Brad Ludwig

Mark Stevens is a CFP® and CFA® with 13 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently the sole advisor at Vestera Wealth LLC, where he has worked since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at HTLF (Heartland Financial USA), ATCapital Management, and American Trust. Vestera Wealth LLC provides investment advisory and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and charitable organizations, with a focus on high-net-worth clients. The firm manages assets primarily on a discretionary basis, combining multiple analytical approaches and oversight of independent managers, and also acts as a sub-advisor to other registered investment advisors and trust departments.

Elizabeth Rude is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Dyersville, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked for Community Savings Bank for 20 years before joining Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Company. Her activities include the sales and service of fixed insurance products such as life, annuities, disability, long-term care, health, and group insurance. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs with an emphasis on discretionary investment management and ongoing client reviews.

Michael Otting is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Cascade, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 23 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at GWFS Equities, Inc., Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Global Portfolio Strategies, Inc., and Prudential Investment Management Services. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders, using an integrated model connected to Empower’s administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its point-in-time financial plans and offers optional managed account solutions.

Josh Vondran is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advised Assets Group, GWFS Equities, American Trust, LPL Financial, and Cetera Investment Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is active in the community as a judge for the United Powerlifting Association and a youth baseball coach for the Western Dubuque Youth Baseball Club. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage clients. The firm utilizes an integrated model aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering long-term focused financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Brent Hinerichsen is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Dyersville, IA, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 31 years of industry experience, including roles at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2017, as well as prior experience at Fortified Wealth Advisors and Financial Strategies. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of Hinerichsen, Inc, an S-corporation used for tax filing purposes. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning and retirement plan consulting, with access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Jackson Gehling is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Dyersville, Iowa. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, Gehling held roles at Collins Aerospace, CRST, Jimmy Johns, and Behnke Enterprises, among others. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.