Our Team
Meet the team behind your financial plan.
Fee-only fiduciary advisors, specialists, and a client-service team who share a single job: helping you make confident decisions about your money.
Our Story
We built Fortress to be the firm we’d want for our own families.
I started Fortress with a simple test: build the firm I would want for my own family. Planning first, fees explained in writing, and recommendations made in the context of the full financial picture. Fortress is fee-only and does not receive product sales commissions.
The work is most useful when a complicated decision becomes a clear sequence of next steps. Our advisors, planning specialists, compliance, and client-service colleagues work from the same household information. We listen first, document the decision, and keep things moving.
Firm data as of July 2026.
Our People
The people in your corner
Every advisor is backed by planning, compliance, and client-service colleagues who prepare meetings, keep follow-ups on track, and coordinate the work in between.
Advisors
Dan LangworthyCIMA®, CPWA®
Founder · Senior Advisor
Rochester, MN & Scottsdale, AZ
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Cody SchaeferCFP®, RICP®
Advisory Services Manager · Senior Advisor
Rochester, MN
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Luke KroeplinCFP®
Strategy & Planning Manager
Rochester, MN
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Jack ZinserCFP®
Advisor
Rochester, MN
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Aidan RyanCFP®
Advisor
Rochester, MN
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Jake Hagen
Advisor
Rochester, MN
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Joe NicholasSeries 65
Associate Advisor
Rochester, MN
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Client Service, Compliance & Operations
Credentials That Matter
What the letters mean
These credentials have different education, examination, experience, and continuing-education requirements.
Certified Financial Planner™
Comprehensive exams, an experience requirement, and a commitment to a fiduciary code of ethics.
Certified Investment Management Analyst®
Advanced training in asset allocation, portfolio construction, and investment due diligence.
Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
Specialized training for high-net-worth families: advanced tax, estate, and legacy strategy.
Retirement Income Certified Professional®
Focused training in retirement-income planning and distribution strategy.
Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional®
Rigorous grounding in the regulations that protect clients and uphold fiduciary duty.
Certification marks are owned by their respective standards boards. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ are owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. CIMA® and CPWA® are administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute. RICP® is administered by The American College of Financial Services. IACCP® is administered by NRS and the Investment Adviser Association. Series 65 is the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination. Passing it is normally a prerequisite to state investment adviser representative registration; it is not a professional designation.
Our Culture
The values that define us
These are the values we hire for and hold each other accountable to. They set the standard our clients experience every day.
Have a growth mindset
We continue learning through professional education, credentials, and review of planning developments relevant to our work.
Treat everyone with respect
Respect shapes how we communicate, prepare, and follow through. Service expectations, scope, and fees are set out in writing at the start of each relationship.
Do the right thing
Fortress acts as a fiduciary. We do not earn product sales commissions, and we put fees, services, and any material conflicts in writing before a client decides to work with us.
No arrogance
We listen first. Your goals, your concerns, and your life drive the plan, not our egos. We’re here to guide, not to lecture.
Get stuff done
We assign owners and next steps so agreed work can be tracked between meetings. Paperwork, account service, and follow-up are coordinated across the team.
Meet the team, then bring us the decision on your mind.
The introductory call is 30 minutes. We will explain how Fortress works, who may be involved, and whether the relationship appears to fit.