Meet Our Team
Effective financial planning is the product of sound decision-making. Whether you are looking to protect, grow, or transfer wealth, our team is equipped to guide you through complex financial issues and the ways in which they might affect your future.
We have built our firm to serve multigenerational needs so you can be confident that each family member is taken care of now and in the future. With a lifelong commitment to learning, we strive to carry the tradition of excellence at the root of our success. Everything we do is done with the intention of better serving our clients.
Tracy B VanDyke CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®
Private Wealth Advisor
Background & Education
Tracy joined the financial services industry in 1993 after graduating from Peru State College. She is proud to be following in the footsteps of her father, John Shannon, who always put others first and built strong relationships with his clients. He passed away in 1996 after a battle with lung cancer, and today Tracy carries on his legacy by running a practice built on their mutual values of integrity, authenticity, and trust.
Tracy is passionate about providing the best possible service for her clients, and she constantly seeks ways to learn and grow as a leader in the industry. Since starting her career, she has become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and earned five additional industry designations; she is a Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, Chartered Advisor for Senior Living®, Retirement Income Certified Professional®, and has her Certification in Long-Term Care.
Professional
Tracy is passionate about developing genuine relationships with the people she serves, and every client partnership begins with transparent, authentic conversations. As an advisor, her goal is to understand her clients on a deep level so she can help them develop a comprehensive plan that reflects not just their financial goals, but their values and desires for life. She becomes a close partner, sitting on their side of the table and helping them better understand their financial situations so they can have peace of mind to continue enjoying the lives they love. She specializes in helping people navigate this delicate balance between enjoying the present and preparing for a strong future, and at the core of every recommendation is a stalwart commitment to integrity, a value instilled in her by her father that remains a key pillar of her practice today.
Personal
Tracy is married to Doug and has two boys, Quinn and Drew. They spend much of their free time watching them in their extracurricular activities. Quinn attends Westminster College where he is a center defender and captain of the soccer team. Drew attends Indiana Wesleyan where he is a manager on the men’s basketball team and an honor student. Tracy and Doug reside in Leawood, Kansas.
Associations & Awards
Tracy joined the Financial Representative Association (FRA) committee in 2009 and later joined the FRA Board in 2014 and stayed on through her term as FRA President in 2018-2019. She served as co-chair for the PX Ad Hoc Committee, and she is also a member of The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and Finseca. Her industry awards include:
- Women in Financial Services (WIFS) Awards and Recognition
- Five Star Pathfinder
- Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor 2021-2023
- Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor 2021-2023
- Forbes Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professionals 2022
- Million Dollar Round Table 2000, 2002, 2004-2023
- Forum Qualifier 2014, 2016, 2018-2023
- Lives Leader Summit 2015, 2017-2022
- Professional Growth Association President 2022
Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list, (February 2023, February 2022, March 2021. Research and ranking developed by SHOOK Research, LLC. Based upon data as of September 30th of the preceding year. Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list (April 2022, February 2021), Research and ranking provided by SHOOK Research, LLC. Based upon data as of June 30th of the preceding year. Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals list (July 2022). Research and ranking provided by SHOOK Research. Based upon data as of 12/31/2021. Northwestern Mutual and its advisors do not pay for placement on 3rd party rating lists, but do pay marketing fees to these organizations to promote the rating(s). Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success.
Doug graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1993 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration/Accounting.
During a 10-year career in the accounting field, Doug held positions with Houlihan´s Restaurant Group, Delaval, and Ingersoll-Rand.
In 2003, Doug brought that financial background to our practice at Northwestern Mutual. Today Doug’s primary responsibility is developing the strategic direction of our firm to continue meeting client expectations and supporting our purpose and mission. Doug also continues to provide support and oversight to our firms planning and investment operations.
In his free time Doug enjoys spending time with his family especially supporting his teenage boys in their sports endeavors, Drew in Basketball and Quinn in Soccer.
Nathan was born and raised in Lincoln, NE and graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a degree in Finance. Nathan is a Lead Advisor who meets with clients and works with Tracy and the team to build a personalized financial plan that fits the client’s goals and needs.
Nathan is married and in his spare time, he enjoys doing anything sports or fitness related. He is a diehard Nebraska Cornhusker fan and roots for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joey Peck ChFC®, CLU®, MBA
Private Wealth Lead Advisor
Joey is a business leader with over 20 years of experience in Finance and Sales at companies including Cargill, Allegion and Ingersoll Rand. Born and raised into an entrepreneurial family that owned a farming and excavating company, she began serving customers at the age of six which led to her client-first mentality, value-driven mindset, and unique talent for inspiring people around her to reach ambitious goals.
