Mark Rude is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Rapid City, SD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with New York Life and its affiliated entities since 1997. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Mark Cernicky is a CFP® and CFA® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at Eagle Strategies (NY Life). He has held roles at Principal Global Investors and other affiliated firms. Cernicky is a board member of the West River Estate and Financial Planning Council, which organizes financial planning seminars attended by professionals from various fields. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and specializes in non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Cara Miller is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors. She has been with Mariner since 2020, with prior experience at Honkamp Krueger Financial Services and ProEquities, Inc. located in Rapid City, SD. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm uses a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by an internal investment committee and combines in-house research with third-party managers across a range of asset classes and strategies.

Emily Lasnetske is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial and Pioneer Bank & Trust. Lasnetske joined Empower in 2024. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focus on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Jeffrey Merchant is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been associated with various First Command entities since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of the Black Hills Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and holds finance-related board roles with the American Legion Post 164 and the American Legion Department of South Dakota. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, delivering investment management through a centralized team that selects and monitors model portfolios and third-party managers.

Justin Kuhns is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Edward Jones. LPL Enterprise serves a broad mix of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, advisory services, and access to various investment products through an integrated platform that combines adviser programs with insurance and lending services.

Stephen Benson is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2006. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including both discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Kassidy Wiedmeier is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, she worked at Grable Investment Services and the Kadoka Area School District. Outside of her advisory role, she is a partner at Ferguson Ranch, where she manages cattle operations. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional entities. The firm employs tailored, non-discretionary strategies using analytical tools and supports both advisory programs and public finance services.

Jarrett Apa is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rapid City, SD, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at OSAIC and Sagepoint Financial, INC., and maintains a role with BMS Financial Advisors, LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside research from internal and third-party sources.

James Clement is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets Corporation since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of directors for the University of South Dakota Foundation and the Chamber Music Festival. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, tailored to clients’ risk profiles and supported by both in-house and third-party investment managers.

David Hillard is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Rapid City, SD, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets Corporation since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an advisor to the Black Hills State University Student Investment Club and participates on the board of a local homeowners association. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment strategies through a variety of advisory programs, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Margaret Messerli Trottier is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rapid City, SD, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2018 and concurrently serves at Black Hills Credit Union and Invest Financial Corp. since 2009. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of advisors. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Edward Cook is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Rapid City, SD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011 and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by providing a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques as part of its advisory approach.

Jean Scherer is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with RBC Capital Markets LLC since 2011. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a broad client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various wrap fee advisory programs and customizes investment strategies based on clients’ risk profiles, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party managers.

Todd Klein is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial. He has previously worked at OSAIC and SagePoint Financial and operates A2Z Business and Tax Service, a tax preparation and accounting business. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individual clients, retirement plans, financial institutions, 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 both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Cheryl Kunstle is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cetera. She has held roles at Cetera Wealth Services, Tartan Financial Services, LLC, and has been involved in financial services consulting since 2011. Outside of advising, she owns and operates businesses in accounting and tax preparation as well as business consulting focused on office efficiencies and technology. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser with a nationwide network of over 10,000 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform featuring affiliated and third-party managers and a variety of program structures.

Austin Engel is an advisor with LPL Financial in Rapid City, South Dakota, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and Pioneer Bank & Trust. Outside of his advisory work, he owns two local businesses: Neighbors Paint & Stain LLC, a residential painting company, and Rapid Celebration Signs, which provides temporary yard signs. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers diversified advisory programs, financial planning, and technology-driven portfolio management, with a wide range of investment and consulting services.

Daniel Rasby is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Rapid City, South Dakota, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007, including roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and methodologies to support its advisory services.

Gregory Ketel is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013 and holds the Series 66 designation. Outside of his advisory role, Ketel is involved in distributorships and partnerships related to printing and international fuel additive distribution. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory programs and solutions. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates through a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Tyler Petersen is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Rapid City, SD, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2020 and has prior work experience in various sectors including hospitality and fitness. Outside of advising, he is a co-owner of Two Friends LLC, a holding company for future real estate development. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to deliver personalized recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team.