James Aukerman is a CFP® and PFS™ professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera. Prior to his current role since 2025, he worked for 18 years at Avantax Investment Services and related entities. In addition to his work as a financial advisor, he operates a legal practice, is involved in tax preparation and planning, and serves as a SCORE mentor helping entrepreneurs and small business owners. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a large network of independent advisors serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, and bespoke strategies.

Katelyn Emmott is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation. She has one year of experience in the industry, with prior roles in healthcare consulting and the pharmaceutical sector. Emmott’s background includes positions at Infinity Healthcare Consulting, AstraZeneca, and Michigan State University. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Joel Leipprandt is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones, he worked in church ministry for seven years. He also coaches the junior varsity boys basketball team for Traverse City Area Public Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products. The firm is notable for its extensive retail advisor and branch network, as well as additional services including trust capabilities and securities-based lending.

Steven Yenshaw is a financial advisor with Stifel, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2009. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group, using forward-looking market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to guide asset allocation and financial planning.

Barbara Shellman is a financial advisor at Stifel with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Raymond James in various capacities from 2013 to 2023. Outside of her advisory role, she chairs the marketing committee for SCORE Traverse City, a volunteer organization supporting local business owners, and serves on the arts and culture committee for Impact 100 Traverse City, a nonprofit collective giving group. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on proprietary analysis and probabilistic modeling developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Damian Lockhart is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley who holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the endowment committee of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, a nonprofit organization. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and comprehensive asset management.

Kristine Mcnabb is a financial advisor with Merrill in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2015. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Jerry Pearson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by offering a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques to support its advisory services.

Michael Lee is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1988 and Primerica Financial Services since 1991. Outside of his advisory role, Lee is involved in sales of home security and automation products through affiliated companies and owns Lee + Associates, LLC, a legal entity formed for Primerica business. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, which includes model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses an operational model based on tiered wrap fees, providing portfolio management primarily for individual clients rather than institutional plans.

Terry Froeber is a financial advisor at Stifel with 16 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He has worked at Stifel since 2019 and previously spent 11 years at First Empire Securities, Inc. Stifel serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm uses a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses, serving as a basis for client decision-making.

Deborah Alice is a financial advisor at Stifel with 26 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Wells Fargo Advisors. She is also the owner of a small appliance services business outside of her advisory work. Stifel serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and allocation methodologies.

William Grombala Jr. is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He joined Merrill Lynch in 1997 and has also served as Resident Director from 2003 to 2015. William applies his extensive knowledge and experience to help clients develop comprehensive wealth management strategies tailored to their individual needs. His areas of expertise include college education planning, corporate benefits, employee financial health, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. William is supported by an experienced team and aims to provide clients with a sense of comfort and security beyond their financial matters. William holds a Bachelor's Degree from Hillsdale College and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He is actively involved in professional and community organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, That Man is You, St. Joseph's Church in Mapleton, and Old Mission Peninsula. Additionally, he volunteers with the YMCA and advocates for the Carmelite Monastery. Outside of work, William enjoys outdoor activities with his family including biking, boating, football, golfing, hiking, music, swimming, watching movies, and yoga.

Nicholas Tucker is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, Tucker is managing partner of Bedrock Acquisitions, LLC, a business involved in practice acquisitions, and serves as Vice-President and Dock & Beach Director on the board of the Hidden Ridge HomeOwners Condo Association. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide non-discretionary, written retirement recommendations supported by a centralized consulting team.

Carl Oleson III is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 50 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. His prior experience includes leading roles in his own firms, including Oleson Financial Group and Ballard Wealth Group. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning supported by analytical tools and maintains unique municipal advisory capabilities alongside innovative employer advisory programs.

Keri Sabatini is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2011 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broader range of financial products, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options, than is typical for large institutional advisers.

Adam Creighton is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2012, he has focused on providing investment guidance and developing financial solutions tailored to individuals, families, and businesses. Adam’s areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, portfolio management, retirement planning, tax minimization, and small business strategies. Adam began his career in financial services in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from Coastal Carolina University. He worked in investment brokerage for two years before serving as an investment analyst for Hamilton Point Investment Advisors in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for five years. Adam holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Traverse City with their two children. Outside of his professional work, Adam enjoys a variety of sports including baseball, basketball, football, boxing, golfing, and hiking. He values spending time with his family and traveling.

Michael Benoit is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Principal Securities Inc. and Transamerica Retirement Solutions. Outside of advising, he hosts a program called Swing Theory. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing model portfolios, third-party research, and various investment strategies.