Our Team
Kelly S. Olson Pedersen, CFP® | CDFA
Founder
Kelly@CaissaWealth.com
612-426-7352
Kelly is the founder of CAISSA Wealth Strategies, a Minneapolis-based RIA firm she established in 2009 to align clients’ wealth with their personal values. With 25 years of experience, she specializes in investment planning, tax strategies, and estate planning, guiding clients through complex transitions such as business succession, retirement, divorce, and inheritance. As CEO, Kelly personally leads CAISSA’s investment planning, tax strategy, and estate planning efforts to ensure every client receives tailored solutions.
Prior to founding CAISSA, Kelly worked at two national accounting firms, where she honed her expertise in investment management and tax strategy. Her innovative approach to wealth management includes creating strategies like Torpedo Proofing Retirement Visions, R.U.L.E.S.-based investing, and Tranches of Income, providing clarity and confidence to clients’ financial plans.
Kelly has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business honoree and a Women In Finance. Her insights have been featured in Investment News, and the Wall Street Journal.
Originally from Northwest Iowa, Kelly enjoys golf, jogging, and traveling across Europe. She cherishes time spent with her husband, Bob, their sons, Dillon and Tommy, and their French Bulldog, Bernie, at Lake Minnetonka and Lake Okoboji.
Aimee Bauman, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Director of Wealth Planning
Aimee@CaissaWealth.com
612-426-7361
Aimee Bauman is the Director of Wealth Planning at CAISSA Wealth Strategies, bringing over 20 years of experience in wealth management. She specializes in estate planning, tax strategies, business transitions, and retirement income planning, helping clients align their financial goals with their personal priorities. Aimee is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®).
Since joining CAISSA in 2019, Aimee has been recognized as one of the Best Financial Planners by FPA and Money in 2024, a distinction awarded for her expertise, trustworthiness, and exceptional service. Aimee also earned recognition as a Notable Woman in Banking and Finance by Twin Cities Business in 2024. Previously, she served as a Senior Wealth Planner and Vice President at Wells Fargo, where she provided wealth planning services to high-net-worth families.
A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in Financial Economics and a minor in Music, Aimee grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota, where she played soccer and studied percussion.
Outside of work, Aimee enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their two sons, Benjamin and Alexander. She loves attending her sons’ activities, hosting gatherings, and exploring new restaurants. Aimee is a Vikings and Twins fan and counts Maui among her favorite travel destinations.
Andrew Campbell, CFP®
Senior Wealth Planner
Andrew@CaissaWealth.com
612-426-7369
Andrew is a Senior Wealth Advisor specializing in the high net worth client experience, including cash flow, estate, insurance, and wealth transfer planning. Andrew is CFP® certified and has been in financial services since 2006. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Prior to joining CAISSA in 2021, Andrew worked in wealth management at one of the nation’s largest national banks. He focused on providing wealth planning services to high net-worth and ultra-high net worth clients and their families.
Andrew spends much of his free time at the family cabin in northern Minnesota. He also loves to travel, including skiing in the mountains of Colorado and relaxing in the warm desert sun of Palm Springs, California. One of Andrew’s favorite hobbies is anything food related – he loves trying new recipes and venturing to new eating destinations.
Merissa Perkins, CFP®
Senior Wealth Planner
Merissa@CaissaWealth.com
612-426-7835
Merissa assists with the financial planning and marketing for CAISSA. She is a contact for financial planning questions and information.
Merissa has been in the insurance and financial services industries since 1999 and has been with CAISSA since 2016.
Merissa enjoys spending her free time with two children, Katelyn and Anthony. In the winter months, you might find her curled up reading a book or playing family board games. In the summer, Merissa can be found with her family riding the roller coasters at Valleyfair or spending time outdoors in general.
Halina Alexejun
Director of Operations
Halina@CaissaWealth.com
Joining CAISSA Wealth Strategies in December 2024, Halina Alexejun serves as the Director of Operations, bringing a proactive approach to streamlining and supporting the firm’s practices. With a passion for staying informed, she starts each day by diving into market updates, fintech trends, and industry news through podcasts, blogs, and professional networks, ensuring CAISSA remains at the forefront of industry innovation.
