Neal Gudmunson is a CFP® professional at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with experience spanning multiple roles across various industries since 2018. His background includes positions at Mindful Asset Planning, Schmitty and Sons, and involvement with Iowa State University and the City of Ames. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts.

Joshua Cowart is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Ankeny, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and has longstanding ties to New York Life and its affiliated broker-dealer and insurance companies since 2004. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional sponsors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm’s approach includes multiple advisory programs tailored to client objectives, with a significant portion of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Darren Gauck is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with various Ameritas entities since 2002 and owns Midwest Financial, where he sells fixed insurance products including equity-indexed annuities. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning to individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers managed account programs, fee-based management of variable products, and support from an Investment Committee and third-party partners to align portfolios with client objectives.

Johnathan Bartholomew is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 license and three years of industry experience. He has worked as an attorney with Goodman Keller P.C. since 2025, assisting with pre-trial motions, negotiations, and legal research. Bartholomew is also involved with Midwest Financial Solutions, LLC and Hawkeye Brokerage as a sales agent. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers various managed account programs and fee-based management of variable annuity and universal life subaccounts, utilizing risk questionnaires, model portfolios, and third-party tools to align investments with client objectives.

Noel Lagneaux is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Ames, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals—often those connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans—as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm offers model and customized portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund while applying a fiduciary standard across its advisory services.

Andra Reason is a CFP® professional with nine years of experience in financial advising. She has worked primarily at Mercer Global Advisors Inc., with prior experience at Marrs Wealth Management. Reason is based in Omaha, NE. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor strategies.

Jennifer Friedman is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Mesirow Financial, Usi, and Principal Life Insurance. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a residential leasing activity unrelated to investment business. Creative Planning offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Robert Mccoy is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners in Ankeny, Iowa, holding a Series 63 designation and 27 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Avantax Investment Services, ProEquities, and managing his own firm, McCoy Investment Services. He serves as a trustee for an irrevocable life insurance trust and is a member of a condominium association board. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified allocations using mutual funds and ETFs aligned with client objectives, supported by ancillary services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate-planning through third-party providers.

David Johnson is a CFP® and ChFC® with over 43 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and has worked with New York Life and its related entities since 1982. Johnson also operates under the DBA Innovative Financial Solutions, brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Sophia Sledge is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Ankeny, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2024 and previously worked with New York Life Insurance Co and Nylife Securities LLC since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she is employed by Old Navy LLC in a retail capacity. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through various programs and emphasizes tailored advice aligned with client objectives, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Delbert Halcomb is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services in 2023, he worked at Wells Fargo from 2016 to 2022. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services integrate with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Sarah Koth is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 27 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Athene Securities, Powell Financial Partners, Cetera Advisor Networks, and VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of finance, she serves as a brand ambassador for Thelma's Treats, a manufacturer and distributor of specialty ice cream sandwiches. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing portfolio management through model and customized portfolios.

Joseph Bethel is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Ankeny, Iowa. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Innovative Financial Solutions Group and NYLIFE Securities LLC, among other firms. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Jay Black is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Ames, Iowa, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Eagle Strategies since 2019 and has been associated with New York Life and Nylife Securities since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, Black operates Innovative Financial Solutions Group, a business focused on selling New York Life products and brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client and plan sponsor objectives and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Kyle Doering is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services in 2024, he worked for Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Securities Inc. from 2004 to 2024. 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 certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and include point-in-time financial plans and optional managed accounts.

Ethan Mechling is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Princor Financial Services Corporation and Principal Life Insurance Company. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a bank officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company to support retirement plan account relationships. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing managed account services and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while applying a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated investment framework.

Peter Flora is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., Ameritas Investment Corp., Tax Favored Benefits, Inc., and TFB Advisors, LLC. He is also licensed as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products and administers retirement plans through Tax Favored Benefits, Inc. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers various managed account programs and integrates multiple custodial and execution platforms, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships.

Kelsey Summers is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning services with ongoing discretionary management, offering model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

Kirk Albin is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in various roles at Principal entities since 2012, including Principal Funds Distributor, Principal Asset Management, and Principal Securities Inc. He also serves on the leadership team for an internal wellness program at his firm. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Lane Sires is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company for over two decades. Outside of his advisory role, Lane serves on the boards of the Johnston Little League, the Hyperion Field Club, and the Johnston Community School Foundation, where he helps organize community activities and fundraising events. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and maintains a fiduciary standard within its advisory services.