Gaines Smith is a financial advisor with Kovack Advisors, Inc. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 41 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kovack Advisors in 2015, he worked with Kovack Securities Inc. since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Smith is president of Smith & Sons Firearms Co., a firearms and sporting goods retail business. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered enterprise investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, pension plans, and banking institutions. The firm offers asset management, third-party manager recommendations, and financial planning, emphasizing diversified asset-class exposure primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Nicholas Luchtefeld is a financial advisor with UMB Financial Services, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at UMB Financial Services since 2010 and UMB Bank since 2009. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as a professor at the Graduate School of Business. UMB Financial Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers multiple wrap-fee managed account solutions and combines investment management with municipal advisory services, leveraging its affiliation with UMB Bank.

Jason Schuhmacher is a financial advisor at Larson Financial Group, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Larson Financial Group and Larson Financial Securities since 2021. Outside of financial advising, he works part-time as a real estate agent assisting clients in buying and selling homes. Larson Financial Group, LLC provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts, corporations, nonprofits, and pension plans, with a focus on serving doctors and related businesses. The firm utilizes a combination of model portfolios and custom discretionary programs employing strategic and tactical approaches, and offers affiliated services including brokerage, commercial real estate, and private equity.

Brent Wilhelm is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Brent serves as treasurer for the St. Teresa Athletic Association in Belleville, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment management services utilizing both in-house and third-party strategies, with oversight by an Investment Strategy Committee.

Kevin Hannibal is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. His prior experience includes seven years at Stifel Nicolaus & Co and a brief tenure at Groundwork Mortgage. Creative Planning provides wealth management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach with a focus on low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Ashlee Ogrzewalla is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience, currently with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in St. Louis, MO. Her prior experience includes roles at Pentegra Distributors, Inc., Pentegra Services, Inc., and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Youth & Family Center in St. Louis. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment management services, utilizing strategies managed internally and by third parties, with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee.

Cary Dwars is a CFP® professional with one year of experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2025, he worked at Moneta from 2020 to 2024 and at Maritz Global Events from 2015 to 2020. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including 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 specialized techniques such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Jeremiah Accola is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Benjamin F. Edwards, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and KForce and served four years in the United States Marine Corps. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee, combining custody and execution capabilities with internal trading desk operations.

Steven Bione is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience, currently serving at First Command Advisory Services since 2015. He has been affiliated with First Command Financial Services, Inc. and First Command Financial Planning, Inc. since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of Gateway Property Partners, LLC, which manages commercial rental properties. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs, delivering investment management through a centralized team and wealth portfolio managers who select from approved third-party managers.

Rachael Derrico is a CFP® professional with experience at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2026. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, she worked at Commerce Bank for six years and held positions at Pioneer Medical Group, Starbucks, Vail Resorts, and St. Louis Community College/Goldfarb School of Nursing. Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC provides wealth advisory, consulting, financial planning, retirement-plan platform services, and outsourced chief investment officer services to a diverse range of clients, including individuals, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm integrates asset-allocation modeling with third-party independent managers, employing both active and passive strategies across public and private asset classes.

Elvedin Dedic is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as a rideshare driver for both Uber and Lyft. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to retail brokerage clients. The firm’s investment approach focuses on long-term portfolio returns and integrates tightly with Empower’s administrative platforms.

Rachelle Seals is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Edward Jones prior to joining her current firm. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management consulting, utilizing a range of strategies managed internally and by third-party managers.

Alan Orr Jr. is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with First Command since 1999 in various capacities. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in several real estate ventures, including co-ownership of an LLC that built an office building leased to First Command. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed centrally by an Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers, utilizing model portfolios with mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers.

Wayne Rector is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Saint Louis, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include work with Captifi Wealth Solutions LLC and Blueprint for Wealth LLC. Outside of advisory work, he owns an insurance brokering business focused on non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and provides a range of advisory programs within the integrated New York Life structure.

Justin Tate is a financial advisor at CWM, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66, Series 65, and Series 63 credentials. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, James Borchers, and Saltmarsh Financial Advisors, among others. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of over 600 advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios overseen by an in-house Investment Committee.

Audrey Moran is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Us Tech Solutions, Sanford Health, and Ulta Beauty. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses, as well as select external clients. The firm’s research and model guidance support various divisions within Wells Fargo and at least one non-affiliated investment adviser.

Kristie Daniel is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS in Saint Louis, MO, with 12 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis through both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Ronald Dickey is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services who holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 39 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Cetera Advisors, First Allied Advisory Services, and other affiliated firms. He is a co-trustee of the Carl Dickey Living Trust and the Janet Dickey Living Trust and serves as a financial consultant for Burgdorf and Associates Wealth Managers, Inc. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education. The firm supports complex investment solutions and serves a diverse client base that includes large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Daniel O’Very is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for a homeowners association and is active in youth ice hockey officiating and education with USA Hockey and the Missouri Ice Hockey Officials Association. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies, combining custody and execution services with both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Michele Mehrtens is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc. for 13 years. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a variety of investment strategies through fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, supported by several hundred advisors managing tens of billions in assets.