Matthew Conway is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and Ally Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is employed part-time by Uber. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment vehicles and strategies.

Theodore Rammelkamp is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bankers Life, Prudential Insurance, and Dr Pepper. He currently receives trailing commissions from previously sold business with no ongoing solicitation or servicing responsibilities. 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. The firm delivers services through an integrated model aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and clients’ savings rates.

Patrick Blume is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2008. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway Managed Account platform.

Michael Dib is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he spent eight years with Grand Traverse Pathology, LLC. Outside of his financial work, he serves as a junior officer at the Empire Masonic Lodge No. 597 F. & A. M., a fraternal organization involved in local community activities. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored portfolios aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Natalie Mender is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 14 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes eight years at Wells Fargo Clearing and two years at LPL Financial LLC. In addition to her advisory work, she has been involved with Shady Lane Winery since 2008. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and utilizes various technology platforms and third-party managers to implement a range of investment strategies.

Christopher Radu is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Morgan Stanley from 2007 to 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he is a one-quarter owner of a local excavation and concrete business in Traverse City, Michigan. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, utilizing a range of strategies and technology platforms while offering access to proprietary and third-party managed account solutions.

Amy Birtcher is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc. and Diversified Investors Securities Corp. since 2006. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services, utilizing Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary tools for portfolio construction and oversight. The firm operates at scale with a large client base and a focus on non-discretionary asset management.

Kevin Russell is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and has worked at Financial & Investment Management Group Ltd since 2002. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, and non-profits, offering investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified portfolios with multi-factor strategies implemented through a combination of low-cost funds, separate account managers, and specialized programs.

Caitlin Falenski is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Oppenheimer since 2011. She is based in Traverse City, MI. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the finance committee and board of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization focused on land protection. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, and other clients. The firm offers a wide range of investment and consulting services across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Benjamin Blanchard is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower in 2026, he worked at several firms including Paul Davis Restoration of Northwest Michigan and Investment Advisor Group. 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 certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated service model emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Madelyn Ambrose is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cetera and West Shore Bank. Prior to her financial advisory career, she spent four years involved with Red Rooster Coffee & Community. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and a broad client base. The firm provides comprehensive adviser support, including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody and clearing services.

Dennis Prout is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Capital Asset Advisory Services, LLC for 15 years and operated Prout Financial Design for 21 years. Outside of his advisory role, Prout teaches a class at Northwestern Michigan College and serves as president of the board for the Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, using customized portfolios that combine internal management and third-party asset managers with a primarily long-term investment approach.

Christopher Minkin is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Voya in 2022, he spent ten years at Nationwide Investment Services Corp. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Traverse City Curling Club, a local nonprofit promoting the sport of curling. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that offers financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm combines in-house and external strategists with technology-driven tools to deliver primarily non-discretionary investment solutions through a large network of advisors.

Bruce Anderson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at firms such as Sigma Financial Corporation and Cetera, spanning over a decade before joining Transamerica. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a high school golf coach at Grand Traverse Academy. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves employer-sponsored retirement plan participants and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm’s approach relies on proprietary software and model portfolios provided by Morningstar Investment Management, with a focus on asset allocation and retirement guidance for a broad client base.

Matthew Breimayer is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. based in Traverse City, MI. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 22 years of industry experience. He has been with J.W. Cole Advisors and J.W. Cole Financial since 2011 and has additional experience with various insurance carriers dating back to 2005. Outside of his advisory work, Breimayer is the president and owner of Right Path College & Career Planning, a company that assists families with scholarships, college applications, FAFSA, and college selection. 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 digital advice for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies and platforms, including discretionary and non-discretionary account management, and integrates broker-dealer relationships within its service model.

David Cadarette Jr. is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining AE Wealth Management in 2024, he worked at Horter Investment Management for seven years. He is also the owner of CLC Insurance Benefits, where he is involved in insurance sales and services. Additionally, he facilitates estate planning document services, coordinating client access to related platforms. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach combining model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services.

Rory Baker is a financial advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. with four years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Prior to his current role, he worked at Bankers Life Securities, Inc. and has a background including a 14-year tenure at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Outside of advising, he serves on the board of the Interlochen Public Library and consults on event production for the Interlochen Area Chamber of Commerce. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management based on clients’ goals, risk tolerances, and time horizons.

Justin Neilson is a financial advisor at Hantz Financial Services, Inc. with six years at the firm and a total of one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Limitless Investment and Capital, Northwood University, and North and Kidd. Hantz Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable and corporate clients, and business owners. The firm emphasizes ETF-based model portfolios across multiple risk levels, supplemented by third-party managers and Direct Indexing, and offers a combination of advisory, brokerage, mortgage, and insurance services.

Hans Mathiak is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Traverse City, Michigan. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience. Mathiak has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he performs nominal labor for private road maintenance in Lake Leelanau, Michigan. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options, including advisor-directed models and third-party portfolio management, and combines its municipal-advisor registration with a corporate affiliation to a large bank.

Renee Egelski is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial advising. She has worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2018 and has also been affiliated with Financial & Investment Management Group Ltd since 2006. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of implementation options including ETFs, mutual funds, separate accounts, and direct indexing.