Dennis Frank Grothaus

Mark Schmerge is the president of Schmerge Executive Planning Services, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license with 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Fortune Financial Services, Inc. since 2012 and has led his own firm since 1989. Schmerge is also an independent insurance agent. Schmerge Executive Planning Services provides wealth management and financial planning for individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and company retirement plans. The firm employs model-driven investment strategies sourced from third-party research and manages portfolios on a discretionary basis with an emphasis on downside risk control.

James Dunphy is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Dunphy Wealth Management, Inc. since 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he provides tax preparation services. Dunphy Wealth Management serves individuals, IRAs, revocable living trusts, and small businesses with fee-only portfolio management, financial planning, and tax consultation. The firm combines investment management with accounting and tax services, offering diversified portfolios built from no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds and ETFs, as well as automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting options.

Brock Muller is a financial advisor at E2 Financial Services, LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Edward Jones, Cornerstone Retirement Advisors, and Raymond James Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, he operates as a sole proprietor insurance agent. E2 Financial Services provides investment advice and ongoing portfolio management on a non-discretionary basis to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm combines personalized investment planning with insurance product recommendations through an affiliated agency and emphasizes client approval for all trades.

Charles Dozois is a financial advisor at Allied Planning Partners with 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments in various capacities from 2001 to 2026, including roles at Fidelity Brokerage Services and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. His credentials include Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Allied Planning Partners provides fee-only financial planning and educational seminars primarily for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on producing written financial plans and investment recommendations without managing or holding client assets, employing fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory to tailor advice based on client-specific factors.

Chad Lively is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of experience in financial advising. He founded Lively Financial LLC, where he serves as the sole advisor, and has prior experience with firms including Bankers Life and Touchstone Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a tax expert at Intuit, a role unrelated to his investment activities. Lively Financial LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, providing portfolio management and financial planning that includes tax planning and preparation. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary management and incorporates a range of investment analyses and strategies, while also offering educational resources such as a monthly newsletter and seminars.

Timothy Mandel is a financial advisor with Mandel Financial Services in Cincinnati, OH. He holds a Series 65 designation and has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Mandel & Associates, Beam Suntory, and Republic National Distribution Company. Mandel Financial Services is an independent, solo-registered adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a range of analytical methods and investment strategies across various asset classes, including less common allocations such as venture capital and private placements.