Erik Blase is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Legacy Financial Group and previously worked at Beacon Capital Management, Sammons Financial Group, and other firms. Outside of advisory roles, he has experience working with Run Pure Sports. Legacy Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and retirement plans with investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and divorce-related financial consulting. The firm employs an active, diversified investment approach tailored through written policy statements and offers financial education services including employer and classroom presentations.

Lance Knaack is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with Syverson Strege since 2020 and previously worked at Voya Financial Partners and Directed Services LLC. Syverson Strege is a multidisciplinary wealth management firm serving individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a range of services including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, automated ETF/mutual fund programs, and comprehensive financial planning, using an institutional automated platform and a fee-based fiduciary model.

David Arens is a financial advisor at Private Wealth Asset Management with 13 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Bank NA, accumulating a total of 17 years in related roles. Arens holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. He serves on several early childhood education boards in Iowa, including the State Board for Early Childhood and the Polk County Early Childhood board, and participates in the Governor’s Early Childhood Taskforce. Private Wealth Asset Management provides investment advisory and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, nonprofit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a combination of quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis with a focus on strategic asset allocation and tactical adjustments.

Christian Voigtlander is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. He has been with Gibraltar Capital Management, Inc. since 2018, following earlier roles at Helmerich & Payne, Inc. and Rustic Cuff. Gibraltar Capital Management is a multi-team wealth management firm serving individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and pooled-investment clients. The firm employs an active, value-oriented, long-term investment approach with a focus on in-house fundamental research, tax efficiency, and limited portfolio turnover, while also providing integrated accounting, consulting, and private fund advisory services.

Brian West is a financial advisor at West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. in Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 65 designation with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with West Financial Advisors since 2008. West Financial Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals and company-sponsored retirement plans, typically managing portfolios of $1 million or more. The firm focuses on long-term investment strategies with broad diversification and employs a combination of charting, fundamental and technical analysis, and third-party research to inform its recommendations.

Matthew Onstot is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He is a wealth advisor at Wilon Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2007, and has held roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Securities America Advisors. Outside of financial advising, he is involved in several business ventures including farming through Whistling Ridge Farms, LLC, and manufacturing and distribution with KO Distributing d/b/a Burtek Dry Ice. Wilon Wealth Management provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a planning-driven, goal-focused approach, emphasizing diversified, passive, low-cost, and tax-efficient investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Megan Rosenstiel is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Gilbert & Cook, Inc. since 2016. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a mix of active and passive strategies and conducts periodic account reviews, with a focus on individualized household-level asset allocation.

Michael Leabo is a financial advisor at Private Wealth Asset Management with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Private Wealth Asset Management serves individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, philanthropic organizations, and retirement plans, offering investment advisory and wealth management services. The firm utilizes a combination of quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis to manage portfolios, often employing discretionary management and access to alternative investments.

Scott Barsness is a financial advisor with Five Talents Financial Management Group LLC in West Des Moines, IA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Barsness previously worked at Wells Fargo from 2011 to 2019 before joining Five Talents Financial Management Group and LPL Financial LLC in 2020. Five Talents Financial Management Group advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as profit-sharing and pension plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm manages approximately $210 million in discretionary assets for over 1,000 clients, offering wealth management, financial planning, and qualified retirement plan services through a combination of analytical techniques and both short- and long-term investment strategies.

Edward Smith is a financial advisor with RIA Advisory Group, LLC in Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Visionpoint Advisory Group, LPL Financial, and Edward Jones. He is also licensed as a non-variable insurance agent. RIA Advisory Group, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs a discretionary investment approach combining fundamental and technical analysis across various asset classes and maintains formal affiliations with legal and accounting professionals.

Jerit Tripp is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and has been with Gilbert & Cook, Inc. since 2016. He holds a Series 66 designation and serves as a board member for First Tee Central Iowa. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. provides financial planning, investment advisory, retirement plan consulting, and private wealth services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a blend of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

Steven Tallman is an advisor with Compass Financial Services in West Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his financial advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining Compass and LPL Financial, he worked at Chevron, Inc. for seven years and has experience in auditing and property management. Compass Financial Services provides investment advice and wealth-management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses an active, diversified approach with proprietary model portfolios and manages accounts on a discretionary basis, conducting regular reviews and rebalancing as needed.

Brett Halley is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Series 66 designation, with four years of industry experience. He has been with Private Wealth Asset Management since 2021 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Investments for 19 years. Private Wealth Asset Management serves individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, nonprofits, business entities, and retirement plans, managing approximately $1.85 billion in discretionary assets. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation supported by quantitative and fundamental analysis and offers a range of investment and wealth management services, including specialized offerings such as oil and gas holdings management and business transition planning.

Skyler Otto is a financial advisor at MDRN Capital with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked for Nationwide Securities, LLC for 15 years. Otto is also appointed with a non-affiliated insurance company to sell fixed insurance, critical illness, disability, and accident insurance products. MDRN Capital serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a multi-advisor team model and constructs portfolios using unaffiliated independent managers and low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, combining fundamental and technical analysis with ongoing oversight.

Jennifer Scheck is a CFP® professional at Syverson Strege with seven years of experience at the firm and a total of ten years in the financial industry. Prior to joining Syverson Strege in 2019, she worked at Principal Financial and Stamatelos & Tolekson. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, an automated ETF/mutual fund program, and utilizes an institutional automated platform with model portfolios, rebalancing, and optional tax-loss harvesting.

Benjamin Heckart is a financial advisor with RIA Advisory Group, LLC in Des Moines, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Iea Wealth Management LLC and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a small farming business and holds a 20% ownership stake in Brokerstreet Insurance Services. RIA Advisory Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and estates with discretionary portfolio management, combining charting, fundamental, and technical analysis in both long- and short-term trading strategies. The firm is noted for its affiliations with accounting and legal professionals, as well as maintaining an affiliated research entity.

Sara Klaessy is a financial advisor at 1834 Investment Advisors Co. in Des Moines, IA, with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked for Princor Financial Services Corporation and Principal Mutual Life Insurance. 1834 Investment Advisors offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes customized portfolio strategies and structured client relationships supported by written Investment Policy Statements.

Kellie Masters is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Wealth Advisors of Iowa, LLC since 2007. In addition to her advisory role, she is a licensed agent selling fixed insurance products including long-term care, disability income, and life insurance. Wealth Advisors of Iowa provides portfolio management, financial planning, and qualified retirement plan services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, banks, and business entities. The firm employs a fiduciary investment process using various analytical methods and offers services such as discretionary account management, participant-level retirement plan advice, and a wrap-fee program.

Brian Hood is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently with Legacy Financial Group in Des Moines, IA. He has worked at Legacy Financial Group since 2002 and previously held roles at Broker Dealer Financial Services and Brokers International Financial Services. Outside of financial advising, Hood is involved as a head coach for Central Iowa Scholastic Shooters and is a member-owner of Quad B Flying, where he pilots airplanes. Legacy Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and retirement plans with investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and divorce-related financial consulting. The firm employs an active, diversified investment approach tailored through written policy statements and also provides financial education services.

Loren Merkle is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Merkle Retirement Planning. He has worked with Elite Retirement Planning, LLC and Global Financial Private Capital. Merkle is the owner of MRP Holdings, Inc., which includes several related businesses such as a tax preparation firm and an insurance agency. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm emphasizes individualized planning, discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, and offers client education through workshops, newsletters, and media appearances.