Mike helps individuals and families make intentional, tax‑efficient financial decisions that support what matters most in their lives. He focuses on bringing clarity and confidence to every step of the journey—whether it’s preparing for education costs, building reliable retirement income, or strengthening long‑term financial security.

Rooted in the local community, Mike takes a personalized, values‑based approach. He prioritizes understanding each client’s goals before designing meaningful strategies tailored to their needs.

Mike and his wife, Katy, are raising their two children here in the community they love—giving him a firsthand appreciation for the financial decisions families face today and the legacy they want to build for tomorrow.

Eric guides families and near‑retirees through some of life’s most important financial decisions, especially when timelines are tight and clarity matters most. He specializes in retirement income planning and late‑stage college planning, helping clients move forward with confidence and a sense of reassurance.

With a master’s degree from Bethel University, a bachelor’s from Concordia College, the ChFC® designation, and FINRA Series 7 & 66 licenses, Eric blends advanced training with practical, real‑world insight. His approach focuses on simplifying complex choices and creating strategies that support long‑term financial wellbeing.

Ed’s goal is to help you achieve your financial goals. Everyone’s financial situation is unique, and his number one goal is to help you create your personal financial blueprint designed to align with your own goals and timeline. Whether your needs revolve around investment strategies, college financing, retirement planning, charitable giving, or leaving a legacy to the next generation, his team can help you put the pieces together to achieve your goals. His wants you to have a sense of assurance knowing you have a comprehensive plan that helps meet your needs and provides you with protection against unknown challenges life may present down the road.

Carol has been working as an Office Professional for Mike since November of 2017. She does schedule, , meeting notes, greeting clients and her support where needed. Before joining Thrivent, she worked for 20 years in restaurants and 30 years in payroll at Deluxe Corp. She retired for a week before going to work for Mike. Working for Thrivent has given her the opportunity to participate in a whole new world of generosity, four Habitat for Humanity builds in Kauai, Hawaii, picnics, concerts, and celebrations.  In her spare time, Carol enjoys spending time with friends, family and her four fantastic grandkids, traveling and keeping alive as many family traditions as they can. She enjoys working and learning with our new Thrivent RCG team.

Lois found a rewarding and great home with the Rice Creek Group as an Office Professional. Working for Thrivent provides her opportunities to give back to the community. She has been with RCG for almost 9 years, supporting Mike Kauls and Eric Werlinger with general office administrative duties. The duties include scheduling appointments, responding to client phone calls, sending meeting reminders, and a variety of other office tasks. Lois retired from Deluxe Corp. after 30 years as an HR Generalist. The two days a week schedule at Thrivent Financial works perfectly for her other retirement activities. These activities include spending time and money on her seven grandchildren, scrapbooking (now down to 3 grandchildren as the other 4 have graduated from high school, the cut off timeframe), reading, and neighborhood social fun events, including cards and meals together. Lois says, working at Thrivent keeps me young, out of trouble, and gives me spending money. It’s Perfect!

Jeff likes to think of himself as the utility player for all the Twins fans in the office. In his Licensed Associate, non-selling role, he does numerical analysis, applications for new accounts, paperwork for moving money, and general troubleshooting on behalf of Mike, Eric, and others. Jeff has been with Rice Creek Group since 2019. Before that, he worked as an editor and designer for newspapers for about 20 years and in schools for about 10. He likes to travel with his wife, Martha, and sometimes their two adult sons. He likes to cook, go to live music, and explore the city. He spoils dogs and spends too much time reading mysteries.

Kristina serves as our Licensed Practice Support Associate and plays a key role in supporting both the Rice Creek Group and our members. She assists with scheduling, gathering important client information, processing account updates and withdrawals, coordinating money movement, managing paperwork, and responding to any questions or requests that arise. She is dedicated to helping others and strives to ensure our members feel supported and well‑served.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Kristina spent five years at Thrivent’s Home Office before joining our team remotely. She grew up in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, where she now lives with her husband, Alex, and their two young children, Oliver and Veda.

Outside of work, Kristina enjoys sewing and crafting, hosting game nights, volunteering in her community, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, camping, bike rides, and relaxing in the sun with a good book.

Stephanie works part-time for the RCG team, preparing key account information prior to meetings to ensure every detail is accurate and ready for discussion. Stephanie enjoys her cats and gaming in her free time.