Brandi Ames

Kelsey Swing is a financial advisor with Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. and holds a Series 65 designation. She has six years of industry experience and also serves as a partner and accountant at Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan, LLP, a CPA firm where she has worked since 2002. Additionally, Swing is a board member and treasurer for two nonprofit organizations, Eastern Dominican Christian Mission and Sexual Assault Counseling & Information Service. Avantax Planning Partners provides investment advice and planning primarily to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, often through collaborative referral arrangements with independent CPA firms. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management using model-based style allocation strategies, retirement plan management, and tax-intelligent overlays, managing client accounts on a discretionary basis with centralized trading and reporting.

Thomas Gilbert is a financial advisor with Avantax Planning Partners, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Honkamp Krueger Financial Services since 2000 and previously at Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan from 1995 to 2018. Gilbert is also a shareholder and advisor at Thomas L. Gilbert Financial Services, a financial services firm affiliated with HK Financial Services in Ashmore, IL. Avantax Planning Partners provides investment advice and planning primarily to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses through referral arrangements with independent CPA firms and registered advisor representatives. The firm employs model-based style allocation strategies, discretionary portfolio management, and tax-intelligent overlays, managing client accounts with centralized trading and reporting.

Kendra Hughes is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. since 2017 and also works as an Operations Manager for the brokerage department of First Mid Wealth Management, where she assists advisors as a sales assistant. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, emphasizing tailored recommendations based on risk profiles and firm research, with a significant portion of its advisory business conducted on a non-discretionary basis.

Ryan Mefford is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at First Mid Wealth Management and First Mid Bank and Trust since 2021 and previously spent five years at Pilson Auto Center. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and public entities. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary advisory services supported by comprehensive financial planning and investment consulting.

Shane Todd is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Greenup, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked at Casey State Bank and Midwestern Securities Trading Co., LLC, and earlier at Ervin Equipment. He serves as a board member for Casey-Westfield School District and is involved with Casey Industries Inc., promoting economic development in Casey, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment strategies, operates under a fiduciary standard, and is notable for its extensive advisor network and affiliated financial services.

Alexander Dick is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, he held various roles at First Mid Bank & Trust and First Mid Wealth Management. He also worked in education for 14 years at Stewardson-Strasburg CUSD #5A. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, emphasizing tailored recommendations and a significant advisory role without discretionary management.