Merriam Jeanne Rink

David Ballheim is the founder of Ballheim Financial LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Leclaire, Iowa. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 16 years of industry experience, having established his firm in 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he is a 20% partner in a farm rental business, CRB LLC, with no active management duties. Ballheim Financial LLC provides investment supervisory services and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes documented client investment objectives, uses tools like Morningstar and Riskalyze for portfolio analysis, and offers retirement plan administration alongside various insurance product solutions.

Frederick Palen is the sole advisor at Palen Financial LLC in Davenport, IA, holding a Series 63 designation with 27 years of industry experience. He has operated Palen Financial since 2010 and has also been involved with Cargill Hybrid Seed Inc. since 1982. In addition to his advisory work, he offers non-variable insurance products, including group benefits and Medicare-related insurance. Palen Financial provides investment supervisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan administration to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm integrates insurance and annuity products alongside traditional securities in portfolio construction, tailoring advice to clients' income, tax situation, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Darlene Steffen is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She is the sole advisor and owner of Life Planning Solutions, LLC, an independent firm she founded in 2006. Steffen has focused her career on providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management services. Life Planning Solutions, LLC serves individuals, trusts, and small businesses through a fee-only advisory model. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach with core-and-satellite portfolios primarily composed of passive mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing global diversification and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Brennen Schmertmann is a financial advisor at St. Therese Financial LLC with four years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial and Mutual of Omaha Investor Services. Schmertmann holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Bettendorf, IA. St. Therese Financial provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, nonprofit clients, and other investment advisers. The firm combines fundamental analysis, technical methods, and Modern Portfolio Theory with a documented moral-screening policy that influences investment choices based on non-financial criteria.

Evin Ersan is a financial advisor at Passage Global Capital Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Passage Global since 2018, including prior full-time education experience. Outside of his advisory role, he manages Evin Ersan Merchandise LLC, a business that donates a portion of its proceeds to suicide prevention. Passage Global Capital Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other advisers. The firm offers diversified model portfolios, single-strategy solutions including cryptocurrency, pension consulting, and sub-advisory services, employing quantitative models and behavioral finance in their investment process.

Michael Bridgford is a financial advisor at Bridgford Wealth Advisory, LLC in Rock Island, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with three years of industry experience. He has worked at Bridgford Wealth Advisory since 2022 and also operates Michael Bridgford Consulting, a non-investment related consulting business. Bridgford Wealth Advisory serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and state or municipal government clients, managing approximately $14.6 million across 43 client relationships. The firm provides discretionary wealth management and comprehensive financial planning, primarily using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, with a long-term investment approach tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.