Elizabeth Horton is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Creative Planning with one year of industry experience. Her professional background includes positions at M3Sixty Administration LLC and academic roles at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and Kansas State University. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm uses a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, complemented by selective private market exposure and other tailored investment strategies.

Matthew Gazaway is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and co-owns BridgeQuest Wealth Strategies, a private entity that facilitates securities, advisory, and insurance business. His career includes prior roles at LPL Financial, llc and Bridgepoint Wealth Strategies. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and manages roughly $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody/clearing services, providing clients with a range of portfolio implementation options.

Troy Smith is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and 15 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with GWFS Equities and Empower Retirement. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning approach and serves a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Dale Bartlett is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Veritas Praesidium, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and NEF/Met/Mass Mutual. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a consultant for Cutwater Advisory on wealth management practices and is co-authoring a book on advisor succession planning. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Sylvester Byrd III is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Creative Planning with nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at American Century Investment Services, Inc. for eight years and has experience in mortgage lending as well as roles outside finance, including positions at Harpo's and Signature Events. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tactical allocations and private market exposure.

Nicholas Zeitlow is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with four years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2021. His prior work includes roles in construction, education, and distribution. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional portfolio techniques and access to private market investments.

Pierson Mc Atee is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Prime Capital Investment Advisors, LLC since 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is the managing member of WILDCAT NIL LLC, which helps Kansas State University student-athletes monetize their name, image, and likeness by facilitating deals and providing education on current rules. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a wide range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and family office offerings, utilizing a mix of investment strategies and maintaining affiliated tax advisory and family office practices.

Daniel Pontarelli is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2017 and previously worked at Stepp & Rothwell, Inc. from 2014 to 2017. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various tactical approaches, and offers a range of affiliated non-investment businesses including legal, trust, and recordkeeping services.

Mark Basola is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with NewEdge Advisors, where he has worked since 2024, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining NewEdge, he spent six years at Enterprise Bank and two years at Commerce Bank. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing a variety of program structures and technology tools to support clients and advisors.

Logan Baker is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked at Country Club Bank and has a background in education, having been employed at Creighton University and Lees Summit West High School. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by advanced portfolio techniques and offers integrated legal, trust, and retirement plan services.

Joe Hildebrand is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Private Client Services, Cambridge Investment Research, and Lawing Financial Inc. He is a partner and consultant with Thematic Investments, advising on strategy and marketing for theme-based ETFs. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan sponsor and trustee services, and third-party manager selection. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and offers family office services along with affiliated tax advisory capabilities.

Donna Tilden is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with over 31 years of industry experience. She is currently affiliated with Principal Financial Services and has worked with Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company for more than a decade. Tilden also serves as a board member of Business West and volunteers with Next Step KC, assisting low-income clients by preparing personal income tax returns. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Reed Hersma is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners in Leawood, KS, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera Planning Partners in 2021, he worked in various roles including at the University of Kansas and Ryan Transportation. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified allocations through mutual funds and ETFs tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance, supported by a range of ancillary services such as tax planning and estate planning.

Evan Federman is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Leawood, KS, holding a Series 66 credential and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors and Agia. He is also a partner in a non-investment-related business partnership. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Tariq Butt is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and possessing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at GWFS Equities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc., J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services, LLC, and Carillon Investments, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he has involvement in the ownership and financial management of rental properties. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns, with services linked closely to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Steven Nelson is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial based in Overland Park, KS. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 24 years of industry experience, with prior roles at Lawing Financial Inc., Cambridge Investment Research, and Private Client Services. Nelson is an associate member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals—including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients—trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a broad range of services such as asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan sponsor and trustee services, and family office offerings, employing a variety of investment strategies across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Kurt Commerford is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2015. He holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Overland Park, KS. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional portfolio management techniques and a range of retirement plan fiduciary services.

Jenna Patterson is a CFP® professional with six years of experience at Creative Planning and eight years prior at Sunrise Advisors. She is based in Overland Park, KS. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Ryan Forster is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at NewEdge Advisors. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera Advisors LLC, Prosperity Advisors, Engage Advisors, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and Merrill. Outside of advisory work, Mr. Forster is a partner in E Social, a social club in Leawood, KS, where he oversees financials and operations. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management and consulting services and utilizes centralized due diligence and technology tools to support client and advisor needs.

Kojo Owusu is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. He has been with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2012. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by both in-house research and third-party managers, with a notable focus on integrating tax and accounting capabilities alongside traditional portfolio management.