Michelle Makynen

Andy Hackett is a financial advisor with Creative Financial Designs, Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at CFD Investments, Cuso Financial Services, and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he served as Stewardship Manager for The Dale House Project, overseeing property maintenance and advising on larger initiatives. Creative Financial Designs serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs asset-class model allocations informed by third-party research and offers a range of investment strategies from passive to tactically managed portfolios, including Biblical Responsible Investing options.

Douglas Holden is a CFP® with nine years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is the sole advisor at First Light Financial, an independent firm based in Colorado Springs, CO. In addition to his advisory work, Holden has a long-standing role at Performance Technologies, Inc., where he has worked since 1995. First Light Financial provides financial planning and investment advisory services primarily to individual households with at least $100,000 in investable assets. The firm employs a predominantly passive investment strategy called "TIPS Plus!" that utilizes low-cost index funds, with occasional use of active funds, and maintains portfolios through agreed asset allocations, periodic rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

Aaron Ritchie is the principal of Strong Mountains Financial Planning in Colorado Springs, CO. He holds a Series 65 designation and has extensive experience in the financial services industry, including 18 years at USAA and roles at Progressive Insurance. Ritchie has operated his independent advisory firm since 2026. Strong Mountains Financial Planning is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm combines modern portfolio theory with fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, using both passive and active investments to construct portfolios aligned with long-term objectives and client-specific considerations.

Daniel Korleski is a financial advisor at Cobalt Private Wealth LLC in Colorado Springs, CO, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has been with Cobalt Private Wealth since 2013. Cobalt Private Wealth LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, including the use of options and derivatives strategies, and manages accounts on a discretionary basis with a focus on customized investment policies.

Cornerstone Financial Planning is an independent, fee-only wealth management firm helping individuals and families steward wealth intentionally through proactive financial planning, prudent investing, and values-driven decision-making. We work with clients who want to build wealth with purpose, pursue long-term financial independence, and align their financial lives with what matters most. Services include comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax-efficient investing, real estate planning and investment analysis, risk management, and ongoing financial guidance. With personal experience in real estate investing, we help clients evaluate opportunities, navigate complexity, and make more confident financial and real estate decisions. Our approach is personalized, relationship-driven, and built around helping clients simplify complex financial decisions so they can live more intentionally and create a meaningful, impactful life.

Daniel Sparks is the founder and sole advisor of Sparks Capital Management in Colorado Springs, CO, holding a Series 65 designation with five years of industry experience. He is also the owner and CEO of Sparks Strategies LLC, where he writes and publishes financial articles for outlets including The Motley Fool. Sparks Capital Management is an independent, single-advisor firm providing discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporate accounts. The firm focuses on concentrated, long-term stock ownership using fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to identify companies with multi-year growth potential.