Emily Malecha, CRPC®, ChFC®

Since joining North Star in Minneapolis in 2001, Emily Malecha has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families confidently pursue their financial goals.

She and her business partner, financial planner Ann Wengronowitz, CFP®, RICP®, co-founded Confidere Financial on a foundation of collaboration and personalized service in 2019, and they were joined by financial advisor Robert Evans in 2025 and associate financial advisor Erica Cochran in 2026. By focusing on a team approach, they are able to forge stronger relationships with clients and provide tailored financial plans. This strategy allows them to address both the immediate and long-term needs of their clients, helping them secure their financial futures.

Emily and her team specialize in:

• Comprehensive fee‑based financial planning
• Investment advisory services, including annuities and ESG strategies
• Retirement planning and distribution strategies
• College funding strategies
• Life, long‑term care, and disability insurance planning

Beyond one‑on‑one client work, Emily is passionate about financial education. She regularly presents seminars and webinars to support ongoing financial literacy and wellness in her community.

Emily holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning and the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation from The American College. She also maintains multiple industry registrations, including Series 7, 66, 6, and 63, and is licensed in Life & Health Insurance.

A commitment to clients:

Emily believes deeply in the trust her clients place in her. She embraces their goals as her own—whether they’re planning a dream vacation, starting a family, purchasing a home, launching a business, funding education, or preparing for retirement. Her mission is to build long‑term relationships grounded in trust, respect, and shared success. She takes pride in helping clients understand how today’s disciplined financial decisions can shape a brighter, more secure future.

Community and personal life

Emily lives in Prior Lake, MN, with her husband, Phil. They enjoy an active lifestyle filled with hiking, biking, traveling, and volunteering. She is an engaged member of the Prior Lake Rotary Club, where she finds fulfillment in giving back both locally and globally.

Emily is also a proud mother to one daughter and a devoted aunt to three nieces and five nephews.

Awards and recognition

2025 Notable Wealth Manager - Twin Cities Business

2025 Notable Wealth Managers – Honoree issued by Twin Cities Business (TCB).  The special section will recognize individuals for their success and accomplishments during the past 12 to 18 months. Nominees must be currently employed in wealth management in Minnesota. Nominees must have at least five years of experience in their current field. Nominees must demonstrate leadership in specific initiatives or programs at their company or institution, which have created significant, positive, and measurable results. One submission per company or institution is permitted. Nominees recognized last year (2024) as a Notable cannot be recognized again this year. Nominees must be put forward by peers, colleagues, or individuals within the professional community. Self-nominations will not be considered. An individual may only be honored in one Notable category per year.  Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient for participation or in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.