David Hoekstra is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Grand Rapids, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, AXA Advisors, LLC, since 1999. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients—including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals—as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutions. The firm provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Joseph Whitmer is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. since 2016, following a brief tenure at TMFS Advisors, LLC. He is based in Grand Rapids, MI. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients, offering a range of workplace solutions, planner-led wealth management, and sub-advisory arrangements. The firm employs a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, managing approximately $326 billion for around 477,000 clients.

Colin Byers is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2007 and Charles Schwab Bank since 2012. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, his career has been focused within the Schwab organization. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers multi-asset model portfolios, alternative investment options, and integrated custody and brokerage services.

Jenna Riley is a financial advisor at Cetera with 14 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has prior experience at VOYA Financial Advisors and operates Riley Planning & Investments, a financial and insurance services firm. Riley serves as a board member of the Van Andel Institute, participating in community outreach and charity events. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide platform serving individual, corporate, retirement, charitable, and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager approach with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Jennifer Scharphorn is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in delivering personalized wealth management strategies by gaining a comprehensive understanding of her clients' financial situations and priorities. Jennifer integrates investment insights from Merrill Lynch with banking and lending services from Bank of America to provide a flexible approach tailored to evolving market conditions and client needs. Her client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, as well as personal retirement planning and small business strategies. Jennifer holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Grand Valley State University. Jennifer emphasizes transparency and direct communication in her client relationships, maintaining an adaptive financial plan that evolves with changes in her clients' lives. Outside of her professional role, she engages in community volunteering and enjoys adventure sports, baseball, basketball, cooking, football, photography, skiing, spending time with family, and traveling.

Natalie Filker is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Rockford, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones, she worked in healthcare roles including public health nursing and patient care assistance. Her healthcare background includes managing cases of Medicaid-eligible clients and providing care for mothers and newborns. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Sonya Niewiek is a financial advisor at Merrill with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley for 10 years. She is based in Grand Rapids, MI. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services primarily to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

William Parker is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. since 2009. Outside of advisory work, he also operates as an independent insurance agent in Rockford, Michigan. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of services such as financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through a network of independent professionals, utilizing various portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements.

Lucas Underwood is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Michigan Mortgage and managing a business called Mybarefootwedding from 2017 to 2020. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers tailored financial planning and consulting services, combining various portfolio management styles and firm research to support client decisions.

Nicholas Venlet is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial. He has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research, returning to LPL Financial in 2026 after an earlier tenure from 2009 to 2022. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a middle school basketball coach in East Grand Rapids, MI. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with research and model portfolios from in-house and third-party sources.

June Matthysse is a financial advisor with Stifel in Grand Rapids, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. She has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2016. Outside of advisory duties, Matthysse is a notary public. Stifel serves a broad client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Shane Thorsen is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockford, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 23 years of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at Securities America Advisors, Securities America, Inc., Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Hornor Townsend and Kent, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he has involvement in insurance-related activities. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and technology-driven strategies.

James Haberlein is a CFP® professional with 29 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Ameriprise since 1997, currently serving at the Grand Rapids, MI office. His credentials include the Series 63 license. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement who meet certain asset criteria. The firm provides comprehensive written recommendations addressing income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, utilizing a combination of research, modeling, and algorithmic tools to support its advisory process.

Schalk Van Niekerk is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Grand Rapids, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, AXA Advisors, since 2016. Van Niekerk serves as a board member of the Big Brower Lake Improvement Association. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes a variety of advisory programs and third-party asset managers tailored to client risk profiles and needs.

Ella Gardner is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she has been working since 2026. In her role, she collaborates closely with clients and the advisory team to facilitate ongoing financial planning conversations throughout the year. Her work emphasizes thoughtful preparation, meaningful conversations, and consistent follow-through to help clients stay engaged and informed as they consider their financial goals, priorities, and next steps.

Shelley Strobel Erhardt is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth Inc. based in Grand Rapids, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. She previously spent 14 years at Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is president and sole member of Strobel Resources, LLC, a consultative services business. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisors, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers. The firm uses a variety of asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Troy Augustat is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones, he worked for five years with the Grand Rapids Police Department and held several other positions in various industries. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the United States.

Jonathan Lacroix is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Cambridge since 2009. Outside of advising, he coaches Little League softball and volunteers at Gilda’s Club during the Meijer LPGA golf event in Grand Rapids, MI. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm offers a variety of investment strategies and platforms, including proprietary models and third-party options, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management tailored to client objectives.

Trevor Shields is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial in Grand Rapids, MI. His prior roles include positions at Waddell & Reed Inc and various insurance agencies, as well as operating his own consulting business. He serves on the board of the nonprofit Friendship Miles and works as an independent contractor ambassador for lululemon. LPL Financial is a national investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a wide network of advisers. The firm offers diverse advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting with access to proprietary and third-party research supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Bruce Pienton is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with POD Financial, LLC, a business entity for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and proprietary research.