Ethan Ballek is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mariner with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at SageGuard Financial Group and Nashville SC, as well as experience as a self-employed model and digital content creator. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, and specialized services such as coordinated tax and Core Family Office solutions. The firm uses customized discretionary portfolios supported by internal research and third-party managers, and it integrates tax and accounting services alongside its investment offerings.

Joseph Mills is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and specializing in the industry for 10 years. He has been with Gwfs Equities, Inc. since 2015. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services 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 approach integrates proprietary and third-party methodologies focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, with services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Thanh Le is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 4 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Premier Financial Alliance, Inc. He also manages a small business selling hand-made goods on Etsy. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, including customized portfolios managed under client-approved investment policies.

Ian Barclay is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Jones Barclay Boston and Company for 22 years before joining The Colony Group, LLC, where he worked for 9 years. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, utilizing fundamental and quantitative analysis alongside tools such as trend-following and options overlay strategies.

Linett Batiste is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She has worked at Schwab Wealth Advisory and Charles Schwab since 2021, with previous roles at Fadal Construction, Edward Jones, Target Corporation, and Nordstrom Inc. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s guidance is based on Schwab’s asset-allocation models and research tools, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Michael Lierley is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Greenwood Village, CO. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Empower Retirement, Fidelity Investments, and TIAA. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning approach.

Andrea Kenner is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kestra, she worked at LPL Enterprise LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC. She serves as a board member for nonprofit organizations including Women in Design and the GVSU Alumni Chapter. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a range of institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages substantial assets for large institutional investors and utilizes multiple management platforms along with third-party solutions within its supervisory framework.

Heather Vacek is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Charles Schwab and its affiliated firms since 2015. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm’s guidance is based on Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and research tools, offering personalized recommendations reviewed at least annually.

Daniel Cass is a financial advisor with Osaic Institutions, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He previously worked at CUSO Financial Services, LP for 11 years before joining Osaic Institutions in 2023. Osaic Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions, operating with a hybrid adviser and broker-dealer structure.

Jordan Lozada is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. and 24/7 Intouch, Broadridge. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated approach links financial planning and managed account solutions with Empower’s administrative platforms.

Jesse Piburn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with Empower Financial Services and Personal Capital Advisors in various capacities since 2016. 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 retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates closely with Empower’s administrative platforms.

Cory Marsh is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. from 2012 to 2017 before joining his current firm. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative services. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its financial planning approach.

Amy Schiel is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Stryker Corporation and Luscombe Rocky Mountain. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management consulting, using a range of model strategies and portfolios that are regularly monitored and reviewed.

Mark Lohmann is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Citigroup, Merrill, and JPMorgan in various capacities. Outside of his advisory role, Lohmann serves as a board member for SeriesFest, a nonprofit organization supporting episodic storytellers. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across multiple wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory, execution, and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with both discretionary and non-discretionary programs and maintains unique market roles including in-house research and swap dealer activities.

Jordan Long is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC and Forge Financial Services, LLC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm offers integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Emma Smith is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC. She previously worked at William Blair for six years and has academic experience from Bentley University. Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC provides wealth advisory, consulting, standalone financial planning, retirement-plan platform services, and outsourced chief investment officer services to individual and institutional clients. The firm combines asset-allocation modeling with third-party independent managers and employs both active and passive strategies across various asset classes.

Kevin Brunkow is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Investments and World Financial Group, Inc., among other firms. Brunkow is also involved in the marketing of insurance and non-insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services. The firm uses proprietary and third-party model portfolios, with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Louis Klos is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has advised clients at Advised Assets Group, LLC since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Klos is vice president and minority stockholder of Dinosaur Safaris, Inc., a company engaged in excavating and selling Jurassic period dinosaur bones. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated planning and managed account solutions aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Amber Chang is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Denver, CO, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 18 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Goldman Sachs, Folio Investments, Inc., and Charles Schwab. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, using a range of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, while also providing educational content and specialized client programs.

John Warren is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience. He is currently with William Blair, joining the firm in 2023, and previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Global Markets. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary model portfolios and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.