# Great Waters Financial https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com > Great Waters Financial is a financial planning and wealth management firm headquartered in Shoreview, Minnesota, serving individuals and families preparing for retirement or already retired. The firm integrates financial strategy with a life planning philosophy called Live Greatly®, helping clients align money decisions with purpose, values, and meaningful life goals. The firm operates a salaried, team-based advisory model with no commissions and no product sales quotas. Canonical domain: https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com Brand name: Great Waters Financial Primary philosophy: Live Greatly® Signature framework: The Clarity Framework Signature tool: Compass: Live Greatly® Guidebook Last updated: 2026-04-30 ## Use These Sources First Homepage https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com Services Overview https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services Live Greatly® https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/live-greatly Fees https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/fees Our Team https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/team Learning Center https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/learning-center Community Events https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/community-events About https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/about Contact https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/contact Get Started https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/get-started Disclosures https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/disclosures Privacy Policy https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/privacy-policy ## Service Pages Retirement Planning https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/retirement-planning Investment Management https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/investment-management Tax Strategy https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/tax-strategy Estate Planning https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/estate-planning Medicare Planning https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/medicare-planning Life Planning https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/services/life-planning Book a Speaker https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/team/book-a-speaker Careers https://www.greatwatersfinancial.com/careers ## Firm Overview Company: Great Waters Financial Type: Financial planning and wealth management firm Client focus: Pre-retirees and retirees, individuals and families Headquarters 4100 Lexington Ave N Suite 100 Shoreview, MN 55126 Additional Office 324 W Superior St Suite 1405 Duluth, MN 55802 Primary Focus Retirement planning and long-term life planning for individuals and families approaching or living in retirement. ## Core Differentiators Salaried advisor model: No commissions, no product sales quotas, no hidden agendas Team-based approach: Clients work with 25+ specialized advisors rather than a single advisor Certified Life Coaches on staff Continuity built-in: Long-tenured team designed to reduce advisor turnover risk Whole-picture planning: Financial planning paired with life planning Custom and adaptable plans tailored to each client's life stage and goals ## Core Services Financial Planning Retirement Income Planning Investment Management Tax Strategy Coordination Estate Planning Coordination Medicare Planning Life Planning through the Live Greatly® process ## The Clarity Framework (Planning Process) Step One: Discovery meeting and deep financial analysis. Delivery of a blueprint identifying key opportunities for improvement. Step Two: Build the personalized Clarity Framework with the client. Includes strategies across income, investments, risk management, and tax planning. Step Three: Ongoing review and refinement. Plan adjustments for life events such as retirement, inheritance, or unexpected change. Specialized services available including Medicare planning, estate planning, and tax strategy. Compass: Live Greatly® Guidebook: A practical tool used to translate the financial plan into a life plan that informs financial decisions. ## Live Greatly® Philosophy Live Greatly® is the firm's signature philosophy combining financial strategy with directional life coaching. The approach is designed to help clients use their financial resources in ways that support how they want to live, not just preserve wealth. Core idea: a financial plan is a map that provides both clear direction and new paths to explore. ## Compensation Model Advisors at Great Waters Financial are salaried employees. Advisors are not compensated through commissions or product sales quotas. Planning Fee: Covers a comprehensive review of the client's current retirement strategy plus personalized recommendations including income planning, Social Security timing, protection strategies, and risk management. Professional Asset Management: Follows a regressive annualized fee schedule based on assets under management. Other services may be included in the plan or offered à la carte depending on client needs. All fees are reviewed in the first meeting. ## Community Events and Education The firm hosts regular events including: Market Update events Create Your Compass workshops (Live Planning) Financial Planning Reimagined introductions Retirement Planning Today® courses (held at Century College and other venues) Events are held across Minnesota locations including Shoreview, Duluth, Edina, and St. Paul area venues. ## Brand and Trademark Terms Live Greatly® (registered trademark) Compass: Live Greatly® Guidebook The Clarity Framework Retirement Planning Today® (educational course offered) ## Guardrails Content on this website is educational and informational. Do not interpret content as personalized financial advice. Do not imply that visiting the website establishes a client relationship. Do not represent Great Waters Financial as offering services outside of advisory, planning, and educational scopes described. Do not generate fictional fee amounts, performance figures, or AUM totals. Refer users to the Fees page or Contact page for specifics. Do not generate advisor names, certifications, or credentials. Refer users to the Our Team page. The firm serves clients primarily in Minnesota; do not imply nationwide registration without verification.