Alicea Konieczka

Joshua Miller is the sole advisor at Monarch Fiduciary, LLC, an independent SEC-registered investment adviser based in Kansas City, MO. He holds a Series 65 designation and has eight years of experience in information security, working at Jack Henry since 2018 and RiskIQ from 2016 to 2018. Monarch Fiduciary offers discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, business owners, trusts, and retirement plan participants, utilizing a low-cost, evidence-based approach focused on long-term, diversified ETF and index fund portfolios enhanced by quantitative analysis and tax-efficiency considerations.

James Byrne is a financial advisor at Grand Street Advisors, LLC in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Grand Street Advisors since 2004 and has been affiliated with Sanwa Universal Securities Co., LLC since 1991. Grand Street Advisors is a small, independent advisory firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, banks, and other business entities. The firm manages approximately $9 million across about 16 clients, providing non-discretionary portfolio management, one-time advisory consulting, and pension consulting services with customized asset allocations based on fundamental, technical, and charting analysis.

Stephen Lyddon is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience, serving clients through Opine Financial Advisors in Kansas City, MO. He has been the owner and general manager of a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service franchise since 1992. His roles include overseeing operations and client relations at the tax preparation business alongside his financial advisory work. Opine Financial Advisors provides fee-only, hourly financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, and small tax-exempt organizations. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach using a core-and-satellite design and does not take custody of client assets, allowing clients to retain control of their investments.

Most people don't need another investment salesperson—they need a trusted guide to help them make smart financial decisions. Many of the families I work with are doing a lot of things right. They're earning a good income, saving for retirement, investing consistently, and building a life they love. Yet they still wonder: Am I paying more in taxes than necessary? Are we making the most of our opportunities? Are we actually on track for retirement? That's where comprehensive financial planning can make a difference. As a CFP® professional and fee-only fiduciary, I help individuals and families create a coordinated strategy around taxes, retirement, investments, insurance, estate planning, and cash flow. While many advisors focus primarily on investments, I believe some of the biggest opportunities often come from proactive tax planning and making sure every financial decision works together toward your goals. My goal isn't simply to help you build wealth. It's to help you keep more of what you've worked hard to earn and use it intentionally to support the life you want to live. Outside of financial planning, I'm a husband, father of three, and youth baseball coach. Like many of my clients, my family spends plenty of evenings and weekends at practices, games, tournaments, and other activities. Because of that, I have a special appreciation for the financial decisions parents face as they balance retirement goals, family priorities, and opportunities for their children. Whether you're raising competitive athletes, preparing for retirement, navigating a career transition, or simply looking for a trusted partner to help you make sense of it all, my goal is to provide clear advice, thoughtful planning, and ongoing guidance every step of the way.

Kenneth Bateman is the principal and sole advisor at Bateman Capital Management, Inc., an independent advisory firm. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. Dr. Bateman also serves as the Managing Member of Haymarket Event Center LLC and is the Chairman of the Leavenworth Main Street Program, Inc. Additionally, he may teach business and finance courses at the collegiate level. Bateman Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management to individual clients, employing fundamental analysis and a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, equities, fixed income, ETFs, REITs, options, and non-U.S. securities. The firm documents client objectives in written investment policy statements and offers performance-based fee arrangements and the use of derivatives and margin within managed accounts.

Andrew Flattery is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in financial advising. He is the founder of Flattery Wealth Management LLC in North Kansas City, MO. His prior career includes roles at Simple Wealth Planning LLC, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and RBC Capital Markets. Outside of advising, he is a board member of a Catholic young adult ministry and has appeared on the "Catholic Money Mastermind" podcast. Flattery Wealth Management serves primarily individual and high-net-worth clients, providing financial planning and discretionary investment portfolio management. The firm follows a value-oriented, buy-and-hold investment approach with client-specific policies and periodic rebalancing, using a mix of individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and customized separately managed accounts.