Thought Leaders
Chris Hanson | AIF®, LUTCF
Chris is an AIF, LUTCF who began his career in the financial services in 1997 and became an owner of RIA Advisory Group. Chris is driven by the client needs first philosophy and follows the model of educating the client vs. selling the client a product they don’t need. He enjoys the financial planning process and works with private wealth clients and business retirement plans.
Chris and his wife Kellie live in the Black Hills of SD with their 3 children. Hailey married her high school sweetheart in 2017. Aaron married his high school sweetheart in 2021. Alex is home-schooled high schoolers and pursue many educational opportunities as well as, welding and riding dirt bikes. Daily life is focused around learning and growing as an individuals and as a group. Along with schooling, Kellie is Chris’ administrative assistant. She enjoys the challenge and growth opportunities presented each day. Chris enjoys camping, horseback riding, and working on their hobby ranch.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Quote: “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”
Bucket list Item: Visit Alaska and if need be save Dana from the bear. Please refer to Dana Rausch’s biography.
Dana Rausch | AIF®, LUTCF, JD
Dana is an AIF, LUTCF and JD who began his financial services career with Principal Financial
Group, joined Vision Point in 2017 and in 2021 became an owner of RIA Advisory Group.
He works daily with business owners and personal clients to help them successfully create retirement plans, succession and estate plans. Dana implements the Golden Rule: “treat others the way you want to be treated” into private and business owner client meetings. He aspires to make profound and enduring impacts on the lives of those that he serves.
Dana and wife Stacy live in Sioux Falls, SD and their daughter Tiana attends UND Nursing and son Ethan attends SDSU Physical Therapy.
Dana and Stacy don’t quite share the same view on becoming “empty nesters” but both share the desire to travel and spend more time with friends and family.
The family enjoys physical fitness and outdoor activities and are actively involved in their local Catholic parish and community.
Favorite Holiday: Festivus 😊
Favorite Quote: Lord grand me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.
Bucket List Item: To go moose hunting in Alaska and not become brown bear scat laced with bells and a hint of pepper spray.
David Suntken | CIMA®
David is an Certified Investment Management Analyst and started in the financial services industry in 1992 directly out of Iowa State University. One of his fortes is analyzing and constructing investment portfolios. David works daily with RIA Advisory Group advisors and their clients from around the country.
David and his wife Dianne have two daughters Taylor and Regan. Taylor is a nurse in Kansas City and Regan works for a technology company in central Iowa.
While in college, David used to perform magic professionally. He used that gift to help pay his way through college and actually proposed to Dianne during a stage performance (she said yes!). He is an avid reader and enjoys being a constant learner.
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving
Favorite Quote: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7)
Bucket List Item: To go a whole year wearing shorts (not the same pair)
Ted Smith | AAMS®
Ted is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist® whose main role is to use his technical skills to help our clients understand how to achieve their goals. His career began in 1999 with a major financial planning company. From there, he worked for a major brokerage firm for 15 years, and in 2017 moved into the Registered Investment Advisory space. These experiences have exposed him to the workings of our industry from various perspectives (planner, asset manager, trader, strategy developer, partnership owner, etc.) and helps him prepare our clients to understand how to navigate the sometimes-rough waters of the investment world.
He and his wife Valeri enjoy living in the country with their four children south of Boone, Iowa. Ted is a teacher and musician at heart.
Favorite Holiday: All Saints’ Day
Favorite Quote: “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.” – Tom Toro
Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride
Pat McCabe
Pat started his successful financial services career with Principal Financial Group in 2015 where he discovered a passion for helping others through wholistic financial planning. He joined the South Dakota RIA Advisory Group team in 2019 with the desire to be able to offer even more customized services to his clients. Pat’s specialty is creating fiscally sound investment plans for young families and helping pre-retirees to effectively implement financial plans so that they can confidently enjoy retirement.
The McCabe family moved to South Dakota from St. Cloud, Minnesota where Pat helped seniors manage their healthcare and insurance needs during retirement. Prior to entering the financial services industry Pat also worked for seven years in the college athletics realm where he specialized in athletic communications. Pat and his wife Becky are now happy residents of Brandon, SD where Becky is actively involved organizing the regional youth soccer program. Pat and Becky both enjoy the busy life of raising their three very active young daughters and for fun the McCabe family loves to travel and go camping.