What sets CAISSA apart, she believes, is its client-centric culture. From her first interaction, she was inspired by the team’s dedication to truly understanding clients’ goals and delivering personalized, high-quality service.
Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors with her husband and two boys, whether exploring parks or enjoying backyard play. An avid skier, she embraces Minnesota winters and finds relaxation in reading books. She also values quiet evenings unwinding at the gym or catching up on reality TV after a bustling day.
Liv Knodel
Client Service Specialist
Liv@CaissaWealth.com
Liv Knodel joined CAISSA Wealth Strategies in June 2024 as a Client Service Specialist. She is a key member of the operations team, leveraging tools like Schwab, Tamarac, and Salesforce to optimize workflows and boost efficiency for clients, wealth planners, and the investment team. Liv also plays a crucial role in ensuring financial transactions comply with SEC standards, supporting CAISSA’s seamless operations.
Prior to joining CAISSA in 2021, Liv worked in higher education, where she focused on admissions, orientation, and academic advising. She guided students through the recruitment process, supported their transition to university life, and offered ongoing academic advice. Liv graduated from Otterbein University with a B.A. in Public Relations and Grand Valley State University with a Master of Education, where she was honored with the Excellence in a Discipline Award in 2022.
Liv is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but has made her home in Minnesota. She enjoys all things that the Twin Cities has to offer, including the farmers markets, theatre, and basketball – in summer, you find her cheering on the Minnesota Lynx, and in the winter, you find her cheering on the Timberwolves. She enjoys staying active by attending Orangetheory classes and walking around the Minnesota Lakes.
Hope Quinn
Client Service Associate
Hope@CaissaWealth.com
Hope Quinn is a Client Service Associate at CAISSA Wealth Strategies, where she supports clients, wealth planners, and the investment team by optimizing workflows and ensuring seamless financial transactions. With a background in wealth management and estate planning, she brings experience from her roles at Edward Jones and a boutique law firm, where she specialized in client service and operational efficiency.
Before joining CAISSA, Hope worked as a Branch Office Administrator at Edward Jones, managing client relationships and financial transactions. She also gained legal experience as a paralegal at an estate planning firm, deepening her understanding of financial and legal strategies.
Originally from Ottawa Hills, Ohio, Hope graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Communications and a specialization in Musical Theatre. She moved to Minnesota in 2020 and enjoys reading, practicing yoga, hiking, and baking. A dedicated sports fan, she follows The Ohio State Buckeyes, the Vikings, and the Timberwolves. She and her husband, Chris, love traveling and exploring with their dog, Bailey.
Julie Schindel, B.B.A.
Senior Operations
JulieS@CaissaWealth.com
612-426-3382
Julie S. joined CAISSA Wealth Strategies in 2022 as a Sr. Operations Associate, leveraging her extensive operations background to ensure smooth and efficient client experiences. She specializes in using systems like Schwab, Tamarac, and Salesforce to support CAISSA’s back-office processes, focusing on accurate and compliant client transactions.
Julie began her career in aviation, progressing from Dispatcher at Sun Country Airlines to Director of Operations at a Northwest Airlines subsidiary. She later expanded her expertise with leadership roles at Regis Corporation and Global Aviation. After a career break to support her daughters, Julie brought her skills to CAISSA. She holds an MBA Essentials Certificate from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota.
A lifelong Minnesotan, Julie grew up boating on Lake Minnetonka, where her father sparked her interest in financial markets. Today, she enjoys summers on the lake, skiing trips to Big Sky, Montana, and cheering on the MN Wild. Julie and her husband Jon, who have been married for over 25 years, have two daughters and share a love for family, travel, and golf.
Julie Betchwars, CFP®
CAISSA Alum
Julie was our previous Director of Financial Planning. Julie has been in the financial services industry since 1987 and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus. She was with CAISSA from 2014 to 2023. She is now retired with her family at their cabin in Crosslake, MN. They enjoy boating, fishing, biking and kayaking and currently, Julie and her husband Mike are working on their goal of kayaking the entire 115 miles of the Whitefish Chain of Lakes’ shoreline.