Samuel Ternes is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He has been working with Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation and Transamerica Retirement Solutions since 2016. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through multiple advice programs, providing asset allocation guidance and managed portfolio options that rely on proprietary tools and model oversight from Morningstar Investment Management. The firm operates at scale with a large client base and primarily focuses on non-discretionary asset management rather than high-net-worth or standalone financial planning services.

Kendra Kotilinek is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She has worked with Valic and AGIA since 2024 and has prior experience in education with several school districts. Outside of finance, she is involved with Up the Creek Bar & Grill. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. serves primarily U.S. individuals including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering wrap programs, portfolio management, and financial planning through a large network of advisors. The firm utilizes unified managed accounts with discretionary management and emphasizes technology and model solutions across its extensive client base.

Ross Miller is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Bloomington, MN. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience, including over 11 years with TIAA-CREF. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and small retirement plans. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while employing a fiduciary standard within its vertically integrated advisory model.

Annette Van Horn is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Gwfs Equities, Inc. Since 2017. Prior to her advisory career, she was involved with House of Q BBQ and Brew and attended Colorado State University. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants. The firm’s services include point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions delivered through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Brent Romenesko is a CFP® and Series 65 licensed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with NewEdge Advisors and previously worked at Tempo Investment Advisors, Inc. for 19 years. In addition to advisory services, he provides insurance solutions as part of client financial planning. NewEdge Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program combining asset management with financial planning, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities with regular portfolio reviews and rebalancing.

James Roberts is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Intera Capital Partners LLC since 2019, The Leaders Group Inc since 2011, and CenterPoint Capital Management from 2011 to 2019. Roberts serves on investment committees for the Children's Home Society and Gustavus Adolphus College endowments and is involved with iBorrow, advising on real estate loan asset interests. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary assets and provides services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services, delivering advice through independent representatives and a combination of active, passive, and blended fund portfolios.

Todd Loudenslager is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. in Edina, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 10 years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.W. Cole Advisors in 2020, he worked at Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company. He is also president of the West Point Society of Minnesota. J.W. Cole Advisors operates a large network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to various investment platforms for individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients.

Noah Williams is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Bloomington, MN, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2022, he worked at Wipfli Financial Advisors and has experience in educational roles at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and White Bear Lake High School. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning-led investment process that combines low-cost indexing with supplemental strategies, supported by a broad range of affiliated non-investment businesses such as an affiliated law firm, trust company, and recordkeeping services.

Nicole Hawthorne is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to her current role, she worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and has a background that includes positions in the beauty and retail sectors. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice within the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering annual financial reviews and investment recommendations across a range of securities. The firm delivers advice through Schwab’s standard asset allocation models and research tools, with final trading decisions made by clients.

Geoffrey Hansen is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Chaska, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2017 and previously spent 16 years with Investment Centers of America, Inc. Hansen also provides investment advisory services through NewEdge Advisors, an independent registered investment advisor firm. LPL Financial offers advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm provides a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and accommodates various client needs through model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized advisory arrangements.

Amy Zinniel is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. She previously worked at Boyum Barenscheer for five years before joining Mariner Wealth Advisors in 2020. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and manages an investment-related rental property. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers to implement customized portfolios and provides unique administrative and financial wellness solutions.

Cameron Kerkes is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group and holds a paralegal specialist role with the Virginia Air National Guard, where he provides legal services to military personnel. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm utilizes a discretionary, committee-overseen investment approach that combines in-house research with third-party managers and includes tax and accounting integration uncommon at its enterprise scale.

Rachel Reis is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services and Charles Schwab entities. Rachel is based in Minneapolis, MN. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, using Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools. The firm serves individual clients with annual financial reviews and investment recommendations, while final trading decisions remain with clients.

Sarah Berggren is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at CTB Financial Services, Ltd. for sixteen years before joining Creative Planning. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental investment options and a large advisory team managing approximately $217 billion in assets.

Hannah Poss is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 65 credential. She has experience working at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP for seven years and joined Mariner in 2026. Prior to her professional career, she was affiliated with the University of Minnesota for four years. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations by offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations and provides a range of strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets, while also delivering integrated tax and accounting services uncommon for firms of its size.

Michael Giefer is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2019. Prior to this, he worked at The Johnston Group from 2014 to 2019. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various advanced portfolio management techniques and offers a broad range of retirement plan services alongside affiliated legal, trust, and recordkeeping businesses.

Nicholas Moriarty is an investment professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors, NewEdge Advisors, LPL Financial, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he participates in AlphaSights, a global knowledge services firm, providing expertise through surveys and consultations. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, institutions, and government entities. The firm employs both proprietary and third-party investment strategies, including private equity and real estate feeder funds, and uses an investment process that incorporates due diligence, asset allocation, and the use of third-party sub-advisors when appropriate.

Collette Mitchell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is the CEO of Charley Browns Backburner Chili, a business selling dry chili spice and pre-packaged cooked chili. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers point-in-time financial planning alongside ongoing portfolio management and acts as investment adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Rebekah Johnson is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Tempo Investment Advisors, and Eide Bailly LLP. Johnson is also involved with the Lions Club of Victoria and the Reach For Me Network in non-investment roles. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party managers, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

Andreas Scott is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner in Bloomington, MN. He worked previously at Carlson Capital Management for two years before joining Mariner in 2018. Mariner serves a broad range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines in-house research with third-party managers and covers a diverse set of strategies, supported by integrated tax and accounting services that include in-house CPAs and specialty tax planning.