James Roger Van Diest

Hello, I am Ben. I started Simplified Planning and Investments out of a deep desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. For nearly a decade, I have had the privilege of guiding individuals and families through some of their most important financial decisions. Over time, I realized my greatest fulfillment comes from building meaningful relationships, truly understanding people’s stories, and helping them find peace of mind in areas that often cause stress and uncertainty. This led me to create a firm centered on people first - where financial planning is about more than money; it’s about impact, purpose, and simplicity. At Simplified Planning, everything begins with a passion for people. This firm was built on the belief that the foundation of finacial planning is built on relationships, trust, and helping others live with greater peace and purpose. Our purpose is to equip you to make confident financial decisions with clarity and ease. Every story is unique, and so is every financial plan. Exceptional financial planning starts with listening and understanding. That’s why we take a holistic, relationship-driven approach - thoughtfully blending overarching strategies with the important details that matter most to you. Because we work on a fee-only basis, our only focus is providing sound advice that puts your best interests first. By viewing your financial life as an integrated system - cash flow, investments, taxes, insurance, retirement, and estate considerations - we ensure each piece works together seamlessly, so your money serves your goals and values. Our aim is to simplify complexity, bring clarity to uncertainty, and provide a roadmap that balances today’s priorities with tomorrow’s vision. Outside of work, my life is centered around my family. We love traveling and discovering new places together. I stay connected to my community through commitments to my church, volunteering, and teaching personal finance. I’m also a high school football official, a passionate sports fan, and yes - one of those lawn guys. I look forward to connecting, understanding your story, and helping you create a financial life that reflects both your goals and your values - bringing clarity, confidence, and meaning every step of the way.

Stoy Hall is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience and the principal of Black Mammoth LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Ankeny, IA. His prior experience includes roles at Centric Advisors, Majors and Mondragon, MWA Financial Services, and Modern Woodmen of America. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of the board for the Starts Right Here Movement and owns consulting firms LNC Financial and Legacy Fiduciary Services. Black Mammoth LLC offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, family office and wealth planning, retirement plan consulting, and business advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios and may engage third-party sub-advisers, while also sponsoring affiliated private funds and providing cash sweep programs.

Alexandre Ducharme is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Woodlands Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2014. He has 10 years of industry experience. Woodlands Capital Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving a small client base, including high-net-worth individuals, with approximately $5.8 million in discretionary assets under management. The firm offers long-only and long/short equity strategies based on fundamental analysis, emphasizing risk control and client objectives, and employs a performance-based fee structure for its long/short strategy with qualified clients.

Christina Lueders Ochanpaugh is a financial advisor at Kingdom Wealth Development, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked with Cambridge Investment Research and Trinity Financial Group, where she also serves as an independent insurance agent. Kingdom Wealth Development provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on written financial plans and ongoing portfolio oversight. The firm employs an asset-allocation framework primarily using mutual funds and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management with regular portfolio reviews.

Michael Banasiak is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at Omni Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2020. His prior experience includes positions at Iron Horse Wealth Management, Legacy Financial Group, and Merrill. Omni Wealth Management is an independent firm providing fee-only financial planning and personalized investment management to individuals and institutional clients such as retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm manages discretionary, tailored portfolios using a combination of in-house advisers and outside portfolio managers, and sponsors a wrap fee program noted as uncommon among peers.

Michael Moller is the principal of DSM Financial L.L.C. in Urbandale, IA, with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked in various capacities within the financial services industry since 1984. In addition to his advisory role, Moller maintains a life insurance practice focusing on term and whole life insurance. DSM Financial L.L.C. serves approximately 200 client relationships, including high-net-worth individuals, plan sponsors, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, educational seminars, retirement-plan consulting, and refers clients to registered third-party investment managers, acting as a liaison and providing non-discretionary ERISA services for retirement plans.