Elevation Team
Our team is excited to work with you! We will work hard to earn your trust and look forward to building meaningful relationships with each and every client.
Darby Heidemann , CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®, QPFC, MBA
Co-Founder and Wealth Management Advisor
Darby Heidemann , CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®, QPFC, MBA
Co-Founder and Wealth Management Advisor
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Darby specializes in serving small business owners and offers thoughtful and strategic choices to help them reach their financial objectives. He grew up in a family that ran a small business, he studied general business in school, he worked with businesses during his investment banking days, and he now works with small business owners to help them achieve their financial goals. These experiences give him unique insight to the concerns and challenges business owners face. Darby currently focuses on wealth management and business planning. He is committed to bringing his clients the highest level of dedicated service.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
After earning his B.B.A. in finance and economics from Boise State University, Darby earned his M.B.A. with an emphasis in finance from the University of Southern California. He spent 12 years in institutional equity sales at Credit Suisse in New York and at Prudential in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He then moved back to Idaho where he has spent the last 15 years with Northwestern Mutual as a wealth management advisor. Darby has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist® and Qualified Plan Financial Consultant professional designations to better serve his clients.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Darby and his beautiful wife, Amy live in Eagle, Idaho and have four amazing children: Kendall, Nicholas, Natalie, and Gavin. They are proud grandparents to two wonderful grandchildren: Easton and Jackson. Darby and Amy are active in their church and love spending time with their family. They love to travel and enjoy exploring locations from the mountains to the oceans. Darby is an avid college football and basketball fan and spends his time following both BSU and USC.
John R. Kopp , CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, MBA
Co-Founder and Wealth Management Advisor
John R. Kopp , CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, MBA
Co-Founder and Wealth Management Advisor
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
John specializes in working with families in the medical field, small business owners and families that are nearing retirement. His focus is on personal financial planning. He loves building long-term relationships with his clients and helping to guide clients through life’s uncertainties. John comes from a family of physicians which provides him with unique insight into the concerns and needs of healthcare professionals.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
He earned his B.B.A. from Whitworth University in 1999 and his M.B.A. from Northwest University in 2006. John met his beautiful wife, Dawn during her residency at the University of Washington in 2012. They moved to Malawi, Africa for two years doing medical and mission work. Upon their return to the United States in 2016, they settled in Spokane where John started his financial practice with Northwestern Mutual. He has since earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, Chartered Financial Consultant® and Retirement Income Certified Professional® professional designations to keep up with the most current investment strategies in order to serve his clients more deeply.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
John and Dawn welcomed their daughter, Juniper into the world in 2016 and their son, Jasper in 2018. Outside of the office, John is active in his church and loves spending time with his wife and children. He is committed to numerous local and international ministries and sits on the board for Side-by-Side, a local ministry that bring people with and without disabilities together in the community. His passions include skiing, backpacking, mountain climbing, scuba diving, as well as road biking and travel.
Daniel Edmonds , CRPS®, QPFC
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Director of Retirement Plans
Daniel Edmonds , CRPS®, QPFC
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Director of Retirement Plans
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Dan focuses on 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA and other retirement plans, helping to maintain current client relationships as well as building new ones. He helps coordinate the transition and onboarding of multiple 401(k) plans across several recordkeeping platforms. Dan implements enrollment and education programs, as well as manages the day-to-day operations of more than 60 retirement plans. He is skilled at taking complex topics and making them easy for busy individuals to digest and implement.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
Since joining Northwestern Mutual in 2016, Dan has earned the Charted Retirement Plan Specialist® and Qualified Plan Financial Consultant professional designations to better serve his clients. He holds the Series 7, 6 and 63 licenses as well as Life, Disability and Long-Term Care for the states of Idaho, Utah, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Dan is member of the National Association of Plan Advisors. He graduated with a B.A. from Brigham Young University.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Dan, his beautiful wife, MaCall, and their two adorable children live in Nampa. Macall is a native Idahoan and Dan is a transplant from Salt Lake City, Utah. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time outdoors golfing, skiing, backpacking, fly fishing, and hiking. He loves spending time with his family and watching his kids grow and participate in sports and other activities. He is also active in his local church.
Jack H Barnes
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Director of Investments
Jack H Barnes
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Director of Investments
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
As Director of Investment Research and Portfolio Manager for Elevation Wealth Management Advisors, Jack specializes in wealth management and meeting with clients to understand their investment expectations for the risk in their portfolio.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
Jack began his financial services career in 1997 at Franklin Templeton with a Series 6 license during the Asian market meltdown, working in their fund information department. In 2001, he joined E-Trade Financial and obtained his Series 7 & 63 licenses. In 2004, he founded DYDD Capital LLC, a Series 65 RIA. In 2008, the two hedge fund portfolios that he managed returned 16% and 10% after fees. (Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Hedge funds use leverage, a high-risk practice that magnifies both gains and losses. These hedge funds were unrelated to Northwestern Mutual)
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Jack is blessed with four beautiful daughters and two grandchildren. He enjoys gardening, snowmobiling on frozen lakes, fishing, and spending time engineering music projects at the Snake River Studio on the farm. Jack is also active in his community and has been on the board of directors of Mountain Gem Credit Union in Nampa, Idaho. He has also been on the Molalla redevelopment agency in Oregon, he was a Curry County Health Commissioner and later on the finance committee for the construction of a new hospital in Gold Beach, Oregon and on the city parks and recreation commission.
Jeffrey Hunter Kruger
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Investment Operations Manager
Jeffrey Hunter Kruger
Associate Wealth Management Advisor and Investment Operations Manager
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Jeff specializes in client research and investment servicing in the Spokane, Washington office. He ensures investments go from commitment to execution without a hitch.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
After beginning his financial services career as an intern at Northwestern Mutual, Jeff became an assistant to a financial advisor where he spent a year learning the ins and outs of the business. He joined Elevation Wealth Management Advisors in 2022 and looks forward to growing with the team. Jeff is Series 7 licensed and holds his Securities Industry Essentials® license. Jeff attended Community College in Moorpark, California where he earned three associates degrees, two in business and one in social and behavioral sciences. He transferred to Gonzaga University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in marketing and international business.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Jeff has a beautiful girlfriend named Siena and a rambunctious puppy Golden Retriever named Nike waiting for him at home after work. He enjoys feeding and watching the different types of birds around his apartment, going to the gym, riding his bike along the Centennial, and watching a good show or movie with his family.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Jessica specializes in team organization, communication and client care. She is responsible for setting up systems for the Elevation Wealth Management Advisors team so that each client feels cared for and our team runs smoothly. She ensures the team is compliant in the industry, both insurance and investments, and that the team is providing the best care for each client.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
After earning her associate of arts degree at Walla Walla Community College, Jessica attended Western Washington University to pursue a degree in special education. She left college to pursue a career in multi-store management in the retail industry. After establishing successful careers at American Eagle Outfitters and Starbucks where she specialized in moving troubled districts into profitable districts, she took a break from the workforce and focused on raising her four kids. Her career trajectory has given her a passion for leading a team that is efficient, profitable, and laser-focused on client happiness and satisfaction. She joined Northwestern Mutual in January of 2019 and holds the Washington State Life and Disability License.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Jessica was born in Boise, Idaho but grew up in Spokane, Washington. She is an avid fan of the Pacific Northwest and is happiest when outdoors. Her greatest joy is adventuring with her four kids and their furry pal Jackson. She was an active athlete in high school and college so she and the kids have recently taken on the adventure of downhill skiing and traveling. However, she is equally happy to curl up with a great book or movie. She enjoys meaningful relationships with friends and family and she and the kids are active in their local church.
Elizabeth Struckmeyer
Director of Marketing and Client Experience
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Elizabeth manages the insurance business for the Elevation Wealth Management Advisors team and serves as an executive assistant running the day-to-day business operations in the Boise, Idaho office. She specializes in insurance operations, customer service, special projects, marketing, and client meeting preparation. She strives to do everything in her power to take care of the questions, needs and issues that clients have.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
With more than two decades of client services and account management experience, Elizabeth has served as an executive assistant, office manager, account executive, and account manager with various professional institutions. She has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout her professional career. She holds her Life, Health, and Disability Insurance licenses, as well as her Notary license. She obtained a B.S. degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from California State University, Sacramento.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Elizabeth moved to the Treasure Valley in 2006 and has two beautiful daughters. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family. She is also active in her local church.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
As an operations assistant, Katelynn keeps the Elevation Wealth Management Advisors team well-organized and works on special projects. Behind the scenes, Katelynn makes sure clients’ information is up to date. She takes care of the extra details that are needed to provide every client with great service.
WHAT MAKES ME KNOWLEDGEABLE
She has worked in the customer service field for the past two years and is attending Boise State University to earn her bachelor’s degree. Katelynn is a member of the National Honor Society.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
Katelynn has lived in the Treasure Valley most of her life and loves adventure, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys volunteering for Feed My Starving Children and Samaritan’s Purse.