Lara Smith is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at Target and Starbucks before moving into financial services. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, using an integrated model linked with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and client savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Kenneth Powell is a CFA® charterholder with 23 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Mariner Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2007. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers to offer customized discretionary portfolios and integrates tax and accounting services uncommon for large advisory enterprises.

Michael Latinis is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience and has been with Creative Planning since 2014. He also operates Latinis Consulting LLC, a family business consulting venture that assists with bill paying for a physician practice. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in client assets through a financial planning–led investment process that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental portfolio techniques. The firm distinguishes itself with affiliated non-investment businesses, including legal and trust services, and maintains private equity investments that contribute to a vertically integrated approach.

Brian Heithoff is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2015 and is also associated with MSEC, LLC. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services. The firm employs customized, discretionary portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and family office services uncommon for firms of its size.

Ashlea Jones is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Prime Capital Investment Advisors, LLC and Private Client Services since 2019 and previously held roles at Ozark National Life Insurance and N.I.S. Financial Services. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with a range of services including asset management, financial planning, and family office offerings. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches with diverse investment strategies and supports tax-efficient rebalancing and consolidated reporting.

Christopher Remmich is a CFP® professional with Creative Planning in Olathe, KS. He joined the firm in 2022 after eight years with Garden City Public Schools USD 457. 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 client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment approach featuring low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental portfolio techniques.

Kara Walters is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at GWFS Equities, Prudential Investment Management Services, Mutual Securities, and LPL Financial. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients, using an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Luke Sullivan is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Falcon Wealth Advisors for three years and held roles at Best Buy from 2015 to 2020. Outside of his advisory work, Sullivan serves as the editor and producer of the Kansas Golf Foundation’s podcast. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm’s model focuses on manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles such as mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

August Liberty is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with a Series 66 designation and experience working in related roles since 2022. Prior to joining Benjamin F. Edwards, Liberty held positions at RT Specialty and has experience with Hy-Vee, Inc. and Kansas State University. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and financial planning services, combining model-based and customized approaches, and operates an in-house trading desk along with brokerage and advisory functions.

Halle Holmes is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with five years of industry experience. She has worked at Creative Planning since 2021 and previously held roles at KPMG, Terry M Garrett, and the University of Kansas. Creative Planning provides 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 featuring low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and access to private market investments, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Zachary Pflughaupt is a financial advisor at Mariner with eight years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. He has held roles at Waddell & Reed, Inc. and currently is associated with MSEC, LLC as well as Mariner Wealth Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, with a notable integration of tax and accounting services uncommon for a firm of its size.

Scott Baltuska is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a rental property through an LLC he established for personal liability purposes. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management with a fiduciary standard, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised funds.

Brian Dunmire is a financial advisor with Mariner in Overland Park, KS, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Financial Engines and Mariner Wealth Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and integrated tax and family office services. The firm uses a combination of in-house research and third-party managers to implement customized, discretionary portfolios across various asset classes and strategies.

Clayton Allison is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Stifel, George K. Baum & Company, and Koch Supply & Trading. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm that serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans through asset management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and also offers affiliated tax advisory services and consolidated reporting for private investments.

Rustyn Gallagher is a wealth advisor at Mariner with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at both Mariner Wealth Advisors and Msec, LLC since 2011. Mariner serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by an internal investment committee and combines in-house research with third-party managers, while also providing integrated tax and accounting services uncommon for a firm of its size.

Benjamin Sight is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently with Prime Capital Financial. His prior roles include positions at The ETF Store, Inc., Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, Renaissance Financial, RTS Financial, and AREA Real Estate Advisors. He is also involved in the sale and service of fixed-insurance products through an affiliated entity. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a broad range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, family office offerings, and utilizes a variety of investment strategies and platforms.

Kristi Dolan is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2021, she worked at Lockton Investment Advisors, Lockton Financial Advisors, and Lockton Companies from 2017 to 2021. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by selective use of private market investments and sub-advisor portfolios.

Samantha Waters is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2006 to 2016 before joining Hightower Advisors in 2016. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a range of affiliated and third-party managers.

Jennifer Guerrero is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Guerrero is based in Overland Park, KS. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with asset management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and offers integrated tax advisory and family office solutions.

Whitney Reagan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Mariner with 13 years of industry experience. She has been with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2015 and previously worked at Msec, LLC. Reagan serves on the board and finance committee of The Children's Place Charitable Foundation and is chairman of the board for the Bicknell Legacy Foundation, a family foundation. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services. The firm employs customized discretionary portfolios supported by an internal investment committee and combines in-house research with third-party managers across a range of asset classes and strategies.