OUR TEAM

JOE KRUSE, CLU®, CHFC®, CFP®, AEP®

FINANCIAL ADVISER AND PRESIDENT

Joe Kruse is the Owner, Founder and President of Kruse Financial Group. Joe brings over 37 years of experience in the financial services business to his clients. As president of Kruse Financial Group, Joe and his team are committed to helping clients succeed in planning their goals across a broad range of financial planning and wealth management needs. 

Specializing in working with business owners, farmers, ranchers and high net worth families, Joe brings particular specialization in Business Succession Planning, Estate Planning, Retirement Income Planning and Insurance Design. 

Joe has earned numerous industry and company achievements.  He is a life and qualifying member of The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)* and consistently a MDRT Top of the Table producer.  During his New York Life tenure, Joe has qualified for Council** 37 years, including 23 Chairman’s Councils and 10 years in the distinguished Chairman’s Cabinet.  In 2023, Joe achieved Council President, which is an annual honor given to the top producing agent of New York Life’s approximately 12,000 licensed agents.  He has also earned the honor of Great Plains Agent of the Year in 2002, 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.  Joe is currently the Chair of the Advisory Board of Directors (ABD). Joe has previously served terms on the NYLARC Board and the Nautilus Board, as well as the Agents Advisory Council (AAC) as a Committee Chairman and as a member of the Executive Committee. 

Joe earned a bachelor's degree from Westmar College in 1986 with a double major in Finance and Business Management. During his years at Westmar, he was a member of the football team and holds the honor of being the school's all-time leading tackler. Continuing his education, Joe earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1996, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1999, and the AEP® 2013. 

Joe is active in both his community and industry organizations. He is currently serving as a Board member for The Siouxland Initiative, a non-profit economic development organization in the Siouxland tri-state region.  

Joe is the past Chair of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Past President of the Sioux Gateway Airport Board of Trustees.  He is a current member and Past President of both the Siouxland Estate Planning Council and the Siouxland Chapter of NAIFA.  Previously, he was a Board member of the Siouxland Trails Foundation and the Sunrise Retirement Community Board as well as a member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU). 

He and his wife Renee have three children, Nicole, Tyler and Cory and are grandparents to Emery. 

As an instrument rated pilot, he shares his love of flying with family, clients and children of the local Young Eagles program and donates flights to various local charities.

*The Million Dollar Roundtable (MDRT), the Premier Association of Financial Professionals, is recognized globally as the standard of excellence for life insurance sales performance in the insurance and financial services industry.

**Council is an annual New York Life recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.

Tyler Kruse, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®

Financial Adviser and Partner

Tyler joined Kruse Financial Group in 2014 and has dedicated his career to helping clients create financial plans that truly fit their lives. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a degree in Biomedical Engineering but soon realized his passion was working directly with people and helping them make confident financial decisions. 

He works with individuals, families, and business owners to build personalized plans that bring clarity and direction to their financial goals. His focus areas include retirement income planning, investment management, insurance and risk protection, and estate and legacy strategies. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Retirement Income Certified Professional®, Tyler takes a comprehensive approach that combines technical expertise with real world understanding. He believes financial planning is as much about people and relationships as it is about numbers. 

Outside the office, Tyler stays active in the community and is dedicated to public service. He serves as Rescue Captain and Board President for the North Sioux City Fire Department, where he is also an Advanced EMT and firefighter. He is the Treasurer for the St. Florian Burn Foundation, which supports burn survivors and their families throughout the region. 

Tyler and his wife, Savannah, were married in August 2024 and live with their two dogs, Winnie and Murphy. He enjoys staying active, traveling, and exploring new places. A lifelong aviation enthusiast and instrument rated pilot, Tyler loves flying to meet clients or traveling with Savannah to new destinations. Whether working with clients, serving the community, or flying somewhere new, he is at his best when connecting with people and making a difference. 

Trever Dodd

Associate Financial Advisor

Trever has been part of Kruse Financial Group since 2021, beginning as an intern before joining the firm full-time in early 2022. Since then, he has earned his Life and Health Insurance licenses along with his FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations. As an Associate Financial Advisor, Trever focuses primarily on investment management while also helping clients build comprehensive financial plans that address retirement, insurance, tax, and estate planning considerations. 

Working closely with Joe and Tyler, Trever values the collaborative nature of the team. They frequently share ideas and strategies to ensure every client benefits from the collective experience and insight of the firm. Trever also works independently to develop and personalize plans designed to help clients feel confident and in control of their financial future. 

Trever’s approach is simple—he strives to understand what matters most to his clients and help them make thoughtful, informed decisions to move closer to their goals. He takes pride in creating clarity and peace of mind, giving clients confidence that they have someone they can trust to help guide them through life’s financial decisions. 

Faith, family, and fitness form the foundation of Trever’s life. He believes relationships are at the heart of everything and finds purpose in serving others—both personally and professionally. Outside the office, Trever enjoys spending time with loved ones, staying active in the gym, and making the most of the outdoors. 

Abby Austin

Client Services Associate

Abby is a licensed service assistant who joined the Kruse Financial team in October 2021. Abby graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Abby holds her life and health license, supporting our agents through the application and underwriting process for new life insurance business. Abby also facilitates communication between attorneys and clients during the legal documents process for estate planning. Abby believes empathy and attention to detail are essential for fostering strong client relationships. She is passionate about helping others and leaving a little sparkle wherever she goes. 

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she currently resides in Sioux City with her husband and daughter. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, and playing volleyball—preferably somewhere warm and sandy. 

Kristin Beswick

Office Manager

Kristin’s organizational skills and attention to detail help her assist Joe and Tyler by coordinating administrative functions and facilitating workflow.  Since joining Kruse Financial Group in May of 2008, Kristin has served in many roles for the team.  She currently she manages daily operations of the office and coordinates marketing efforts and special events.   

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she currently resides in Dakota Dunes with her husband, Brent and their three kids. Kristin remains actively involved with her church and other community volunteer organizations. 

Renee Kruse

Financial Controller

Renee is the Financial Controller for Kruse Financial Group.   With this role she manages the Accounting and Human Resources components of the business to ensure everything runs efficiently behind the scenes.   

Renee is a Sioux City native.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Business Management degree.  While at the University of Iowa, she ran Cross Country and both indoor and outdoor track.  Away from the office, Renee cultivates a love of exercise, reading, and the outdoors.  Renee and husband Joe have three children, Nicole, Tyler and Cory and are grandparents to Emery.