Gateway Financial Partners

Julie Graney

CFP® – LPL Financial Advisor 

Serving the Hazen & Beulah, ND Community

Areas of Focus
  • Retirement Planning
  • Personal Wealth Management Services
  • Comprehensive Financial Planning
  • Life and LTC Insurance
  • Personal Tax Solutions
  • Business Retirement Plans
  • Investment Management
  • Wealth Preservation
  • Transfer/Estate Planning
Licenses and Registrations
  • Series 7
  • Series 66
  • Certified Financial Planner™(CFP)
  • Securities licensed in AZ, CA, CO, FL, MN, MT, ND, NE, OR, SD, TX, WA, WI, and IAR in ND and TX

FINRA licenses held at LPL Financial

Education

University of Colorado, B.S. of Business Administration, Minor in French

Social Media

Contact

Gateway Financial Partners

512 W Main Street

Beulah, ND 58523

701.873.4565

_____________

209 Central Ave N

Hazen, ND 58545

701.748.3200

jgraney@mygfpartner.com

Life Philosophy

“Attitude is everything.” Life is full of challenges. We can’t control all that comes at us, but we can control how we prepare and respond.

Experience

When I was growing up, money was tight. My dad was a mechanic and my mom was a social worker in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Dad worked 12-hour days to give me and my sister a good life. We basically only saw him at supper before he fell asleep on the living room floor. I’ve dedicated my career to making sure your money works as hard for your family as you do.

In those formative years, I learned the importance of hard work, scrimping and saving, and using money wisely. I also learned that working for a living shouldn’t rob you of having a life. I help families in coal country navigate the challenges of saving, investing, and managing their money. I have a head for numbers and a heart for helping people (that I got from my mom). I became a financial advisor because I love connecting with people and using my gifts to help them with one of the most important aspects of their lives.

My husband Jeff and I moved to Coal Country in 2001 and made our home in Beulah. This was the smallest town I’d ever lived in, and it took some adjustment. By the time our kids were born, I was hooked. Small towns offer so much that we value: a great place to raise kids, neighbors helping neighbors, the opportunity to be involved in the community, and growing relationships with my clients and their families. More than 20 years later, I wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else. Our kids are teenagers now and when we’re not cheering them on at hockey, dance, volleyball, or golf, we enjoy spending time at the lake, fishing, golfing, and skiing as a family. I am passionate about volleyball, hockey, and dance.

I am a graduate of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and began my career in finance in 2005 when I joined Investment Centers of America, Inc. located at Union State Bank. I currently hold Series 7 and Series 66 registrations, as well as Annuity, Life, and Long-Term Care insurance licenses. I earned my Certified Financial Planner designation in 2013. All of that simply means that I am poised to take care of you.

I specialize in retirement planning, navigating pension plan options, tax-efficient solutions, and early retirement. I am a good listener who presents customized solutions in language that’s easy to understand—no jargon! As your LPL Financial Advisor, I am your guide. I take the time to listen to your goals, understand where you want to go, and help you create and navigate the path to get there. I can decipher, interpret, and demystify all things financial, and communicate with you in a way that’s clear and transparent and leaves you feeling confident. I can provide all your financial solutions right here at home while providing all the privacy and confidentiality you deserve. I respect and know who you are and what you do and would love the opportunity to help you turn your lifetime of hard work into your goals achieved, and a paycheck that lasts the rest of your life and beyond.

Community Involvement & Awards

  • North Dakota Community Foundation Board, 2022
  • Dakota Walleye Classic Committee, 2022
  • Beulah Chamber of Commerce Board, 2017-2022
  • Brighthouse Key Partner-Platinum, 2022
  • Brighthouse Key Partner, 2021
  • Jackson Stars Club, 2019
  • Beulah Education Foundation Board, 2012-2014

Meet Your Team

Gallery

Day in my life

Are You On Track for Retirement?

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Contact Julie

Kendra Finck

Client Experience Manager

While originally from New Salem, I moved to Beulah in 2008 with my husband Mike. Together we have two sons who keep us busy with all of their activities: hockey, baseball, trap shooting, band, swimming, hunting, and fishing—just to name a few! Some of my hobbies include reading, gardening, and canning, and I’ve recently taken up golf because I enjoy learning new things. We have a love for animals—our family includes two cats and a miniature dachshund. My husband and I also enjoy entrepreneurial adventures and currently own an apartment building and are gaining experience as property managers. In my spare time, I serve on the Beulah Public Library Board.

My financial experience began in 2006 when I started at Dakota Community Bank in Dickinson as a teller and the new accounts rep.  When we moved to Wyoming, I worked at First National Bank of Gillette where I was the loan documentation clerk.  After moving back closer to home, I was hired by Union State Bank. I have been an assistant to Julie Graney since 2013. I was promoted to Client Experience Manager with Gateway Financial Partners in 2022.

I love that my job has always led with a family-first mindset and allows me professional and personal growth. I’m thankful for the flexibility and working in an organization that is family-friendly and wellness-minded with great coworkers. I also enjoy creating new procedures, coming up with new ideas, keeping things organized, and learning new skills.

Sonya Hansana

Client Experience Manager

I grew up in Hazen, North Dakota, graduated from Hazen High School, and married my high school sweetheart 38 years ago. We moved away after getting married but returned to this area after 18 months, realizing we loved it and wanted to raise our family here. We have three grown children and four grandchildren.

In my former life, I spent 25 years as a Certified Registered Dental Assistant, retiring from that in January of 2015. I was fortunate enough to be hired by Union State Bank as an Executive Assistant to the bank CEO and the Assistant to the Financial Advisor. I was recently promoted to Client Experience Manager of Gateway Financial Partners.

Community service is important to me, and I currently serve on several boards including Hazen Area Dollars for Scholars, the Hazen School Board as President, the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Board, the Education Standards and Practices Board for the State of North Dakota, and the Governor’s special Innovative Education Task Force. I was also recently appointed to be the SW District Rep for the North Dakota School Boards Association. In my free time, I love to golf, garden, go for walks, spend time with my family, and go to local sporting events.