$11B NorthRock Sees Three Execs Depart
NorthRock Partners, a Minneapolis-headquartered registered investment advisor with more than $11 billion in client assets, has seen the departure of three executives who were part owners of the firm.
Robert Bradot, CFO, Emily Vennerstrom, COO, and Sean Berrigan, managing director and head of corporate development, have all recently departed, according to filings and the RIA. The three leaders had each held less than 5% ownership in the firm, which is majority-owned by insurance holding company Sammons Financial Group.
“We appreciate their contributions and remain focused on serving our clients and continuing to execute our long-term strategy,” NorthRock CEO and founder Rob Nelson wrote via email.
The firm did not address possible replacements for the roles, and Bradot, Vennerstrom and Berrigan did not respond to requests for comment.
NorthRock has been an active acquirer in the RIA space since Sammons took a majority stake in 2023, buying out minority investor Emigrant Partners.
In January, the RIA announced a deal for an Ameriprise advisory team, Martin & Associates, with expectations that they would bring over $500 million in client assets. In 2025, it brought on a former LPL Financial advisor and two RIAs, including WGG Wealth Partners, which boosted NorthRock’s assets under management by $2.7 billion and added 15 advisors.
NorthRock was founded in 2010 and became Emigrant’s first RIA investment in 2019. Bradot had been with the RIA for a little under four years, having joined from Ameriprise, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Vennerstrom had been with the RIA for over five years, having served as a partner and chief impact officer before taking on the COO role in September 2024, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Berrigan had been with the firm for over five years, according to regulatory filings.
CEO Nelson owns between 10% to 25% of the firm, along with Todd Moser, president, Personal Office and partner, according to the firm’s most recent Form ADV. Three other executives also own less than 5%.
The firm has over 3,900 clients and uses what it calls a Personal Office model, by which advisors work with a team to offer clients advice in areas including investments, tax, insurance, estate planning, business strategies, lifestyle and philanthropy.