Michael Otting

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.

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.

Ricky Winslow is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding a Series 63 designation and over 31 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Winslow is involved in consulting on operations and management through his ownership of RLW, LLC, and co-owns Balanced Growth Partners LLC, which focuses on succession management and operational needs for financial advisors. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its large institutional platform.

Marc Kerscher is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an assistant high school football coach and is a member of the board of directors for a senior living complex. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers comprehensive, goal-based planning without discretionary trading authority, combining planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Aiden Dunne is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Dubuque, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and currently in his first year in the industry. Prior to joining Ameriprise, he worked at GreatAmerica Financial Services and has held various roles including positions at Iowa State University and local service organizations. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income, Social Security, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm utilizes a centralized consulting team and combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, algorithm-supported retirement recommendations.

Brian Gogel is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2018 and has been affiliated with Citizens State Bank since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in agricultural business as a partner in Gogel Brothers Farms and serves as treasurer for both the Monticello School Foundation and the Monticello Youth Baseball Softball Association. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations through a network of independent financial professionals. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan advisory services, utilizing various account platforms and third-party strategists to deliver customized investment solutions.