James Ethington is a financial advisor at Transcendent Investment Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has one year of experience in financial advising and a background that includes eighteen years at The Boeing Company and twenty years with the Missouri Air National Guard. Transcendent Investment Advisors is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser serving a broad range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a quantitative, research-driven investment approach and offers continuous portfolio management alongside project-based consulting, educational services, and seminars.

Kyle Parke is the sole advisor at Parke Investment Management, Inc. in St. Louis, MO, holding a Series 65 credential with 28 years of industry experience. He has led his independent firm since 1993 and has also been associated with Holiday Inn Corp. since 1992. Parke Investment Management serves primarily individual clients through discretionary portfolio management and occasionally provides financial planning at no additional charge. The firm manages a modest asset base for a limited client roster, employing a broad range of investment vehicles and utilizing borrowing and derivatives strategies within separately managed accounts.

Richard Baldwin is the sole advisor at Baldwin Wealth Management, LLC in St. Louis, MO. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 63 license, with 15 years of industry experience. Baldwin has led his independent firm since 2010, focusing on investment management and financial consulting. Baldwin Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, endowments, foundations, businesses, and participant-directed retirement plans, providing fiduciary investment advice and portfolio management. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing diversified asset-class allocations with rules-based tilts and a buy-hold-rebalance strategy.

Christopher Harrell is a financial advisor with CKHFinancial LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at NEXT Financial Group and LPL Financial, as well as work as an independent insurance agent since 2017. He has also served as an adjunct professor teaching finance courses at Harris-Stowe State University. CKHFinancial LLC is an independent, fee-based registered investment adviser serving individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers personalized financial planning, hourly consultation, and ongoing investment management with a focus on broadly diversified portfolios and regular client reviews.

Steven Reinisch is a financial advisor at MacroVex Capital with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at MacroVex Capital since 2019, following prior roles at TAMP Advisory Solutions and Duncan McHugh Investments. MacroVex Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and investor education to individuals, businesses, charities, trusts, estates, and certain institutional clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, charting, and quantitative analyses, along with stress testing, to guide portfolio construction and rebalancing, managing approximately $28 million across about 34 client relationships.

Joshua Wheeler is the principal of Wheeler Financial Planning LLC in St. Charles, MO, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Vp Pro and Futaba. Outside of financial advising, Wheeler owns a Smoothie King franchise where he assists with payroll and management. Wheeler Financial Planning serves individual clients by providing portfolio analysis and advisory services, primarily directing clients to a third-party manager rather than trading accounts directly. The firm employs a passive, buy-and-hold investment approach based on modern portfolio theory and focuses on mutual funds and fixed income instruments.

Joseph Darpel III is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Smart Steps Wealth Management LLC. His prior roles include positions at Gunpowder Capital Management, Hayden Royal, and Raymond James Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is the president of Jos F Darpel Investment Co, a support company based in St. Louis, MO. Smart Steps Wealth Management is an independent, single-advisor firm providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a client-specific investment approach combining fundamental, technical, and quantitative methods with a range of investment instruments and incorporates retirement-plan consulting with ERISA fiduciary responsibilities.

Thomas Aylmer is a financial advisor at Cedarmill Financial in Chesterfield, MO, with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and the Certified Public Accountant credential. Prior to founding Cedarmill Financial, he worked at Conner Ash PC and KPMG. Outside of advising, he owns Fresh Start Mobile Auto Detail, an automobile detailing business, and operates Cedarmill Ventures, which provides consulting services to small businesses. Cedarmill Financial provides discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to owners of privately held businesses, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a passive, indexed investment approach using third-party model portfolios and offers specialized consulting and CFO services, with a significant focus on non-investment planning for closely held businesses.

Eric Amundson is the managing director of Adaptive Wealth Management, LLC in Chesterfield, MO, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Concorde Investment Services, LLC since 2012. Outside of advisory work, he serves on the board of the St. Louis Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is involved in business consulting through Bridge Profit Solutions, LLC. Adaptive Wealth Management is a state-registered independent investment adviser providing discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, businesses, charities, and pension plans. The firm employs an active, market-timing approach using trend-following technical analysis and neural-network-based intermarket indicators to guide daily trading decisions, tailoring investment programs to each client’s financial situation and risk tolerance.

Thipp Ratsaboutseua is a financial advisor at QuantumLeap Wealth Management, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with QuantumLeap Wealth Management since 2014. QuantumLeap Wealth Management provides investment supervisory services and individualized portfolio management to private individuals, including high-net-worth clients. The firm integrates derivatives and borrowing strategies into separately managed accounts and employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis tailored to client objectives.

Michael Mariani is a financial advisor with Consolidated Wealth Management in Clayton, MO, holding a Series 65 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Asset Planners, Inc. since 2016 and Buckingham Asset Management, LLC since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, Mariani and his wife operate a property management LLC that manages a small number of multi-family investment properties for a family member. Consolidated Wealth Management provides individualized financial planning and portfolio management for high-net-worth and other individual clients. The firm’s approach emphasizes fundamental analysis and long-term buy-and-hold strategies, utilizing diversified allocations with low-cost exchange-traded funds and software-driven scenario analysis.

