Sanford Warmund is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Investment for 15 years before joining GWN Securities in 2010. Warmund is also a 49% owner and Executive Vice President of Reliant Financial Services, a financial services marketing company. GWN Securities provides investment advisory services to individual and corporate clients through a range of managed account programs and financial planning, employing a mix of affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers with portfolio strategies that include market-timing and momentum-based approaches.

Scott Turley is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at American General Life Insurance, AIG Capital Services, Lincoln Financial Distributors, and Ohio National Financial Services. He serves as a board member of Midwest Regional Bank and is appointed as an agent for AGIA, selling non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models and operating at scale with over 1,200 advisors.

Jesse Reed is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Creative Planning since 2021. He has prior experience at Allworth Financial and has been a pilot for Delta Air Lines since 2016. Reed is also a U.S. Navy Reservist and serves as an instructor pilot, dedicating time to both military and public speaking engagements. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Calvin Dillon is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Hightower, he worked in golf course management and spent five years at the University of Central Missouri. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, offering access to affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a variety of investment vehicles.

John Bastarache is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial and holds a Series 65 designation. He has four years of industry experience, including roles at Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC and prior work in various sectors such as Door Dash and KC Sports. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm that serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans through a range of services including asset management, financial planning, and family office offerings. The firm employs diversified investment strategies and maintains an affiliated accounting subsidiary that provides tax planning and bill-pay services.

Bryan Nelson is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC since 2020. Prior to joining Moneta, he worked at KPMG, LLP from 2012 to 2020. Moneta Group Investment Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and a variety of institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm uses a partner-led team model supported by a centralized investment department, emphasizing diversified, multi-asset allocations and ongoing monitoring.

Todd Shepherd is a CFP® with 23 years of experience and has been with Creative Planning in Overland Park, KS, since 2004. He holds the Series 65 designation and is part of a large advisory team at Creative Planning. 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 incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting. Creative Planning also offers a range of retirement plan services and operates several affiliated non-investment businesses, including a law firm, trust company, and recordkeeping business.

Sheryll Gianino is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Embark Financial Partners and LPL Financial, along with operating Twelve Eleven LLC doing business as Three Dog Bakery. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform with access to discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody/clearing services.

Mercedes Givens is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Creative Planning since 2020. Her prior roles include positions at PHD Retirement Consulting, Blue Valley Wealth Advisors, and Bank of Blue Valley. Outside of her advisory work, she is a managing member and operator of a rental property in Overland Park, KS. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting, private market exposure, and sub-advisory arrangements.

Loch Louis is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Jax Mudjacking and was a student for several years. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure while managing roughly $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors.

Craig Gordinier is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been associated with both AE Wealth Management and Jones Advisory Group since 2016. His activities include consulting with prospective clients on retirement planning through Jones Advisory Group. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and a variety of analytical methods to manage approximately $49.8 billion across more than 127,000 clients.

Robert Ricci is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Creative Planning in Overland Park, Kansas, and has seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2017 and was previously employed at KGP Logistics. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $295.6 billion in client assets through a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Regan Houchin is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at CommunityAmerica Financial Solutions and Kansas State University. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the middle school boys soccer head coach at Heritage Christian Academy. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants. The firm’s integrated approach combines proprietary and third-party methodologies, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates.

Michael Adams is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously worked with Commonwealth Financial Networks, Infinitas, Umb, State Street, and First Command Brokerage Services. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, and non-profits by providing investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, alongside various specialized programs and client education initiatives.

Andrew Merchant is a Series 66-credentialed advisor at Prime Capital Financial with 13 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Prime Capital Investment Advisors, LLC, LPL Financial, VisionPoint Advisory Group, LLC, and Sunflower Bank. Outside of his advisory work, Merchant owns The Hub Consulting Group, which provides operational and membership engagement services to a nonprofit private club. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, retirement plan services, family office offerings, and employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across a broad range of client segments.

David Tritt is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked with Diversified Investors Securities Corp. and Diversified Investment Advisors since 2009. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through various managed advice programs, focusing on asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age guidance. The firm utilizes Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and ongoing oversight, operating at scale with a large client base and substantial non-discretionary assets.

Marion Johnson is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2000. He also serves as a Bank/Trust Officer with Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company, supporting retirement plan account relationships. 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 asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Holly Villasi is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning since 2015. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a rental property in Kansas City, MO. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, providing investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a wide range of supplemental investment options and distinctive affiliated non-investment businesses.

Joshua Gembala is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera Planning Partners since 2024. He previously worked at Creative Planning, Inc. for four years and has held roles in both educational and corporate settings. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and services such as Social Security optimization, tax planning, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach centers on diversified allocations tailored to client objectives, leveraging resources from the broader Cetera network.

Nicholas Noguchi is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Fidelity Financial Corporation. Outside of advising, he is involved with knektions LLC, a business engaged in reselling shoes and art through platforms such as Amazon FBA. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with services that include asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and family office offerings. The firm employs a mix of investment strategies across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts and operates an affiliated tax advisory subsidiary.