Nicholas Phillips is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at American Century Investment Services Inc. and Wise Wealth, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a real estate business in Independence, MO. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach that combines passive and active strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Ross Copeland is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Creative Planning, LLC and previously worked at Onedigital Investment Advisors, Bukaty Companies Financial Services, and State Street Corporation. 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 client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Cade Green is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with a Series 65 credential and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Prime Capital Financial, he held positions at Conagra Brands and Kansas State University. He serves as an ambassador for the Go Further Foundation, a nonprofit supporting young professionals transitioning into the workforce. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and delivers integrated solutions including tax planning through its affiliated accounting subsidiary.

Jacob Cross is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors based in Mission Woods, KS, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at HighTower Securities LLC, MML Investors Services, LLC, and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co. Outside of financial advising, he is involved with Guided Path, LLC, which introduces clients to legal services when needed. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and various organizational entities. The firm employs a multi-manager approach incorporating affiliated and third-party managers, utilizing proprietary research and offering a range of investment solutions including mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and customized indexing.

Brett Broyles is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2011 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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.

Steven Sterner is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer & Co, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Oppenheimer since 2009. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services such as discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation and manager selection across multiple investment vehicles, with client accounts reviewed regularly.

Christopher Knauth is a financial advisor with Mariner, holding a Series 65 designation and based in Overland Park, KS. He has been with Mariner since 2024, including a brief period at Canvas Wealth Advisors in 2025. Knauth has no prior industry experience before 2024. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to pooled vehicles and third-party managers. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by internal research and third-party allocations, with a notable focus on tax and accounting integration and specialized operational services.

John Williams is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS, he held roles at American Pulverizer Company, Cerner Corporation, and the University of Arkansas. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm provides a range of investment advisory and brokerage services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies through the Envestnet platform and NFS clearing arrangements.

Jackson Petefish is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF and Tiaa in 2026, he worked at Empower Advisory Group, LLC and Gwfs Equities, Inc. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with existing employer retirement plan relationships, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time financial planning from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Chad Hamilton is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2021. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Brown & Company, Inc., and Advisor Solutions 360, LLC. Outside of advising, he is the author of *Deep Wealth* and *Redefining Financial Freedom*. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax and family office services. The firm combines in-house research and third-party managers to deliver customized portfolio solutions alongside integrated tax and accounting capabilities.

Paul Bednarczyk is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Ameriprise, Lulu & Luigi, and Thrivent Investment Management. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing advisory services primarily through third-party asset manager platforms and emphasizing client-directed implementation and oversight. The firm manages a majority of client assets on a non-discretionary basis and offers services including financial planning, consulting, and limited-scope fiduciary engagements.

Barney Barnes III is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Wealth Advisors and Msec, LLC in Overland Park, Kansas. He has been with Mariner since 2009 and with Msec since 2011. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm’s investment approach combines discretionary, customized portfolios with in-house research and third-party managers, supported by a depth of tax and accounting integration uncommon for firms of its size.

Andrew Hood is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Mariner Wealth Advisors, the University of Kansas, Brothers Bar & Grill, and Kemper Lakes Golf Club. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, tax services, and family office solutions, employing customized portfolios supported by both in-house research and third-party managers.

Trent Dudenhoeffer is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience currently serving at Creative Planning. His prior roles include positions at Watchdog Capital, AF Asset Management, LPL Financial, and Edward Jones. He is also a co-founder of an educational initiative focused on Bitcoin. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Brayden Van Meeteren is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 credential and recent experience starting in 2026. His work history includes roles in lawn care and landscaping, education, construction, and prior employment at New Tec Inc and Van Bruggen & Vande Vegte PC. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies alongside selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in assets across more than 1,100 advisors.

Edvan Araiza Hermosillo is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. He has previously worked at KeyBank and FirstBank, and has experience in education from roles at Colorado Mountain College and Glenwood Springs High School. Outside of advising, he is the owner of Libertad Investments Ltd., a business involved in real estate and property management. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, offering integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Derek Sanborn is a Series 65–licensed financial advisor at Mariner with six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Msec, LLC, Orion Advisor Services, Mutual of Omaha, and Enterprise Holdings. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm uses discretionary, customized portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and it offers integrated tax, accounting, and family office services along with employer financial-wellness tools.

John Shelton is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 44 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Oppenheimer since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as a tutor for math and science with the Navy Reserve Building Association. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing strategic and tactical asset allocation along with manager selection to meet client objectives.

Brayden Elmer is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Invista, 6 Meridian, and the Wichita State Office of Research. Elmer has also been involved with Lawn Buddy, a venture outside traditional finance. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with services such as asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan sponsorship, and family office offerings. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and provides integrated tax advisory and financial administration services through affiliated subsidiaries.

Vanessa Yaghmour is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with three years of industry experience. She has worked at Creative Planning since 2021, with prior roles at Sonic, Scooter's Coffee, The Impeccable Pig, University of Central Florida, and Pittsburg High School. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various specialized portfolio management techniques, and offers a broad range of affiliated legal, trust, and retirement plan services.