Jim Steffen CFP®

CEO & Founder

As President of Trott Brook Financial, Jim and his team have quietly developed the firm he founded in 2002 into a reputable and trusted wealth planning firm in Anoka County. With over 30 years of financial planning and investment experience, Jim leads the Trott Brook team in delivering a high level of personal service to their family of clients. He also provides the overall direction of the firm as well as overseeing the financial planning recommendations for clients. Jim has the ability to listen and communicate sophisticated concepts in a thoughtful, concise, and easily understood manner.

Jim attended the University of St. Thomas, after graduating from Anoka High School, and received an undergraduate degree in Economics and Business. He went on to obtain the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation through postgraduate study in the fields of tax, investment, insurance, retirement, and estate planning. Jim understands how difficult it is for successful, busy people to achieve a satisfying balance between their personal and financial lives. He enjoys helping clients work towards their financial goals, which he hopes will ultimately help them achieve more balance in their lives.

Jim is married to Lisa and they have two grown children. Lauren lives in Nashville and works in the music business. Tommy is a financial planning assistant at Ameriprise and spends his weekends as a fishing guide for www.rumriverguide.com. They also have two British Labs, Spirit and Moose. Jim enjoys the great outdoors, especially smallmouth bass fishing, pheasant hunting, hiking, kayaking and biking. He'll also try to sneak in a few rounds of golf each summer. Jim, Lisa and the dogs especially enjoy traveling the country in their RV. Three of their favorite travel destinations are the cabin in Sandstone, Minnesota, Full Circle Ranch in Cave Creek, Arizona, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Nikki Cellette

Operations Manager

Nikki joined Trott Brook Financial in October 2007 and plays an essential role in the smooth operation of the firm. As Operations Manager, she supports clients with the kind of personal, high-level service they have come to expect. Nikki assists the advisors by preparing and updating client accounts prior to review meetings, managing follow-ups, resolving issues, and serving as a vital resource to the entire team. She brings a thoughtful and detail-oriented mindset to her work, which is reflected in her dedication to delivering exceptional client service and advisor support.

Nikki and her husband, George, live in Ramsey with their two children. Their son, Zach, is a licensed insurance agent with State Farm, and their daughter, Brooklyn, recently graduated from Elk River High School. As a family, they enjoy spending time together, attending concerts, exploring the outdoors, traveling to warm destinations, and spending time in the Brainerd Lakes area.

Tommy Steffen

Financial Planning Assistant
Tommy joined the team in February 2025 after working at Ameriprise Financial for several months. As a Financial Planning Assistant, he plays an important role in supporting client relationships through meeting preparation, follow-up, and direct communication. He regularly participates in client meetings while assisting both Nikki and Jim.
Tommy is currently studying for his licensing exams to become a registered advisor. He’s eager to expand his knowledge, build his book of business, and become a trusted resource for clients as he grows in his role.
 
He graduated from Legacy Christian Academy in Andover in 2021 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in business and entrepreneurship from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Tommy is married to his high school sweetheart, Mya, and they recently purchased their first home in Oak Grove. Outside the office, he is an avid outdoorsman. In the warmer months, he spends much of his time on the Mississippi River, where he owns and operates Strictly Smallmouth, a guiding business he started in high school. He now guides fishing trips on weekday afternoons and full-time on weekends. When he’s not on the water, Tommy enjoys archery hunting for deer and turkey, waterfowl hunting, bowfishing, and golfing whenever time allows.