Our Team

Ted Erhart serves as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. He is responsible for designing and over-seeing model portfolios in addition to conducting ongoing due-diligence. He is also deeply involved in financial planning, providing investment advice, and delivering regular portfolio reviews.

Ted joined Trott Brook Financial in February 2010. Prior to joining Trott Brook, he spent several years at Ameriprise Financial building client relationships and developing his financial planning skills. Ted received an undergraduate degree in Finance from Saint Cloud State University in 2007. In January 2013, he obtained the industry gold standard Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation with studies in tax, insurance, investments, retirement and estate planning.

Ted and his wife Kelly reside in Nowthen with their daughter Avery. They also have “extended family” that includes a Chesapeake Bay retriever, four horses and one barn cat. When not spending time with his family, Ted enjoys reading - particularly about business, world affairs, psychology and investing. He is an enthusiastic admirer of Warren Buffett and has attended the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder’s meeting every year since 2007. Additionally, Ted is a traditional Minnesota guy who loves to spend time outside hunting and fishing. He also enjoys working with tools, building things, and repairing cars and tractors.

Lisa has been involved with Trott Brook Financial since it was founded by her husband, Jim, in 2002. Lisa’s career spans several industries from fashion, to restaurants, to banking and now financial services. While she is no longer active with the daily operations of the firm, she is intimately involved with our client events.  She loves getting to know our clients and treats them as if they were our family.  Lisa's passion for entertaining and cooking bring a special touch to our client and staff gatherings.

Lisa and Jim were married in 1997 and have two children, Lauren and Tommy.  She is the CEO of the Steffen family, managing the household, kids schedules and activities.  During her down time she enjoys time with family and friends, and spending time in the kitchen creating and preparing healthy meals.  Her true passion is knitting.  Always working on a project, you may find her at a coffee shop, yarn store or in front of the fireplace knitting away!  She agrees with Jim on her top three travel destinations and enjoys walks in the woods, hikes in the mountains and strolls on the beach.