting with "financial people" skeptical.They're wondering what's in it for us. Fair.So my first goal isn't to pitch. It's to disarm. To make sure your own head trash doesn't get in the way of a really useful conversation.We start with what you want:💬 "What are you most excited for us to solve together?"💬 "What made you decide to meet with financial people?"Then, instead of "Yep, we got you," boom, here's the product…I flip the script: "Who are you as a human?"People expect salesmanship. We work hard to undo that as quickly as possible.What's one question you wish a financial advisor would ask you?#FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanningSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
People often ask me what they should bring to a first meeting. 🤔Honestly? An open mind and your truth. 💙And your first Connect meeting is on us: no cost, no obligation. ✨What's held you back from that first conversation? 👇Book your Connect: https://bit.ly/4BKQHu0 📅#FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #RelationshipsMatterSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Today we honor all who have served, including two of our own. Steve Williams, our Director of Dedicated Planning Operations, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Desert Storm. (Yes, that's young Steve in these photos! 👏)Nkozi Knight, our Director of Practice Development, a U.S. Navy veteran.The discipline, leadership and commitment to others they learned in service show up every day in how they care for our team and our clients. Steve and Nkozi, thank you for your service. We're proud to work alongside you. 💙To every veteran and military family in our community: thank you.Tag a veteran you're grateful for today 👇#VeteransDay #ThankYouForYourService #GatewayAssociates
This is what an Action Team can do. ☀️One of our clients rallied volunteers to refresh spaces at Peace Lutheran Preschool, creating a bright, welcoming place where their youngest learners feel safe, valued and loved.We were proud to help fuel the crew (coffee is essential volunteer equipment ☕😉).Thrivent members: did you know you can lead an Action Team to support a cause you care about? Ask us how to get started by calling our office 262-293-9912#CausesWeChampion #ThriventActionTeams #GatewayAssociatesSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
What I'll always do:→ Tell you up front how we get paid→ Get to know who you are, not just your numbers→ Ask what you're most excited for us to solve togetherAnd I'll never make it boring. 😉If you've been putting off that first conversation, let's change that. Book a connect: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen?back=1&month=2026-10What's held you back from meeting with an advisor?#FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #FinancialAdvisorSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
What should you bring to a first meeting with us?Honestly? I don't care if you bring financial details. I don't care about that kind of stuff.A lot of people wait years to talk to someone because they think they need to get their finances "in order" first. Or have a big enough number to be taken seriously.That's not the way we do business.I don't need you to have a certain amount of money.I don't need you to show me you're worth it.I need you to be open enough to have a real relationship with our team. 🤝Bring an open mind and your truth about who you are. That's what we need.Then you'll learn pretty quickly if we're right for you. Our fee is clearly stated, and it's not impacted by how much money you have.Thinking about a first conversation? Grab a time here: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen#FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanningSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
You're invited! 🎄🍪🧥Join us for Coats, Cookies & Community Night📅 Wednesday, December 2⏰ Stop by anytime, 4–7 PM📍 Gateway Associates, Germantown🌲 Decorate your own mini Christmas tree to take home (back by popular demand!)🍪 Enjoy cookies, cocoa and holiday treats🧤 Help keep our neighbors warm: bring a new or gently used coat, hat, scarf or gloves for our Winter Gear Drive with Dr. KTrees are limited, so RSVP by November 30 through the link in the comments! 🎁All ages welcome. Come as you are, and bring a friend! 💙#CoatsCookiesCommunity #WinterGearDrive #Germantown #GatewayAssociatesSee thirvent.com/social for important disclosures.
Some days remind you what community is really about. 💙Dayanne and Priscilla recently spent the day volunteering at Milwaukee's Project Homeless Connect with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. The event brings community partners and volunteers together to connect neighbors experiencing homelessness with essential resources and services, all in one place.Dayanne helped hand out new winter boots, kids' socks and underwear, winter gear kits and mental wellness kits, while Priscilla handed out diapers and wipes to families.It was a meaningful day of making sure people felt seen and cared for. Thank you, United Way, for bringing so many people together to make it happen! 🧤🧦#ProjectHomelessConnect #UnitedWay #GivingBack #Milwaukee #GatewayAssociatesSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Wherever you are on this list, let's make a plan. Book a connect: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen?back=1&month=2026-10Be honest: which one are you?#RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning #RetirementSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
At Gateway, we set clear expectations from day one about what we charge and how we're compensated, so the only question left is whether the advice is worth it.And if it isn't? We should break up. 💔 We only want relationships that exceed your expectations.Curious what a first conversation looks like? Book a connect: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen?back=1&month=2026-10#FinancialPlanning #FeeTransparencyThrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee. Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Advisory services available through investment adviser representatives only.Thrivent.com/disclosures.See thirvent.com/social for important disclosures.
