News and Insights
With our team all "Together" recently, we ventured out along with our good friends at Via Financial for a trip to Colorado Railbike Adventures! The weather was lovely and we all enjoyed spending some quality time together as a team.
Christian is in town!
Our Director of Brokerage Operations, who lives and works out of his home in Minneapolis, is here for the week! We have gotten the opportunity to enjoy some quality "Together-ness" time and take advantage of the beautiful weather.
Yesterday, we celebrated Mark Kulaga's well-earned retirement with lunch at the Lazy Dog in Westminster! After a meaningful and rewarding career at Thrivent, helping clients navigate life's inevitable challenges and reach their biggest goals, Mark is off to his next adventure. As he steps into this new chapter of life, Cory is honored to carry forward the care and guidance Mark's clients have come to know and trust.
Last day to order! Don't miss out on the flavors of summer.. Peach sales end tomorrow 8/1.
Meet Andrew!
Andrew began his journey with Thrivent 21 years ago in 2004. Once a career-changing new financial advisor, he now runs a successful team of 7 on a mission to touch the lives of clients and guide them through the ups and downs of financial planning. Keep reading about his journey in Andrew's biography included below!
"People not Parts. I am an only child with siblings. I’m 12 years younger than my next-older sister. My parents weren’t raising me in their 20’s and 30’s. I was raised by adults in their 50’s. My father is a Pastor. From him I learned the nature of “being in the know” and how to respect that privacy.
On summer days through high school, I woke up at 5:00 AM. Together, my buddy, Matt and I drove the 25 minutes to the factory where we’d work 5:30 - 5:30, turning sheet metal into grain bin accessories in the sweltering heat of Iowa in July. After my “shift,” I rode my dirt bike to the farm and worked in the pumpkin patch until dark. Then it was home, dinner and sleep.
On Saturdays, I’d work a half-day at the factory and then spend six hours manicuring 20 acres around the church. On Sunday, I had church in the morning, boating in the afternoon and relaxing at home in the evening.
During the school year I’d shoot hoops religiously. In college, I could touch my elbow to the rim and throw down a two-handed alley-oop like gravity was optional. My biggest regret is not competing on the court in college. Instead, I went into mechanical engineering, studying the complexity of things that move under stress.
Ultimately, though, I felt called to work more with people, not parts. When I build a financial plan for a client, I bring an engineer's attention to detail and the compassion of a pastor."
andrew.flanscha@thrivent.com
970-744-4629
Less than a week left! Support TSD and load up on your summer peaches! Sales end 8/1/25.
Meet Erin!
Erin has been with Together Financial Group for 9 years. Hers is the first friendly face you are greeted with when you visit our office, and the first caring voice to help you over the phone. Get to know her better and take a peek at her biography below!
"Introverted people person. That’s what I’ve always been. As a child, I was a little shy, but I also loved community, connectedness, and being around people. It was a tiny tug-o-war.
My people side won out, though. And so, during the summer, the other kids and I would dash out of the house in the morning and ride our bikes around all day; not coming home until after dark. There was nothing better. Those were simpler times I look back on with fondness.
The one thing in life that was never a tug-o-war was my desire to have a family. I was blessed to meet and marry the love of my life, Don. Together, we raised three wonderful boys, here in Loveland, who grew into men we're proud of. They have families of their own now and we’ve been blessed again to have five grandchildren who are the light of our world.
Some things never change. I still love riding my bike in the mountains and I still love people and belongingness. Which is why I’m grateful I get to serve as a connection point between Thrivent and our community of people I adore."
erin.hummel@thrivent.com
970-744-4629
July may be coming to an end, but the peaches keep rolling in! Join us in supporting TSD and enjoy some fresh peaches! Sales end 8/1/25.
"The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." - Psalm 118:14
Understanding your personal finances is a goal everyone should pursue. The more you understand about money—budgeting, saving and investing—the more empowered you are to make decisions that align with your goals.
It's not too late to grab some fresh, juicy peaches... Order yours today!
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11
Join us in supporting TSD, all while savoring the flavor of summer with fresh peaches!
Pros & cons of paying off your mortgage before you retire
If you’re nearing retirement with a mortgage in tow, you’re not alone. But should you pay it off before you retire? While being debt-free can offer a sense of reassurance, in some cases, keeping your mortgage might actually be beneficial. Explore the pros and cons of having a mortgage during retirement.
Thinking about your child’s future college education? 🎓 Thrivent’s College Savings Calculator can help you estimate how much you need to save for college expenses: https://bit.ly/3Q3ONOd
If you’re wondering how college planning fits within your finances, let’s connect.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Looking for ways to pay for college? Some use a combination of the following:
🎓 Grants
🎓 Scholarships
🎓 Work-study programs
🎓 Federal and private loans
🎓 Savings
If you’d like to discuss additional ways to fund a college education, let’s connect.
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
What approach do you take when saving? There’s a SMART framework which can be used to help you make more purposeful money decisions and take actions that align with your values.
Learn more about how you can create SMART financial goals that can help you save more quickly: https://bit.ly/4iSwsAF