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Eric Gardener

CFA®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor

About Eric

For 15 years, Eric has been a trusted counselor to private families and institutional clients alike, bringing a research-driven rigor to every client relationship. Eric approaches wealth advisory work with the same discipline and analytical depth that shaped the early years of his career, first as an investment manager for a family office in Des Moines, Iowa, and later overseeing investment manager research for a $96 billion insurance subsidiary at Ameriprise Financial’s Minneapolis headquarters.

A client-counselor at heart, Eric returned to private client work in 2019, serving as Chief Investment Officer at Kowalski Financial before joining the All Star Financial team in 2022 as a Senior Wealth Advisor. There he additionally serviced on the Investment Committee, where his institutional research background informed the strategies he brought to clients every day. Known for pairing technical specialization with genuine, personal counsel, Eric helps clients navigate their financial lives with clarity and confidence.

Eric earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, reflecting his deep commitment to high ethical standards and industry best practices.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.


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  • A native of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Eric now lives in Long Lake.
  • Spends his free time outdoors; tennis, golfing, kayaking, and cycling are among his favorites.
  • Coaches his nephew’s baseball teams whenever the season allows.

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Eric Gardener,

CFA®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor