About Us

Driftless Financial Group traces its roots back more than 20 years to Lifetime Financial, founded by three dedicated advisors: Kimberly Hemmersbach (Phillips), Joe Atteln, and Jack Gagermeier. United by a shared vision, they established their first office in West Salem, Wisconsin, before relocating to Onalaska, Wisconsin, where the firm continued to grow. Their commitment to providing personalized service and guidance for every aspect of their clients’ financial lives became the cornerstone of the practice. The strong relationships they built, along with their unwavering values and dedication to client success, laid the foundation for everything Driftless Financial Group stands for today.

As the financial landscape evolved, so did our team. In 2016, Kathleen McAfee joined the practice, bringing a passion for client education and specialized expertise in asset transfers. Working closely with the founding advisors, she embraced their client-first philosophy and commitment to exceptional service. Two years later, in 2018, Joe Atteln retired, leaving behind a lasting legacy of trusted relationships and dedication to clients.

The next chapter began in 2020, when Alex Matz joined the team. Alex brought advanced knowledge in tax strategies, retirement planning, and risk analysis, further expanding the firm's ability to serve clients’ evolving needs.

Under the mentorship of founding advisors Jack Gagermeier and Kimberly Hemmersbach (Phillips), Kathleen and Alex carried forward the values and experience that had shaped the practice for decades. In 2022, Jack Gagermeier retired, marking the close of another important chapter while ensuring the firm's tradition of personalized guidance continued into the future.

Kimberly Hemmersbach (Phillips) played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leadership at the firm. Through decades of industry experience, she mentored both Kathleen McAfee and Alex Matz, providing the knowledge, guidance, and perspective that helped them grow into trusted financial advisors. Under her leadership, they developed not only technical expertise but also a deep commitment to the values that define our firm today; integrity, client education, personalized service, and lasting relationships.

In 2024, Kimberly Hemmersbach (Phillips) retired, entrusting the future of the business to Kathleen and Alex. Her transition of leadership marked the culmination of years of mentorship and succession planning, ensuring that the firm's longstanding tradition of putting clients first would continue for generations to come. Today, Kathleen and Alex proudly carry forward the legacy established by Kimberly and the firm's founding advisors while bringing fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to meet the evolving needs of their clients.

We learned the fundamentals of client care and financial planning from the founding team with the principles that continue to guide our approach today. Their emphasis on building lasting relationships, providing personalized guidance, and always putting clients first established the foundation on which our firm was built.

Building on that legacy, Alex developed a specialization in tax strategies and complex retirement planning, helping clients navigate critical financial decisions with confidence. Kathleen focused on simplifying asset transfers and empowering clients through education, making complex financial matters more understandable and manageable. Together, we blend the time, tested wisdom of our predecessors with innovative thinking and modern strategies to help clients achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.

While our team has evolved over the years, our commitment to our clients has remained steadfast. At Driftless Financial Group, our mission is to serve as a steady guide through life’s financial landscape, helping individuals, families, and businesses navigate change with clarity, confidence, and purpose. By blending trusted principles with innovative strategies, we empower our clients to build lasting financial security and create a legacy that endures for generations.