Our mission
At UPSTREAM, our mission is to help clients live the life they've always imagined. Freedom is attainable for all Americans—it's time to get serious about living your best life.
Our founders excelled at large institutions, providing time-tested investment advice to high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses. Although valuable, this experience revealed a culture that processed clients through an impersonal assembly line.
We created UPSTREAM to build lasting relationships with families through multiple generations, providing smart, personalized advice helping to ensure you and your family are well positioned.
Leadership Team
Christopher Connelly
Wealth Advisor, RJFS
Christopher Connelly
Managing Partner
Chris Connelly is the Managing Partner of Upstream Asset Management and Wealth Advisor with RJFS since 2023. He is responsible for leading investment policy and involved in all areas of Upstream. Chris remains agile to public market strategy, loyal to client privacy, and committed to helping individuals and entities accumulate quality assets along the way.
Chris received a bachelor’s in Economics and a bachelor’s in Finance from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and now lives in Minneapolis with his growing family. Roll Toms.
Prior to joining Raymond James, Chris worked with individual and institutional investors at Charles Schwab across its asset management network within the United States. Prior to Schwab, Chris worked with a regional Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) managing sales primarily in the Defined Contribution space for institutional retirement plans. Connelly held vice president positions at both firms and has consulted in a variety of industries in business transitions, retirement plans, and strategic consulting.
He earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification to compliment the technical scope of financial markets.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Tyler Westphal, CFP®
Wealth Advisor, RJFS
Tyler Westphal
Partner
Partner of Upstream Asset Management and Wealth Advisor with RJFS since 2023. Tyler is responsible for leading the private wealth management division - his focus is to activate your hard-earned capital with purpose and precision. Tyler believes that multigenerational relationships are built on the foundation of integrity, collaboration, and transparency.
Tyler attended Central College in Pella, IA where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and competed in track and field. He received his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 2018. Prior to joining Raymond James, he worked in a vice president and consultant role at Charles Schwab in St. Paul, MN.
Tyler’s late grandfather was a Hall of Fame basketball coach with over 500 wins in the state of Iowa. The calling to guide, challenge, and motivate others is deeply embedded in Tyler’s DNA. He is passionate if you meet him, and thoughtful in designing each client’s unique version of their ideal life. Through designing a personalized plan and properly implementing tax-efficient portfolios, Tyler excels at the ongoing execution. His ongoing commitment to that execution is what instills clarity in one’s financial situation.
Tyler especially enjoys working directly with cabin owners and cabin dreamers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He helps facilitate the family cabin conversation centered around purpose, usage, conflicts, and ongoing decision-making across generations. Tyler acknowledges that the significance of the family cabin transcends monetary value, serving as a cornerstone to create meaningful experiences and strengthen generational ties.
Tyler lives in Forest Lake, MN with his wife Courtney and their two children, Rowan and Kiah, along with their dog Moose. His passions include family, fishing, golfing, reading, fitness, and spending time on the Superior Hiking Trail.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Lisa Willems
Lisa Willems
COO
Lisa is a seasoned leader in strategic advisory most recently in Hematology diagnostics at Mayo Clinic, University of St. Thomas, and International Dairy Queen – she is driven by a belief in the power of capital to drive sustainable change and is guided by the ethos that empowering others, especially women, is essential for sustainable development. She will play a key role in shaping the strategic vision of our firm, strengthening operations, and fostering proactive relationships with our clients. Her leadership will enhance our ability to provide the high-quality financial guidance you deserve across multiple disciplines.
Lisa received her Bachelor’s and Graduate work from the University of St. Thomas and now lives in Florida. She lives an active lifestyle and enjoys spending time with family in the great outdoors.