JNBA

JNBA operates through an internal investment committee that reviews and approves every allocation. Kyle Brown, as CEO, sits on that committee alongside other senior advisors, maintaining direct principal involvement in manager selection. The firm does not outsource its investment decision-making to an external OCIO, keeping strategic control in-house.

JNBA operates on a fee-only advisory model, charging client fees directly without earning commissions, referral fees, or placement fees from investment managers. This structure is a core element of the firm's fiduciary positioning and removes the economic incentive to recommend high-commission products over lower-cost institutional alternatives.

No. JNBA is independently owned and has no parent company, bank affiliation, or proprietary investment products. The firm's custody relationships are separated from its advisory entity, a structure that lets it select managers across the open market without platform restrictions or revenue-sharing agreements.

Richard Brown is the founder and current Chairman of JNBA. His son, Kyle Brown, serves as Chief Executive Officer and represents the second generation of family leadership. The transition from founder to next-generation CEO occurred over a deliberate succession period, keeping the firm under family control while professionalizing operations.

JNBA routes client capital into private credit funds, direct and fund-level real estate, hedge fund strategies including long/short equity, and select secondaries opportunities. The firm does not operate in-house deal teams but instead selects external managers and negotiates institutional terms, functioning as a gatekeeper rather than a direct investor.

JNBA has chosen to stay anchored in the Twin Cities to maintain deep, high-touch relationships with its core client base of Upper Midwest families, business owners, and executives. The single-location model supports a boutique dynamic where principals remain directly involved in every client relationship rather than managing a distributed network of advisors.

Yes. JNBA operates as an SEC-registered investment advisor and adheres to a fiduciary standard, meaning it is legally obligated to place client interests ahead of its own. The firm has publicly emphasized its fiduciary commitment as a differentiator from broker-dealer models that operate under a suitability standard.