Ryan Bierma is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, Iowa, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. He has been with Merkle Retirement Planning since 2021, following a period as a student. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers tailored financial planning, discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, and retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards.

Clint Huntrods is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Simpson College and the University of Iowa. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of Stone Ridge Farms, LLC, a farming operation where he manages land and farming activities. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm emphasizes individualized planning, discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, and retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards.

Mark Nelson is a financial advisor at Bridgeport Financial Solutions with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research and Principal Financial Group. BridgePort Financial Solutions serves individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and tax preparation services. The firm constructs model portfolios through an Investment Committee and provides discretionary management with access to third-party and affiliated strategists, including specialized market-timing and option strategies as appropriate.

Todd Henningsen is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 65-licensed advisor at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cerity Partners LLC, BerganKDV Wealth Management, LLC, and Heartwood Investments, Inc. He is based in West Des Moines, IA. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a mix of active and passive strategies across various asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

Justin Van Houten is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in West Des Moines, IA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he was associated with Compass Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, Van Houten serves as an assistant football coach for the Waukee Community School District. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and accommodates both advisory and brokerage needs through a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Blake Holtmeier is a CFA® charterholder at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with experience at Cerity Partners LLC, BHE Renewables, Eaton Corporation, and prior roles at the University of Nebraska. He has been with Gilbert & Cook since 2022. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans by providing financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

Alan Ryerson is a financial advisor with Gilbert & Cook, Inc. in West Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 65 designation and totaling seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Gilbert & Cook since 2018 and previously spent time at Cerity Partners LLC and BCC Advisers. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans by providing financial planning, investment advisory, and private wealth services. The firm uses a combination of active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

Christopher Cook is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cerity Partners LLC and was previously with Gilbert & Cook, Inc. for ten years, among other firms. Cook serves on the board and investment committee of Youth Homes of Mid-America, a philanthropic organization supporting children in need. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. provides financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of active and passive investment strategies and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments offered to clients.

Jeremy Lyons is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including J. Lyons Capital, LLC, IFP Securities, LLC, Independent Financial Partners, Advantage Investment Management LLC, LPL Financial, and Ameriprise. Merkle Retirement Planning serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities with investment advisory and financial planning services, focusing on model-driven portfolio management and asset allocation. The firm offers tailored financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, educational workshops, and integrates insurance and tax services through affiliated entities.

Madison Vestweber is a financial advisor at Private Wealth Asset Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and previously worked at The 20 MSP and at the University of Iowa. Private Wealth Asset Management serves individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, nonprofits, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis to guide its investment process and typically manages accounts on a discretionary basis, offering access to alternative investments and private placements.

Brian Newton is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Wealth Advisors of Iowa, LLC, based in West Des Moines, Iowa. He has 10 years of experience at Wealth Advisors of Iowa and over 25 years of experience with McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith, PC. Wealth Advisors of Iowa is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, and corporate entities. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and a sponsor wrap-fee program, employing a range of analytic approaches and strategies while acting as an ERISA/IRC fiduciary.

Lance Gunkel is a CFP® and CFA® with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Syverson Strege & Company since 2003. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizes an institutional automated platform for model portfolios, and incorporates third-party managers following due diligence.

Thomas Mc Bride III is a CFP® with 46 years of industry experience. He is currently with Legacy Financial Group and has previously worked with United Planners Financial Services and RDA Financial Network. He is also associated with Monetary Strategies in Des Moines, IA. Legacy Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and retirement plans with investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and financial education services. The firm employs an active, diversified portfolio management approach tailored to individual objectives through written investment policy statements.

Drake Ellgren is a financial advisor at Wilon Wealth Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at Iowa State University, Strahan Construction, HyVee, and in education. Wilon Wealth Management provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach is planning-driven and goal-focused, emphasizing diversified, passive, low-cost, and tax-efficient strategies tailored to client objectives.

Gregory Bendinger is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently practicing at Five Talents Financial Management Group LLC in West Des Moines, IA. He has been with Five Talents since 2020 and has also worked with LPL Financial LLC since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a Staff Sergeant in the Iowa Air National Guard. Five Talents Financial Management Group advises individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $210 million in discretionary assets. The firm employs a mix of analytical techniques and both short- and long-term strategies, delivering advice through a Wealth Management Program that includes investor profiling and limited discretionary trading authority.

Matthew Springer is a financial advisor with Wealth Advisors of Iowa, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC. Outside of finance, he has been involved with fitness businesses including Cornfed Strength And Conditioning LLC and OPEX Fitness, and he also sells fixed insurance products. Wealth Advisors of Iowa is an SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, employing diverse analytic approaches and investment strategies while working with sub-advisors and using technology to support personalized advice and monitoring.

Wayne Johnson is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Syverson Strege & Company since 2007. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options, utilizes an institutional automated platform for model portfolios, and employs a multidisciplinary advisory team.

Eric Dawson is a financial advisor at Van Diest Capital with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Royal Alliance Associates, Signator Investors, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he coaches boys golf at a local school and owns a thoroughbred racehorse through a family partnership. Van Diest Capital provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and fiduciary investment advice to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a range of investment strategies based on modern portfolio theory and other analyses, offering tailored advisory programs that include Socially Responsible Investing options.

Katharine Bertness is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Mercer from 2018 to 2021 and has experience outside finance at Pagliai's Pizza. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. The firm emphasizes individualized planning through model portfolios, tactical and strategic asset allocation, and direct-indexing, while offering educational workshops and maintaining a media presence.

Ryan Gerardy is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Van Diest Capital. His prior experience includes roles at Thrivent Financial and Principal Life Insurance Co. Outside of advising, he has been involved in real estate investing activities focused on identifying properties and working with contractors. Van Diest Capital provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm integrates multiple investment strategies and offers Socially Responsible Investing options, with a distinctive affiliation to an accounting practice and related business entities.