Allyson Martens is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with six years of industry experience. She has worked at Elite Retirement Planning, LLC for nine years and previously spent a year at Big Green Umbrella Media. Outside of finance, Martens serves as a primary props and set designer at the Des Moines Playhouse in a part-time capacity. Merkle Retirement Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, with a focus on model-driven portfolio management and asset allocation. The firm provides tailored financial planning, direct asset management, and educational workshops, combining internally developed and third-party model portfolios.

Teresa Baumann is a CFP® professional at Syverson Strege with one year of experience in financial advising. Prior to joining Syverson Strege, she worked at Consumer Credit of Des Moines and SmartPath for four years each, and was involved with Money Smart Woman for eight years. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options alongside discretionary and non-discretionary services, utilizing institutional automated platforms and external managers after due diligence.

Linda Cook is a CFP® with 35 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. since 1994 and also held positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Cerity Partners LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for the University of Northern Iowa. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. provides financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of active and passive strategies across various asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments offered to clients.

Damian Beard is a financial advisor with Syverson Strege, holding the CFP® designation and Series 66 license, with five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo, Merrill, Bank of America, and Edelman Financial Engines. Outside of his advisory work, he is an independent children’s book author, serves as Executive Director and board member of the Holding Tiny Hands Foundation, directs operations for an educational company called STEAM STARZ, LLC, and founded BidWell Benefits, LLC, which provides benefit auction services for nonprofit organizations. Syverson Strege offers wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, automated model portfolios with rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting, and a multidisciplinary team with multiple credentialed professionals.

David Farnsworth is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Wealth Advisors of Iowa, LLC, where he has worked for seven years. He is also the managing partner and shareholder of McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith PC, a tax and business consulting firm based in West Des Moines, where he has been since 1998. 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 incorporating various analytical methods and offers services such as discretionary account management, participant-level retirement advice, and a wrap-fee program.

Johnne Syverson is a CFP®, ChFC®, and holds a Series 63 license with 27 years of industry experience. He is a founding member of Syverson Strege, based in West Des Moines, IA. Outside of his advisory role, Syverson owns and serves as Executive Director of the Charitable Giving Resource Center, LLC, a nonprofit consulting firm focused on planned giving procedures. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using institutional automated platforms, third-party managers, and conducts regular investment reviews.

Scott Arnburg is a financial advisor with Legacy Financial Group in Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been associated with LPL Financial and Legacy Financial Group since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, Arnburg serves on the Board of Directors for the Dragoon Trail Chapter of the Iowa Wildlife Association, a conservation nonprofit. Legacy Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and divorce-related financial consulting. The firm employs an active, diversified investment approach and develops written investment policy statements tailored to individual objectives.

Brady Auderer is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merkle, he worked in roles at Hy-Vee, Stark Ag., and Fareway. Merkle Retirement Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, utilizing model-driven portfolio management and tailored financial planning. The firm combines internally developed and third-party model portfolios with discretionary management, educational workshops, and periodic performance reporting.

Tanner Sprouse is a CFP® with six years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Syverson Strege. Prior to joining Syverson Strege, he worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors and Modern Woodmen of America. He holds a Series 66 license. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning 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, retirement account management, and selection and monitoring of third-party managers.

Michelle Miller is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. She has worked at firms including Gilbert & Cook, Inc., Cerity Partners LLC, and New York Life. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer for Des Moines Estate Planners in a volunteer capacity. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management services. The firm employs a combination of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and offers distinct due-diligence processes for private and alternative investments.

Alan Hulstein is a financial advisor with Compass Financial Services in West Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial and Compass Financial Services since 2021. Outside of advising, he has a non-securities related role with Amazon. Compass Financial Services provides investment advice and wealth management to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs an active, diversified investment approach using proprietary model portfolios and offers comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary services.

Isaac Stadsvold is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been in the industry since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Security National Bank, Midwest Heritage, and Amazon. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, focusing on asset allocation and model-driven portfolio management with discretionary authority to implement and rebalance strategies.

Steven Conard is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Compass Financial Services since 2012 and also has a long-standing affiliation with LPL Financial, LLC dating back to 2004. Conard serves as a general agent for life and health insurance products and acts as a referee outside of his advisory work. Compass Financial Services provides investment advice and wealth management to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs an active, diversified approach using proprietary model portfolios and manages accounts on a discretionary basis, conducting regular reviews and adjustments based on client objectives and market conditions.

Matthew Roberts is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience, currently serving at Syverson Strege & Company since 2010. He is based in West Des Moines, IA, and is part of a 14-advisor team. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm operates on a fee-based fiduciary model and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizing an institutional automated platform with features such as automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

Ryan Bierma is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, Iowa, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. He has been with Merkle Retirement Planning since 2021, following a period as a student. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers tailored financial planning, discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, and retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards.

Clint Huntrods is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Simpson College and the University of Iowa. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of Stone Ridge Farms, LLC, a farming operation where he manages land and farming activities. 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 retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards.

Mark Nelson is a financial advisor at Bridgeport Financial Solutions with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research and Principal Financial Group. BridgePort Financial Solutions serves individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and tax preparation services. The firm constructs model portfolios through an Investment Committee and provides discretionary management with access to third-party and affiliated strategists, including specialized market-timing and option strategies as appropriate.

Todd Henningsen is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 65-licensed advisor at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cerity Partners LLC, BerganKDV Wealth Management, LLC, and Heartwood Investments, Inc. He is based in West Des Moines, IA. 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 employs a mix of active and passive strategies across various asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

Justin Van Houten is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in West Des Moines, IA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he was associated with Compass Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, Van Houten serves as an assistant football coach for the Waukee Community School District. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and accommodates both advisory and brokerage needs through a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Blake Holtmeier is a CFA® charterholder at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with experience at Cerity Partners LLC, BHE Renewables, Eaton Corporation, and prior roles at the University of Nebraska. He has been with Gilbert & Cook since 2022. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans by providing financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.