Michael Leara Sr. is a financial advisor with Gateway Advisors, LLC in St. Louis, MO, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Gateway Advisors since 2005 and also has affiliations with WFG Advisors, LP and Williams Financial Group dating back to 2003. Outside of advisory roles, Leara serves as Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission and is involved in commercial land development consulting and law enforcement equipment sales through his ownership of Jupiter, LLC and Defense Logistics, LLC. Gateway Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and consulting services primarily for institutional and pooled clients, including pension plans, endowments, and mutual funds. The firm uses a combination of technical and fundamental analysis in its active management approach across equities, bonds, and pooled investment products.

Ethan Rush is the sole advisor at Sigma Advisors, LLC in St. Louis, MO, with 10 years of experience in financial advising and a Series 66 designation. He has prior experience at Rush Penn, LLC, and has maintained a legal practice as an attorney since 1988, primarily focusing on estate planning. In addition to his advisory role, he provides legal counsel separately under his own law practice. Sigma Advisors offers financial planning, investment management, and single-family office services to individuals, trusts, estates, foundations, and single-family offices, serving high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes portfolio management using passive, low-turnover ETFs and no-load mutual funds, operates on a non-discretionary basis, and employs a flat annual fee structure.

Curtis Sawyer is the sole advisor at Sawyer Capital Management in Wildwood, MO, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been affiliated with Sawyer Capital Management since 2007. Since 2010, he has also been associated with Webster University. Sawyer Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses, and sponsors of pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and a passive, asset-class strategy using no-load mutual funds and ETFs, supported by written investment policy statements, Monte Carlo analysis, and periodic rebalancing. It offers a combination of individual wealth management and formal retirement-plan consulting services, including plan-level analysis and participant education.

Stephen Harris is a financial advisor at Vanda Advisers, an independent sole-proprietor firm based in Saint Louis, MO. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. Prior to founding the firm, he had a long corporate career designing and marketing software for broker-dealers and investment managers. He also serves as an unpaid treasurer managing investments for a nonprofit organization. Vanda Advisers provides individualized investment advice and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, couples, and employers, including 401(k) plan guidance. The firm employs an investment process that considers historical returns, market conditions, fund manager experience, and economic and political factors, focusing on mutual funds, ETFs, and bonds with holdings typically held for several months or longer.

Garrett Gould is a CFP® and Series 65-designated financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is the principal of Halyard Financial, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in St. Louis, MO. Prior to founding Halyard Financial, he was associated with Equity Advisors of Kentucky. In addition to his advisory work, he owns and operates Halyard Tax, LLC, a tax preparation business. Halyard Financial serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and small businesses, offering discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm’s investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory and primarily utilizes passive investment vehicles, complemented by fundamental and cyclical analysis when appropriate.

I’m a CFA® and CFP® professional who helps young professionals and growing families navigate life’s big financial decisions with clarity and confidence. Many of my clients are in the middle of major transitions—equity compensation, an inheritance, buying a home, or welcoming a child—and want expert guidance without the jargon. I combine deep technical expertise with a straightforward, approachable style so you can make smart moves today and build lasting wealth for tomorrow. My approach is collaborative and grounded in your real-life goals. We’ll create a plan that’s clear, flexible, and tailored to your priorities—whether that’s funding your next big move, investing for long-term growth, or making work optional someday. The result? You spend less time stressing about money and more time enjoying the life you’re building.

Gregory Livingston is the sole advisor at Livingston & Associates, Ltd., an independent wealth management firm based in Wildwood, MO. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 24 years of industry experience. Livingston has managed his firm since 2001. Livingston & Associates serves primarily individual clients, including some high-net-worth households, and a limited number of corporate retirement-plan clients. The firm emphasizes a passive-management approach with portfolio management, financial planning, insurance offerings, and occasional business consulting, and distinguishes itself by providing insurance brokerage services and strategic relationships for legal, accounting, and banking needs.

David Zaegel is a CFP® with 12 years of experience in financial advising, currently serving as the sole advisor at CWOs for Hire LLC in Saint Louis, MO. He has been with CWOs for Hire since 2016 and is also a minority owner and accountant at CPAs for Hire LLC, an accounting and tax firm, where he provides CFO services and tax return preparation. Additionally, he owns Fastball LLC, an investment education business he restarted in 2025. CWOs for Hire LLC offers personalized investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and charting analysis with both passive and active management strategies, and maintains a referral relationship with an affiliated accounting firm.

Susan Liu is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her financial services career in 2015 and has since completed her training as a financial advisor. Susan holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Susan’s approach to financial planning focuses on helping clients navigate the complexities of their unique life priorities, which she identifies as family, finances, health, home, leisure, work, and giving. Her client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, employee financial health, international wealth management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and women and wealth. She earned a master’s degree from Washington University in Saint Louis, a bachelor’s degree from Beijing Technology and Business University, and an additional master’s degree from the University of Hertfordshire. Susan is fluent in Chinese and English. Service to the community is important to Susan. She has served as a consultant at the Light of Christ Lutheran Chinese Mission in St. Louis and is a member of both the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Pacific American Advocates. Her volunteer work reflects her commitment to supporting the local Chinese community and other organizations. Outside of her professional work, Susan enjoys chess, cooking, gardening, hiking, and yoga.