Joey has built a career on business partnership and scenario planning across all facets of business, which equip her to apply these practices to your personal or business financial planning journey.
Her corporate business experience, farm kid values and work ethic, and her passion for creating financial independence plans with our clients is a great addition to our team.
Joey has an MBA from Baker University and undergraduate degrees in Finance and Agricultural Economics from University of Missouri.
She is a strong advocate for community involvement with prior board appointments at Church of the Resurrection and 20/20 Leadership
She’s married with two boys. In her spare time you’ll find her cheering on Saint James Academy events, volunteering, hiking and biking!
Christi grew up in Iowa and attended Iowa State University prior to starting in the banking and finance industry where she had over 10 years experience in managing client relationships before joining the NorthStar team.
Christi joined the team in January 2008 and has held various roles over the years. Today, Christi is the face of the practice to many clients.
In her current role, she is the Chief of Staff to CEO Tracy VanDyke and the NorthStar Wealth Navigation team. She plays a vital role in ensuring success and growth in all areas of the organization.
Any question that you may have Christi is your resource, any question she cannot answer herself she will direct to the appropriate member on our team or help you schedule a meeting with that person.
In her free time Christi likes to spend time with her friends and family and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and Iowa State Cyclones.
With more than two decades of experience in the life insurance and financial services industry, Julie realizes the importance of building relationships with like-minded people. Her knowledge and ability to help clients uncover needs and scuplt plans is invaluable.
She rejoined NorthStar Wealth Navigation in April 2022 after spending the last 15 years in various roles within the financial services industry, most recently as the Director of Insurance of a wealth management firm. Today, Julie is an Associate Financial Representative who helps prepare for and in client meetings.
Julie has a Master's degree in Science of Business Management from Baker University. She is married and has five children. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs
Barrett graduated from Colorado Christian University in May 2019 where he played on the tennis team. Originally from Prairie Village, he moved back to the Kansas City area after graduating and joined Northwestern Mutual in June of 2019.
As of January 2020 Barrett joined the NorthStar Wealth Navigation team and continues to grow in his Associate Private Wealth Advisor role.
He enjoys fishing and working out in his free time
Ashley began her career with Northwestern Mutual in May 2009. During this time, she has held various roles and was involved in nearly all facets of the planning process. Since Joining NorthStar Wealth Navigation in June 2024, Ashley is overseeing Insurance and Investment Operations as the Operations Manager. She is passionate about providing an exceptional experience and building meaningful relationships with our clients.
Ashley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Graceland University. She is licensed in Life, Disability, Long Term Care, Annuities and has her Series 6 & 63. She and her husband Tim reside in Overland Park with their four children. In her spare time, she is usually attending a sporting or scout event with her children, and of course, loves cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ethan was born in St. Louis, MO and raised in Topeka, KS. Graduating from Kansas State University in May of 2023 with his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and minor in Leadership Studies. Ethan joined the NorthStar Wealth Navigation team in September of 2023 following a three-month internship. He is currently working as a Financial Planning Assistant and strives to one day become a Lead Advisor for the team. In his spare time, Ethan enjoys playing golf and rooting for his favorite football teams, the Kansas State Wildcats and the New Orleans Saints.
Sam was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Houston, Texas. He recently graduated from Westminster College with a degree in Financial Planning and minors in Economics and Business Administration, where he was also a Baseball and Football college athlete. He also served as President for his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi and was an active member in the Blue Blazers Investment Committee.
Outside of the office, Sam enjoys hiking, going to athletic events and spending time with his friends and family.
Will is from Prairie Village, Kansas and he recently graduated from Kansas State University with a Finance Degree. He was a part of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity where he took part as a Recruitment Lead.
Will is an eagle scout, and in his free time he enjoys playing basketball and tennis. He also enjoys cheering on the Chiefs and Royals, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Laura graduated with a degree in Business Administration. She came to NorthStar Wealth Navigation in January 2020 with 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry. She will be the friendly face that greets you when you arrive at our office. In addition, she schedules appointments and review meetings.
Outside of work Laura enjoys traveling with friends to tropical destinations, spending time with family, and reading.
Danielle Samuels SHRM-CP
Director of Marketing and Client Experience
Danielle started with Northwestern Mutual in 2014 and joined NorthStar Wealth Navigation in January of 2020. She has a degree specializing in Fashion and Business and brings her creative flair to the team's social media pages, client events, and branding.
Outside of work Danielle enjoys being with her husband and two kids, connecting with other women within her church and community and traveling to her favorite beach in Marco Island.