Planting the seed to an elm tree is a selfless act–it’s very unlikely that we’ll live to see the elm in its full glory. Instead, we plant the seed as hope for the future, knowing that our descendants will sit under its branches.

Legacy Financial Partners is a wealth advisory practice with 29 offices in six states. While they operate under the umbrella of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., Legacy Financial Partners have earned their own stellar reputation among the wealth management industry, securing a spot on Barron’s 2023 Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams. Their newest office in Bismarck, ND gives the financial advisors at Legacy Financial Partners the space they need to help their clients secure their financial futures.

A New Space

When entering the new Bismarck office space, one of the first things a person might notice is the stunning hardwood table. The table was crafted by a local woodworker and made from a nearby American Elm tree, which was felled in 2022. The tree was estimated to be roughly 200 years old. 

Trees do not spring up overnight. They take time to grow, with roots spreading beneath the ground and branches reaching into the sky. Slowly and surely, they move from seed to sapling to tree, growing and spreading each year. Before it was cut down, people would have gathered under this tree’s branches seeking shade. Now, they gather around the hardwood table, speaking business.

The tree, and now the advisors who gather around its wood, can teach potential clients a lot about the importance of financial planning. Just as a tree spreads its roots, branches, and leaves as it grows, so do people spread their wealth. Some may choose to invest in the stock market, whereas others may keep their wealth as land or machinery. As the wealth grows and spreads, more and more care is needed.

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In their old space, Legacy Financial Partners’ space had become a hodgepodge of mismatched desks and chairs, creating a sense of chaos. Now, in a sparkling new building, LFP has a cohesive and timeless look. The new space is part of a building owned by Joel Bird, Dave Schlafman, Loren Melvie, and Jason Kirchmeier–all of whom either used to or currently work for Legacy Financial Partners. Kirchmeier knew going into a new space that Bismarck’s Legacy Financial Partners office needed to be something that would work today, tomorrow, and for the next century. 

“We’ve prepared the office for future growth in that everything looks and feels the same. With pre-filled offices, people can plug in a computer and be ready to go. Other advisors from other locations now have places to work here,” Kirchmeier said.

From Uncoordinated to Uniform

With help from InterOffice, Bismarck’s Legacy Financial Partners’ office can withstand the test of decades, all while fitting in with the Ameriprise look: a cool and dark palette based around a deep muted blue.

“Ameriprise blue is in our logo and is on our walls. InterOffice put pieces in that would match with that blue,” said Alicia Ripplinger, a marketing specialist in the Bismarck Legacy Financial Partners office.

The pride of the Legacy Financial Partners Bismarck office is the aforementioned table. Tying them to their natural surroundings, the table reminds the workers of their duty to the community. After all, the goal of wealth management is to prepare for the future–yours and your future family members.

Now, the advisors can gather around the elm table, sitting in comfortable Exemplis Hexy chairs. They can discuss the current states of the markets, their funds, and–most importantly–their clients. 

“At the end of the day, it’s not about money,” Kirchmeier said. “I sometimes sit back at my desk and reflect on how I have helped people achieve their goals.”

The desk that Kirchmeier sits back from is a JSI Vision Series desk. Height adjustable with smooth lines, the desk can fit any work environment and any wealth management advisor. The clients can be comfortable too, sitting in JSI Bourne side chairs.

”You try to do the best job you can to outfit every office and what they'll need now and five years from now.

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It’s not only the offices that need to be comfortable. As a small business owner, Kirchmeier wants to change the face of wealth management by ensuring the next generation of advisors have a safe and supportive work environment–that means a break room is essential too. Named “the Zen Den” by employees, Legacy Financial Partners’ break room features Exemplis Movi chairs around individual tables and JSI Bourne counter chairs by the main countertop. 

Like a Dutch Elm standing tall against the wind, with a modern new space, Legacy Financial Partners is ready to weather their clients’ financial challenges for generations to come.

“You want things that stand the test of time. You try to do the best job you can to outfit every office and what they’ll need now and five years from now,” Kirchmeier said.