Brett Halley is a financial advisor at Private Wealth Asset Management in West Des Moines, IA, holding CFA® and Series 66 designations with five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Investments, LLC for 19 years before joining his current firm in 2021. Private Wealth Asset Management serves individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, philanthropic organizations, and retirement plans by offering investment advisory and wealth management services. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process emphasizing strategic asset allocation with tactical adjustments and provides access to private placements and alternative investments.

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® professional with 38 years of experience in financial advisory. He has been with Legacy Financial Group since 2002 and previously worked at Brokers International Financial Services and Broker Dealer Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as head coach for Central Iowa Scholastic Shooters, a nonprofit supporting junior shooters, and is a member and owner at Quad B Flying, where he flies airplanes. Legacy Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and retirement plans with financial planning, investment management, and consulting services. The firm uses an active, diversified investment approach focused on long-term purchases, supplemented by analysis and tailored investment policy statements.

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.

Brandon Grimm is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Gilbert & Cook, Inc., where he has worked for a combined 15 years, and previously worked at VSR Financial Services, Inc. Grimm is a passive investor in Artisan Foundry, LLC and Summit SI Holdings LLC. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans with financial planning, investment advisory, and wealth management services. The firm employs a combination of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and provides distinct due diligence for private and alternative investments.

Connor Peck is a financial advisor at Wilon Wealth Management with five years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Wilon Wealth Management, Peck worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling and Securities America Advisors. He has also been involved in entrepreneurial ventures related to golf, including CP Golf Group, LLC. Wilon Wealth Management is a team-based registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, typically requiring about $250,000 in investable assets. The firm offers comprehensive wealth management services focused on planning-driven, diversified asset allocation aligned with clients’ goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, emphasizing tax efficiency and low fees.

Austin Harris is a financial advisor at West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. in Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining West Financial Advisors, he held positions at Sonora Quest Laboratories, Hach Chemical Company, Heska Corporation, and Clinical Pathology Laboratories. West Financial Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals and company-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on long-term investment strategies with broad diversification. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and tax preparation, supported by regular client communication and educational initiatives.

Haley Danforth is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Elite Retirement Planning since 2018. Outside of advising, Danforth serves as Chair of the West Des Moines Chamber's Young Professionals Program and is the Alumni Chair for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy advisory council. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm emphasizes individualized planning and offers discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, with operational implementation delegated to a sub-advisor.

Benjamin Rasmussen is a financial advisor at Van Diest Capital with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Before joining Van Diest Capital in 2025, he worked at Dawson & Bertran Investment Advisors for three years. Outside of his advisory role, Rasmussen serves as a coach at Webster City Schools. Van Diest Capital provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and fiduciary investment advice to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm incorporates Socially Responsible Investing options and uses a process combining modern portfolio theory with fundamental, cyclical, and quantitative analysis.

Emilee Derifield is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advisory roles, currently with West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. in Des Moines, IA. Her prior roles include positions at Gilbert & Cook, Inc., Vision Financial Group, and AO Wealth Advisory. West Financial Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals and company-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on portfolios typically valued at $1 million or more. The firm emphasizes long-term investment strategies and broad diversification, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and tax preparation services.

Colby Dotzler is a financial advisor with Midwest Heritage Financial Advisors in West Des Moines, IA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been in the industry for one year. Prior to joining the firm, he held positions at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Patterson Dental Logistics. Midwest Heritage Financial Advisors is the investment advisory division of Midwest Heritage Bank, FSB, serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The five-advisor team manages about $398.7 million across approximately 334 client relationships using a “total portfolio” approach that emphasizes active, diversified allocation across asset classes and strategies to address volatility and seek consistent returns.

Elizabeth Pennington is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. She has been with Atwood Financial Planning LLC since 2019 and previously worked for U.S. Wheat Associates from 2014 to 2019. Atwood Financial Planning serves individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and charities, providing comprehensive financial planning and consulting services. The firm emphasizes low-cost index funds and ETFs with a buy-and-hold strategy and offers non-discretionary investment support alongside programs such as concierge and accountability services.

Jarrett Sheets is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Gilbert & Cook, Inc., where he has worked since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at Cerity Partners, Brokers International Financial Services, and Lone Wolf Financial, LLC. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment advisory, and private wealth services. The firm provides individualized advice with a focus on household-level asset allocation, using a combination of active and passive investment strategies across multiple asset classes.

Cameron Pietzsch is a CFP® professional with four years of experience at Syverson Strege and prior roles spanning financial services and other industries. He has worked at Athene, Willis Auto, Equifax, and held various positions connected to the University of Iowa. Syverson Strege is a multidisciplinary wealth management firm serving individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using an institutional automated platform, with a fee-based fiduciary approach.

Melissa Gray is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Elite Retirement Planning since 2019, following a tenure at VOYA Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2018. Merkle Retirement Planning serves individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities, offering tailored financial planning, discretionary asset management, and retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach combined with direct security management and provides client education through workshops, webinars, and media appearances.

Joseph Fiorentino is a financial advisor at DMKC Advisory Services, LLC in Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Before joining DMKC Advisory Services and its affiliated broker-dealer D.M. Kelly & Company in 2025, he was involved with Ironbound Farm & Cider House in 2023. DMKC Advisory Services provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning to individuals, corporations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $902.5 million for around 473 clients through a six-advisor team, employing a long-term buy-and-hold investment approach with diversified portfolios and both discretionary and non-discretionary services.