Derek
Built his career across personal, commercial, and private banking
The team behind Upstream
Derek Ketcho, CFP®
Principal
As a financial advisor, I kept hearing the same frustration from clients: “Since you can’t prepare my taxes — who do you recommend?” That recurring question inspired us to create Upstream Financial Advisors.
With over 15 years of experience across banking, financial planning, and investment management, I’ve seen firsthand how fragmented advice creates unnecessary complexity for clients. Partnering with Zach — a trusted CPA I’ve known for over a decade — allows us to deliver truly holistic, integrated planning. Together, we combine deep tax expertise with investment and financial strategies tailored to each client.
Our goal is simple: handle the full scope of your financial life so you can focus on what matters most to you and your family.
Outside of work, I live in Victoria, MN with my wife and three children. You’ll most often find me spending time with family, playing golf, or reading a good book.
Zach Miller, CFP®, CPA
Principal
Early on after starting my own tax practice, I observed a common pitfall in financial advising – decisions were being made without any consideration for their tax implications. This oversight often led to irreversible issues for clients when tax season rolled around. Fueled by this realization, I worked to earn my CFP® designation in 2020, aiming to bridge the gap between financial advice and tax strategies.
With over 15 years of tax and financial experience of my own, Derek and I bring a collective 30 years of tax and financial expertise to the table to support you and your goals. Our partnership allows us to guide clients comprehensively, ensuring their financial well-being from all angles. At Upstream Financial Advisors, we believe in proactive, holistic financial solutions, seamlessly combining tax expertise with financial wisdom.
Beyond the professional realm, I reside in Waconia with my wonderful wife and our four fantastic kids. My cherished moments unfold on ball fields and in hockey rinks, where I soak up precious time with my family.
How we got here
Zach
Began his career at two large accounting firms, providing tax preparation and advisory services to clients
Derek
Earned his CFP® along the way
Zach
Launched and has successfully run his own solo CPA practice for over 10 years
Derek
Went on to manage sophisticated clients at two $1.4 billion Registered Investment Advisors
Zach
Earned his CFP® and gained insight into the limitations of having separate advisors for tax and financial planning
Upstream was Founded
Derek reached out to Zach for tax expertise. What began as a collaboration evolved into a shared vision: one firm where financial planning, tax strategy and investment management work seamlessly together.
