In Fargo, a Dedication to Service

_{Back row (left to right): Nate Bence, Rachel Meske, Jonny Berg, Mary Locken, Joe Gotta, Shara Fischer and Nicki Kungel
Front row (left to right): Matt Bushard, Gail Jacobson, Shannon Gephart and Stephanie Strand}

At Bell Bank, providing unequaled service is a core value. For Bell Bank Wealth Management’s Fargo team, that’s more than just a motto; it’s something every team member takes to heart, no matter their background or experience. Everyone is committed to putting their clients’ needs first, whether they’ve been with Bell for years or joined later in their careers.

Three advisors on the team – Jonny Berg, Gail Jacobson and Matt Bushard – started with Bell as part-time tellers in college. All three spent time in retail banking before moving to wealth management, bringing with them a unique perspective on working with clients face-to-face.

Other members of the team, like Nate Bence, took a different path to Bell. In Nate’s case, he joined from another wealth management firm and brought a more specialized knowledge and skillset to help clients plan for their financial future.

All of those collective experiences combine – and complement each other – to shape the character of the Fargo team and its approach to wealth management, said Craig Samuelson, Bell Bank Wealth Management’s chief operations officer.

“Every team member brings their ‘A’ game to work each and every day,” Craig said. “Our advisor team serves our clients’ needs and works alongside them to help achieve their financial goals.”

Read on to see how Jonny, Gail, Matt and Nate talk about their roles at Bell.

Gail Jacobson, CFP^®, CTFA | VP/Senior Wealth & Fiduciary Advisor

Gail has more than 23 years of experience with Bell, including more than a decade in retail banking. She joined the wealth team in 2012 and now works with clients on investment accounts, IRAs, trust administration and more. Gail takes a holistic view of serving her clients, working to understand their goals to help them plan for the future.

“It’s rewarding to work with a client on their financial goals and eventually see the outcome of their hard work and dedication,” she said.

Gail is a history buff, and she enjoys traveling, doing genealogy projects and gardening with her 15-year-old daughter.

Jonny Berg, CTFA | VP/Senior Wealth & Fiduciary Advisor

With more than 16 years of experience at Bell, Jonny started as a part-time retail teller and then joined the wealth team in 2013. Today, he works with a wide range of clients on IRAs, agency accounts and trust administration issues.

“I enjoy listening to clients’ goals, objectives and concerns and providing guidance to help them feel they’re well-informed and well-positioned for the future,” he said.

Jonny enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids.

Matt Bushard, CFP^® | VP/Senior Wealth Management Advisor

Matt started at Bell in 2011 as a customer service representative and joined the wealth team as a trust specialist in 2013. He now works with high-net-worth prospects and clients to help them prepare for life before and after retirement, focusing on cash flow planning, tax planning and investment management to help them meet their short- and long-term goals.

“I have a passion for helping people connect all the pieces of their financial lives,” Matt said. “I enjoy seeing the plan we create come to life and the goals we hope to achieve become reality.”

Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and two children at the lake.

Nate Bence, CFP^® | VP/Wealth Management Advisor

Nate joined Bell in 2020 from a different financial services firm. He has more than 11 years of experience in the industry and works closely with clients to create financial plans focusing on current and future financial goals. He also specializes in helping high-net-worth clients navigate life transitions, such as retirement or the sale of a business.

“I enjoy helping clients achieve their financial goals and seeing the joy that those achievements bring to them and their family,” Nate said.

Nate and his wife have two children along with three dogs, two miniature donkeys and two horses.

This article was published in the Q3 2024 issue of the Bell Wealth Newsletter.