Mary Sterk, CFP ®, is the owner of Sterk Financial Services (www.sterkfinancialservices.com), which is headquartered in Dakota Dunes, SD and has a second location in Kansas City. Mary’s inspirational story is one of fighting her way from Welfare to Wealth Management despite a teenage pregnancy, living in low-income housing, and raising two small children while subsisting on food stamps. Mary has received numerous awards including the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor and Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors from 2018-2022*, and 2017** Investment News Women To Watch.

During her 28 year career as a Certified Financial Planner™, Mary authored two books, Ready To Pull The Retirement Trigger?, and Buy It: The Practical Guide To Buying a Financial Services Book Of Business.  She developed her radio show / podcast, Money Guide With Mary Sterk, to educate and inspires listeners to create their best financial future.

Mary also has an artistic side, and has created uplifting messages of hope through her art via Just Mary Designs (www.justmarydesigns.com). In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her three children and one grandson.

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list includes 10 recipients per state. The award is based on qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices. The award is not based on portfolio performance or client reviews. There is no fee in exchange for rankings. 

The Forbes ranking of Top Women Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria and quantitative data. Criteria include years of industry experience and weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. 350 Oak Tree Lane, Suite 150, Dakota Dunes, SD 57049 605-217-3555 sterkfinancialservices.com
**Nominations for Investment News' 2017 Women to Watch are submitted by professionals in the financial advisory industry. The nominees are judged on specific criteria including success, leadership, ability to effect change, willingness to help other female professionals and community service. The InvestmentNews staff assemble a diverse group that represents a broad spectrum of the financial advice business when selecting women for the list. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance offered through Sterk Financial Services which is not affiliated with Osaic Wealth. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

Two Bird Dog Studios is following