About Us
Beacon Financial Group was founded with a simple mission: to help individuals, families, and businesses achieve financial confidence and clarity. Our story began in 2008, when Craig Drake left corporate America with the support of his wife and a determination to build something meaningful. Through long days, tireless effort, and a commitment to meeting and serving others, Craig established his practice from the ground up as a solo advisor.
Inspired by his father's passion for helping people and the fulfillment he found in his work, Ryan Drake decided to leave his career as a mechanical engineer in 2018 and join his father's practice. Together, Craig and Ryan worked side by side, expanding their reach and guiding more clients toward achieving their financial goals and dreams.
Lynne Sonnek joined the team as their dedicated client service specialist, ensuring a smooth and personalized experience for every client. As the practice grew, Craig and Ryan partnered with Steve Schroeder to help with succession planning for Steve's business. This partnership brought Darlene Schaefer into the fold, as she had been working closely with Steve for years and brought invaluable knowledge to the team.
By early 2024, Beacon Financial Group had grown to a point where additional support was needed to continue delivering exceptional service. Rawia and Joe joined the team, bringing fresh perspectives and additional capacity to help more clients navigate their financial journeys. Rawia joined the team as a Financial Advisor where she was previously at Morgan Stanley in a Financial Planning Associate role. Rawia obtained her CFP® certification in the first few months of joining the team. Joe has been an advisor with Principal since 2020 (his first day was the first day of COVID lockdown!) working solo in Saint Cloud. Previously, he was in the banking industry.
At Beacon Financial Group, we believe financial advising isn't just about money or being analytical. It's about building trust, creating lasting relationships, and helping our clients live the lives they envision. Our values guide everything we do: Passionate and caring, team-oriented and dependable, holistic perspective, adventurous leadership, and being analytical. We strive to make complex financial decisions simpler, empowering our clients.
Today, Beacon Financial Group is a team of professionals dedicated to helping clients get organized, stay on track, protect their assets, and implement tax-efficient strategies. With a focus on service, availability, and a deep care for the client experience, we're here to be your trusted guide on the path to financial confidence.
We embody the following core values as the guiding principles for how we operate, make decisions, and serve our clients.
1. Passionate and Caring
We genuinely care about our clients' success, approaching every interaction with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in their financial lives.
2. Team-Oriented and Dependable
Our team thrives on collaboration, clear communication, and consistent service, ensuring our clients always have a trusted guide by their side.
3. Holistic Well-being
We focus on the big picture, integrating financial balance and well-being into every plan to help our clients achieve confidence and long-term success.
4. Adventurous Leadership
We lead with curiosity and courage, embrace challenges with a pioneering spirit, leading boldly while exploring innovative solutions tailored to each client's needs.
5. Analytical and Detail-Oriented
We dive deep into the numbers, leveraging precision and knowledge to craft strategies that are as thorough as they are effective.