POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that Richard M. Leach  constitutes and
appoints John Y. Keffer, David I. Goldstein,  Thomas G. Sheehan and Anthony C.J.
Nuland and each of them, to act severally as attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for the undersigned in any and
all capacities to sign the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, on
Form N-14 of Norwest  Advantage  Funds  relating to the  acquisition  of all the
assets of , and to file the same, with exhibits thereto,  and other documents in
connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact,  and their substitute
or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                                       /s/ Richard M. Leach
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                                Richard M. Leach


Dated:  January 24, 1996