The Inside Story Behind Boulevard Wealth

By Brennan McCarthy,CFP®, Troy Noor, CFP®, CFA®, and Derek Villars, CLU®, CASL®, ChFC® 

As seasoned financial professionals, we have intimate knowledge of the complicated financial environment that exists today. The obstacles can be daunting, ranging from managing market volatility to retirement and legacy planning. Our goal when we started Boulevard Wealth Management was to empower our clients to reach their long-term objectives and make wise financial decisions.

Our combined experience has taught us that creating enduring relationships and producing outstanding results require a customized strategy combined with a thorough understanding of each client’s unique needs. We believe that genuine wealth management extends beyond investment strategies to include comprehensive financial planning, tax optimization, and risk management.

In the spirit of transparency, we want to share the inside story of where our firm got its roots, our phenomenal growth, and where we are today.

How Our Firm Started

Our collective backgrounds in the finance world all pointed to the same conclusion: the traditional wirehouse financial models we’d been using were incentive-based and not adequately structured to put clients’ needs first.

So when our firm started taking shape, it was clear that a client-based approach was a priority. In 2010, we brought our strategy to financial planning in Minnesota and much of the United States.

In addition to prioritizing clients, our firm adheres to a team-based approach. That means we have separate scopes of excellence in each discipline of wealth management, including  planning, portfolio, and protection with strategic partnerships in tax and legal. 

We feel that having professionals who focus on a specific subject matter serves our clients first and foremost.

The First Few Years

By 2012, Boulevard had attracted the attention of like-minded practice owners who shared the common bond of advocating for clients, even when it conflicted with agendas set by corporate brokers, planning firms, or insurance carriers. 

Our unwavering client-centric and team-based approaches led to the 2013 merger of Alpha Investment Advisors and Boulevard. In order to continue fostering the deep local ties that Alpha Investment Advisors provided, this merger included a relocation of our headquarters to Eden Prairie, Minnesota. 

As hoped, the merger magnified our Midwestern presence as a full-service portfolio management and planning firm.

Branching Out

In 2014, Villars Midwest, an independent boutique client-centric insurance agency run by Derek Villars also merged with Boulevard. By adding Derek Villars to the firm, we could now offer our clients a more comprehensive team-based experience that included insurance planning and risk management. 

The third partner to join our firm was Brennan McCarthy. At the time, Brennan joined us as an intern straight out of St. Thomas University. Over the coming years, he accepted a position as Director of Planning. 

Brennan brings not only experience, education and credentials, but a refreshing and younger perspective to serving our clients and their varied needs.

Where We Are Today

Today, Boulevard continues to expand and grow as word travels about the outstanding experience clients enjoy while working with us. While we can help individuals and families with diverse needs, we excel in helping young professionals, business owners, and people planning and preparing for retirement or the next phase of their financial life.

From the beginning, we’ve been fully committed to the highest standard of ethics and transparency, and have adhered to the fiduciary standard in advising clients. That commitment still exists.

We’re Here to Help

Our team at Boulevard Wealth Management faithfully stewards your financial resources to maintain your independence and safely leave a legacy which impacts families and communities for generations. For years, we have worked to consider every detail of our clients’ lives in order to develop a cohesive plan. 

As an Eden Prairie-based firm (now operating in Bloomington), our faith and a client- and team-based approach work in concert to verify that your goals are addressed through our fiduciary strategy.

To schedule a meeting, call (877) 664-2583 or email info@blvdwealth.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

About Brennan

Brennan McCarthy, CFP®, is the Director of Financial Planning at Boulevard Wealth Management. He specializes in helping high-achieving professionals simplify, organize, and optimize their financial lives. Brennan leads his clients to concentrate on their “why” around wealth-building by focusing on what money can do for them, instead of gathering money for the sake of it. By building out a tailored plan that addresses everything from cash flow and tax strategies, to investment optimization and estate planning, Brennan's clients have comfort in knowing their money is being well taken care of, and the confidence knowing their financial life is heading in the right direction.

A graduate of the University of St. Thomas and one of Minnesota’s youngest CFP® professionals in 2018, Brennan is passionate about empowering clients to pursue financial independence and navigate life’s complexities with confidence. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Meghan, and their three children, Marley, Brady, and Hollie. He’s a proud Minnesota sports fan—especially of the Vikings—and loves connecting with new people over a virtual coffee. To learn more about Brennan, connect with him on LinkedIn.

About Troy

Troy Noor, CFP®, CFA® is the Executive Director and Director of Portfolio Management at Boulevard Wealth Management, a financial services firm in Twin Cities, Minnesota, dedicated to addressing client goals through a team-based, fiduciary approach. With over 28 years of experience in the financial industry, Troy specializes in helping executives with equity compensation and business owners maximize their wealth and minimize taxes. His work centers on creating customized investment strategies, optimizing portfolio risk, and designing financial plans that empower clients to pursue financial independence. Guided by his passion for stewardship, Troy strives to help clients align their financial resources with their long-term goals while fostering positive impacts on families and communities for generations. His approach combines technical proficiency—leveraging tools like tax harvesting and mean-variance optimization—with a faith-driven commitment to acting in his clients’ best interests.

Troy earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in International Business and holds the distinguished CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Chartered Financial Analyst® designations. Beyond his professional roles, he has served as a Board Member for the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, currently serves on the board of Ambassadors for Business, and leads a men’s Bible study group, reflecting his dedication to community and faith. Outside the office, Troy enjoys traveling, fishing, and gardening. He lives by the principle of stewardship, aspiring to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” at the end of his journey. To learn more about Troy, connect with him on LinkedIn.

About Derek

Derek Villars, CLU®, CASL®, ChFC® is the Director of Risk Management at Boulevard Wealth Management, a Bloomington-based financial services firm dedicated to addressing client goals through a team-based, fiduciary approach. With over 22 years of experience in the financial industry, Derek specializes in advanced insurance and financial strategies designed to help clients grow, preserve, and distribute their wealth effectively. His proficiency includes estate planning, business owner benefits, business succession strategies, tax-advantaged retirement planning, and comprehensive insurance performance audits. Derek is known for his focus on security, risk mitigation, and delivering after-tax, risk-adjusted returns, helping clients experience financial peace and confidence.

A graduate of St. Cloud State University, Derek has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® professional designations. He works closely with pre-retirees, business owners, and individuals with complex financial needs, providing personalized guidance and solutions. Outside of his professional life, Derek is an avid car enthusiast who enjoys smoking meats, charity road rallies, racing, auto restoration, and trips with family and friends. To learn more about Derek, connect with him on LinkedIn.