Most of the clients who come to Meadowland are used to working with a single advisor who sells products at a big financial services firm,” says Matthew Grimlie, MBA, CFP®, financial planner and co-owner of Meadowland Financial Group. “We find that our clients want something different. They want objective guidance.”

Founded in 2016 by Grimlie and now co-owned by Peter Siegling, MBA, CFP®, financial planner—both small-town South Dakota natives—the Meadowland team understands the value of making

a lifetime commitment to clients. Their roots in the region run deep, and their staff boasts decades of experience and industry knowledge. It’s the group’s modern, team-based approach to financial planning, however, that truly sets Meadowland apart.

“We both learned a lot about managing client investments at large institutions, and we also saw some practices that we weren’t too fond of,” says Siegling. “We realized that there was a better way to help clients. Now, we’re bringing all those lessons home to South Dakota. We have a vested interest in this. It’s personal for both of us.”

The Big Picture

From the very first meeting with a potential client, Meadowland considers the entire picture. The team doesn’t present specific solutions or sell any products. Instead, they listen. They get to know the person on the other side of the table and learn about their goals, priorities, and current financial plan. They are visual planners and often use a whiteboard to map out the details, making it easier to see how all the pieces fit together.

“We start by asking folks to take a step back and look at how well their current financial plans are matching up with their future goals,” says Grimlie. “We’re looking for opportunities to improve those results. If you use a cookie-cutter approach to planning, you may never realize that there’s a bigger world of investment opportunities out there. Our comprehensive approach works differently.”

In partnering with a team that can analyze financial plans from a variety of perspectives, clients often find new opportunities and efficiencies. Many who are in the early stages of planning for retirement, for example, may not be considering the impact of their post- retirement taxes. Other worries, such as today’s unpredictable market conditions, can be mitigated using modern risk- analysis software.

“There are a lot of people here in South Dakota who haven’t been served as well as they should,” says Siegling. “We’re trying to help as many of them as possible.”

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