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving (the day is just about eating, and you don’t have to get anyone a gift)
Favorite Quote: "Don’t curse the result while nurturing the cause.”
Bucket List Item: Finish rebuilding a 1946 Chevy pickup that has been stored in pieces by my Grandfather, and now father, since before I was born.
Laurie Ketterling
I began my career in the financial services industry in 2010 and joined RIA Advisory Group in 2020. I work with individuals, families, and businesses to help take control of their financial future and develop strategies to meet their specific goals. I truly enjoy the special connection established with each of my clients.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mankato State University in 1996, with a Bachelor of Science degree. I am a licensed Investment Advisor Representative with RIA Advisory Group LLC, and I also hold life and health insurance licenses.
I live in Luverne, MN with my husband Mike. In my downtime, I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, as well as vacations to warm beach destinations. My favorite quote is “laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live”.
Favorite Holiday: 4th of July
Favorite Quote: “Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live”.
Bucket List Item: Visit each of the Virgin Islands
Todd Adams
Todd has been in the Insurance and Financial Services industry since 2004. He enjoys working with people to help achieve their financial goals.
Todd and his wife Brittainy have been married since 2006 and have two daughters. They live in Omaha, Nebraska.
He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Midland University. He received a basketball scholarship to play for Midland, but hurt his knee his freshman year and then went on to coach multiple sports at Archbishop Bergan High School in Fremont, NE. He continues to coach at Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha, serving as Youth Coordinator and Coach for Girls Basketball. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids and golfing.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Quote: "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney
Favorite Food: Five Guys Cheeseburgers
Keaton Falk
Keaton began his financial services career with Ameritas Wealth Advisors in 2021, assisting individuals, families, and businesses in achieving their financial goals. In 2024, he joined the South Dakota RIA Advisory Group to provide holistic and customized services to his clients.
In July 2024, the Falk family decided to take the leap and relocate from Lincoln, Nebraska to South Dakota. Before his financial services career, Keaton was a Certified Apartment Manager for a prominent property owner in Lincoln. He and his wife, Madelynn, have two young kids in which they enjoy passing on their love for the outdoors, music, and sports. In his free time, Keaton enjoys walking fields with his dog in search of upland game, fishing, or disc golfing.
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
Favorite Quote: You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest. Because that’s where you’ll find the things more important than what you want.
Bucket List Item: Learn to play the Guitar
Aaron Hanson
Aaron began his financial services career with Dakota Advisory Team in 2025. His passion is assisting individuals, families, and businesses in achieving their financial goals.
Aaron lives in Western South Dakota with his wife, daughter, and baby on the way. They enjoy ranching, snowmobiling, and being outdoors. When Aaron is not working, he likes to target shoot and hunt. Before becoming a financial advisor, Aaron worked in various construction fields such as framing, and electrical.
Favorite Holiday: Fourth of July
Favorite Quote: Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill
Bucket List Item: Visit all 50 states.
Kellie Hanson
Kellie works with Dakota Advisory Team where she supports a team of advisors. Kellie has been married to Chris since 1997 and they have professionally worked together since 1998. She is a dedicated team member who enjoys working with clients and their families. Her passion for helping enables each client to efficiently complete their initial review and to seamlessly implement their uniquely personalized financial plan.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Quote: "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." ~Edith Wharton
Bucket list item: Visit Alaska and stay a safe distance from bears. Please refer to Chris' and Dana's biography.
Dianne Suntken
Dianne works with the Dakota Advisory Team where she supports several advisors. Dianne has been married to David since 1994 and they have professionally worked together since 2021. She has over 30 years of corporate administrative experience in the agriculture & real estate industries. She enjoys working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of the team and clients by utilizing her experience and attention to detail. She adds a sprinkle of Iowa-nice to the team.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Quote: "Appreciate the past, make the most of the present and live for the future." ~Unknown
Bucket list item: To master manual mode on my SLR camera to capture the team in Alaska; preferably without bears. Please refer to Kellie, Chris and Dana's biographies.