James Soukup is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently advising at Savvy since 2026. His prior roles include positions at FBL Marketing Services LLC, FBL Financial Group LLC, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, Merrill, and TD Ameritrade. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with FBL Wealth Management, LLC, providing investment advisory and financial planning services. Savvy delivers investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, businesses, ERISA plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm customizes investment plans using a primarily index-based, long-term approach integrated with third-party fintech tools and specialized strategies.

Heather Herring is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at One Oak Private Wealth and Asset Management, AE Wealth Management, LLC, and It's Your Money. She is also involved with Financial Longevity Advisory LLC, focusing on financial and retirement planning. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm operates primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives, offering a largely non-discretionary model that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in portfolio management.

Steven Winget is a financial advisor at UMB Financial Services, Inc. in Kansas City, MO, holding a Series 66 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with UMB Financial Services and its affiliate UMB Bank since 2016. UMB Financial Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers multiple wrap-fee managed account programs and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor, leveraging its affiliation with UMB Bank.

Salvatore Arnone is a financial advisor with Copper Financial in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. He previously worked for American Century Investments for 11 years before joining Copper Financial. Copper Financial primarily serves credit union members, offering financial planning, brokerage services, discretionary portfolio management via third-party manager referrals, model-based wrap programs, and an online Guided Investing option. The firm works with both individual and institutional clients and employs a fiduciary advisory model centered on third-party manager referrals and in-house model portfolios.

John Jespersen is a financial advisor with The Wealth Consulting Group, holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including V Wealth Advisors LLC and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Jespersen serves as Honorary Consul of Denmark for Kansas and Missouri, assisting with consular, commercial, and cultural matters. The Wealth Consulting Group provides fee-based wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and plan sponsors, charities, trusts, and estates. The firm employs a tailored investment process combining fundamental, technical, macroeconomic, and quantitative analysis, and integrates legal-service pathways alongside its advisory offerings.

Melanie Dorf is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has operated Melanie Constance Photography as an owner and photographer since 2015. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Dante Webb is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Kansas City, KS, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and totaling five years of industry experience. He has worked at Empower Retirement since 2015. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are closely integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems and focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Sean Day is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and having two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Empower Financial Services, Sunrun, and Golden Oak Lending. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services focus on integrated solutions tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Vincent Clark is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Creative Planning with 10 years of industry experience, having been with the firm since 2015. He serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including Park University’s Board of Trustees and Foundation Board, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City Ballet, and American Public Square, contributing to fiduciary oversight and organizational governance. 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 focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and a centralized investment infrastructure.

Michael Pollakowski is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with GWN Securities since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the boards of Mackenzie Bay and Clean Green Energy and oversees farmland operations. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients with discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios. The firm supports a large network of advisors and offers a range of managed-account programs, including both traditional and legacy active strategies.

Shannon Suarez is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and 36 years of industry experience. She has been with GWN Securities since 2010 and also operates an insurance business offering life, health, disability, dental, supplemental insurances, and annuities. GWN Securities provides investment advisory and related services to individual and corporate clients through managed account programs, financial planning, and third-party manager selection. The firm employs a range of discretionary portfolio management strategies, including market-timing and momentum-based approaches, and utilizes both affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers.

Thomas Willenborg Jr. is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Kansas City, MO, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he is also active as an Uber driver. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s services integrate with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Christopher Chaney is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Kansas City, MO, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. His prior firms include UBS Financial Services, Woodbury Financial Services, and Edward Jones. He serves as a board member for the nonprofit fundraiser GiveSafeWater and is involved in educating clients about investment fees through the Understand Advisor Fees program. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate plans. The firm employs a combination of firm- and third-party models to develop tailored investment strategies, blending passive and active exposures while conducting ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Shannon Cheah is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Waddell & Reed, Inc. and Copper Financial Network LLC. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory and portfolio management services.

Jarod Tibbetts is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Cambridge Investment Research, and Country Insurance & Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a property casualty insurance brokerage under Goosehead Insurance. Primerica Advisors serves a diverse retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and business consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios, supporting discretionary and non-discretionary accounts with various investment vehicles and lending solutions.

Christopher Hoppenthaler is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been advising at Asset Group LLC since 2015. 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 services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Dustin Barker is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Infinex Investments, Inc., First State Bank & Trust, Cetera, and Prairie Capital Management. In addition to his advisory work, Barker has a role at First State Bank & Trust involving business development, product development, investment research and analysis, trust account administration, and operational oversight. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. serves individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, wrap programs, third-party asset manager referrals, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions.

Kevin Shillingsburg is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Gwfs Equities, Inc. since 2014. 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 integrates proprietary and third-party planning methodologies with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Vincent Defeo is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Gwfs Equities, Inc. since 2016. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning services.

Isaac Mc Cabe is a financial advisor with Money Concepts Capital Corp, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Money Concepts Capital Corp since 2006 and is also involved as a team coach educating loan officers on insurance product sales within a mutual savings association. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of a subsidiary insurance agency, managing operations and overseeing sales and personnel. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to individual investors, pension plans, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm employs model-driven and asset-allocation strategies, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary programs supported by a network of several hundred advisors and multiple portfolio options.