Lauren Hanson
Lauren Hanson, RICP, is a seasoned financial professional and current Regional Sales Director – Annuities at RiverSource, where she partners with Financial Advisors to help clients build strong financial futures and lasting legacies. With over a decade of experience in financial services, Lauren brings deep expertise in sales strategy, advisor development, and client acquisition across leading firms, including Ameriprise Financial, Allianz Life, and Securian Financial.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a focus on Rhetoric from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her strong foundation in communication, combined with her passion for educating others, has helped her succeed in various leadership roles. From managing high-performing sales teams to launching innovative marketing initiatives and CRM improvements, Lauren consistently drives growth through a balance of analytical insight and emotional intelligence. Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Sales Leadership Award from Allianz Life and recognition as Financial Literacy Volunteer Judge of the Year by the Minnesota Urban Debate League.
Outside of her professional work, Lauren is an active community volunteer, contributing her time to organizations like Feed My Starving Children, Books For Africa, and the Minnesota Urban Debate League. She also enjoys teaching, having served as an OLLI course instructor at the University of Minnesota. In her free time, she finds joy in traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. Lauren’s commitment to character, integrity, and meaningful service defines both her career and personal life.
• Leading at the Speed of Trust: 4.0
• Series 7
• Series 63
• Series 26
• Life & Health
• RICP
• University of Minnesota Duluth
• Q4 2021 Shackleton Winner
• Finanical Literacy Volunteer Judge of the Year 2024-2025
• Sales Leadership Award, Century Club 2016-2018
• Q4 2020 Shackleton Winner
• 2018 BOLD Apprentice Project Champion
• NON-Profit Minnesota Urban Debate League since 2022 to current
• Volunteer Judge at Minnesota Urban Debate League
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to knowing I don’t know everything. That mindset has kept me open to learning, growing, and evolving throughout my career. At the core of it all is my desire to help people—that’s what drives me every day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that your career path isn’t going to be linear. Embracing that truth has allowed me to take on new challenges, explore unexpected opportunities, and grow in ways I never imagined.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be curious, be hardworking, and be humble. Curiosity will keep you learning, hard work will set you apart, and humility will make you a better teammate and professional.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are the myths around cryptocurrencies, and the widespread influence of generalized financial advice from personalities like Suzie Orman. Scams like cryptocurrency highlights the growing need for more personalized, values-based financial planning that meets people where they are.
Netflix has documentaries like Trust No One, that gives an accurate picture of what their scheme is, and how it forever changes people’s financial lives because they lost everything. If it’s not traded on a federal stock exchange, do not trust it
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are character and integrity. I believe in showing up with honesty, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, and staying true to my principles. These values guide how I serve others and build trust in every relationship.