The Gateway crew has spoken: GO BREWERS! 💙💛📣Up 2–0 heading into Game 3 tonight. Who's your series MVP so far? 👇#ThisIsMyCrew #Brewers #WorldSeries #Milwaukee #GatewayAssociatesSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Before a promotion, a role change or a move to a new company, I give every executive I work with the same advice: Don't lead with salary.Instead:→ What incentive and benefit programs does this organization actually offer?→ Which of them could raise your real, after-tax value, not just your gross pay?→ Is there a structure you could propose that works for both you and your employer?The goal isn't the biggest number on the offer letter. It's the most value you keep.Review and bonus season is coming. If a career conversation is on your calendar, let's prepare for it together: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen?back=1&month=2025-11For disclosure information, see thrivent.com/social.Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional. #ExecutiveCompensation #CareerGrowth #FinancialPlanning
It's National Retirement Security Week. You'll see a lot of posts about saving more.I want to talk about the other half.Picture this: you've counted down to your last day for years. The first Monday comes. You sleep in, have coffee on the porch… and by Wednesday you're reorganizing the garage. Again.If you're 3–5 years out, here's what I'd want answered:⏳ Time segmentation: is the money you'll spend in the next 3 years invested for that timeline?🩺 Health coverage: will you be Medicare-eligible? If not, what's the bridge?🧾 Tax buckets: tax-deferred, tax-exempt, taxed-now. Which do you draw from, and when?🔄 A downshift: could a lighter role cover baseline spending and keep people in your day?And the one people skip: will you actually do the things you say you'll do? Take longer stretches off now and see what fills your cup. ☕Retirement security is half money. The other half is you.Which of these haven't you thought about yet?#NationalRetirementSecurityWeek #RetirementPlanning #PreRetirementSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
There's a question that shows up every January:"Did I make the right choice?"Most of the time, the answer was decided back in October.Year-end planning is like putting the snow tires on in the fall. Nobody loves doing it, but it beats figuring things out from the ditch.Here's what's worth doing now:1️⃣ Know where you're projected to land.What tax bracket will you finish the year in? That shapes where extra savings should go, pre-tax or Roth.2️⃣ Check your withholding.(Yes, I talk about this all the time. It matters.)3️⃣ Prep for open enrollment before the options hit your inbox.Health changes coming? Plans that might shift next year?4️⃣ Review your life and disability coverage.Most people only look at these when they're picking from a dropdown. Have the context before you get there.A little prep now means fewer second-guesses later.Want a second set of eyes before enrollment? Schedule a quick connect: https://calendly.com/gateway-associates/connect-with-bryan-jansen#RetirementPlanning #OpenEnrollment #TaxPlanning #FinancialPlanningSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Bryan and his daughter are suited up and ready to cheer on the Brewers today. Who's watching today? Drop a ⚾ if you're reppin' the Crew! 👇#Brewers #BrewCrew #GatewayAssociates
This past weekend, a few members of our team got to be part of the Milwaukee Diaper Mission's annual community distribution event! 💛@Dayanne Vega, a member of MDM's DEC committee, was invited to attend and brought along our support advisor @Logan DeMaa. Together they helped hand out books to families as they picked up their essentials like diapers, wipes, and food. 📚 Simple, but it made for so many little moments, and they met some truly great people along the way. 🤍The impact was big: with the help of sponsors, volunteers, and partners, over 700 people received diapers, wipes, menstrual supplies, and food. 🍼 With rising costs and cuts to services like FoodShare, MDM is seeing more families than ever before.It's crazy to think that just a few months ago we wrapped up our Mother's Day drive with MDM, where we raised $1,750 and collected 2,600 diapers for families in need. 💐 Getting to see where it all goes and who it reaches made it even more meaningful.Thank you to everyone at MDM for the work you do for Milwaukee families year-round, and for letting us be part of it. We're proud to support you! 🙏#MilwaukeeDiaperMission #Milwaukee #Community
🥇 Bryan's Lymphoma Busters — #1 Nationally for Top Community Teams!🥈 Logan DeMaa — #2 nationally among Top Emerging Leaders!📈 Bryan Jansen — #9 nationally among Top Executive Challengers, and climbing!And the walk is closing in fast — just 10 more walkers to hit 100 on Bryan's team! What better way to head into Labor Day weekend than helping push that number over the top? 🎉Grab your family, grab your friends — Bryan and the team would love to have you out there! 🚶♀️🚶♂️👉 Link to register is in the comments!A quick office note:🔓 Open tomorrow🔒 Closed Monday for Labor DayWant to register but can't use the form? Leave a voicemail, or call back Tuesday and the team can get you signed up over the phone! (262)293-9912
Here's a first look at the 2026 Light the Night shirt!We're excited to see so many people planning to join us for this year's walk.⏰ T-shirt orders are due THIS Friday. You can still register after that, but shirt size availability may be limited.Thank you for being part of this event and supporting those impacted by blood cancer.Registration information is available in the bio or by calling our office at (262) 293-9912.#LightTheNightSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
What a night at Matty's Bar. 💙 A beautiful space, great people, and a big mission.We were honored to have Amy Beres share her story and scratch the surface of the support Blood Cancer United provides to patients and families. Amy, you were a hard act to follow!Thank you to Steven Bloom for coming out to support and getting to know part of our Gateway community. And to my team — thank you for showing up.As we get closer to the walk, we're still looking for 20 more people to join us under the lantern-filled sky and hit our goal of 100 walkers on walk night. 🌙Are you in? #LightTheNight #BryansLymphomaBustersSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Last week marked the halfway point of my Executive Challenge journey — and what a night to celebrate it. 🎉To the BCU team —Kim, Brenda, and Steven — thank you for pulling together such an incredible group of challengers. To those I got to meet that night, and the ones I still have ahead of me: I'm grateful for every one of you.To my team, for showing up in superhero capes right alongside me — thank you for believing in this cause as much as I do.To Sophia, our honored hero, for sharing your story with us: thank you. That cape is yours now, and you keep showing all of us what bravery really looks like.To the challengers who brought guests to learn more and celebrate with us — thank you for helping this community grow.And to Mortenson Construction for hosting us in your beautiful space — especially Brent Arnold and Jeff Gruhn, and the rest of the team who stayed late to help make the night a success — thank you.Halfway there. A few more weeks to go as Executive Challenge Chair, and I'm more energized than ever to finish strong. 💛#LightTheNight #ExecutiveChallenge #BeatBloodCancerSee thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.