History
In 1993 Focus Financial was created as an independent financial planning firm to provide advisors maximum flexibility and resources to help clients reach their goals and objectives.
Leadership
The commitment of the firm’s leaders and advisors is to strive be a trustworthy, responsive and reliable, financial planning professional who put the needs of the client first.
Focus Financial is managed by advisor professionals with extensive industry experience averaging over 20 years each. Along with their management role, each Executive Officer leads their own financial advisory practice. They are active in the industry and greater community, and are people who take great pride in the advisors they stand behind.
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Bill Bergstrom, CFP®
Executive Officer
Financial Advisor
Corporate Headquarters
With over twenty five years experience in the financial industry, Bill specializes in retirement and estate planning for high net worth individuals. Bill is one of the Executive Officers and current board members of Focus Financial acting as a liaison between the President and the Board of Directors. Bill is also an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the International Board of Certified Financial Planners (IBCFP). He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1981 with a B.A. degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. |
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John Bina
President
Corporate Headquarters
John has been in the financial industry for over 18 years and has been with Focus Financial since its inception in 1993. He has held various positions including Managing Executive, CFO, COO, and Controller. Most recently John was named President where he assumes full management responsibilities for the company. He has been a guest speaker at various professional and academic forums including the University of St. Thomas and Best Prep, as well as served on a number of professional and non-profit advisory boards including the Royal Alliance National Advisory Board. He is also an active volunteer and has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America since 1990, holding a variety of leadership positions. John graduated from the College of St. Thomas in 1990 with a B.S. degree in Finance. |
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Michael S. Dales, AAMS
Executive Officer
Financial Advisor
Minnetonka Office
In 1993, Mike along with long-time friend Kyle Watkins, co-founded Focus Financial. He has been in the financial industry for over twenty years and specializes in estate and retirement planning. Mike manages the company work site financial education program known as InSite Financial Education as well as being a board member and Executive Officer. He was educated at the University of Minnesota majoring in Political Science and earned the designation, Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) through the College for Financial Planning and its Institute for Wealth Management. |
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John Dritz, AAMS
Senior Officer
Financial Advisor
Minnetonka Office
Specializing in Asset Management for small businesses and high net worth individuals, John has worked in the financial industry for over twenty years. He received the professional designation AAMS (Accredited Asset Management Specialist) in 1998 from the College for Financial Planning and its Institute for Wealth Management. John is a financial advisor, Senior Officer, and board member of Focus Financial as well as the Real Estate Manager. He is also an active participant of the Financial Planning Association. John graduated from Boston University in 1985 with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance. |
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Dave Heitkamp, CFP®
Executive Officer
Financial Advisor
Minnetonka Office
Since 1983, Dave has helped his clients and many advisors’ clients in planning for retirement and managing their wealth. Dave is one of the Executive Officers, a current board member, and the Investment Committee Chairman of Focus Financial, a position he has held since 1996. He is also active in recruiting talented advisors to Focus Financial as well as supporting them in their training and transition to the firm. He is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ since 1987. Dave graduated with honors from The University of St. Thomas in 1981 with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting. |
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John Layton, CFP®
Executive Officer
Financial Advisor
Minnetonka Office
Since 1985, John has been in the financial industry where today he specializes in retirement planning and wealth management for high net worth individuals. He is a financial advisor, an Executive Officer, and a current board member of Focus Financial. John is also active in recruiting talented advisors to Focus Financial as well as supporting them in their training and transition to the firm. John is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™(CFP®) since 1990. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1980 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering. |
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Kyle Watkins, CFP®
Executive Officer
Financial Advisor
Apple Valley Office
For the past twenty years, Kyle has specialized in helping solve wealth management issues for busy professionals. He and long time friend Mike Dales co-founded Focus Financial in 1993 where he continues to be a financial advisor, Executive Officer, and board member. Kyle also is Chief Project Manager, overseeing firm-wide initiatives in everything from technology to marketing and communications. Kyle is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ since 1988. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1984 with a B.S. degree in Economics and a minor in Political Science. |
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