Tariq Butt is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. and multiple divisions of J.P. Morgan since 2005. Outside of advising, he has a role as a co-owner managing financial decisions related to rental properties. 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 clients. The firm uses an integrated model tied to Empower’s platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Steven Nelson is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Private Client Services, Cambridge Investment Research, and Lawing Financial Inc. He is an associate member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan sponsorship, and family office offerings. The firm manages accounts through discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, integrates tax-efficient rebalancing for held-away accounts, and includes an affiliated accounting subsidiary providing tax planning and bill-pay services.

Cory Bittner is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 14 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Hightower Advisors and HighTower Securities, LLC since 2016 and previously worked at UBS Financial Services INC from 2013 to 2016. He holds the Series 66 designation. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions through affiliated and third-party managers, offering a variety of investment strategies including mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and custom indexing.

Kurt Commerford is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2015. He holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Overland Park, KS. 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 approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional portfolio management techniques and a range of retirement plan fiduciary services.

Jenna Patterson is a CFP® professional with six years of experience at Creative Planning and eight years prior at Sunrise Advisors. She is based in Overland Park, KS. 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 emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Ryan Forster is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with NewEdge Advisors and has held roles at several firms, including Cetera Advisors and Comprehensive Retirement Solutions. Outside of advisory work, he is a partner in a social club called E Social, where he oversees financials and operations. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services with an emphasis on centralized due diligence, technology integration, and multiple program structures to meet diverse client needs.

Kojo Owusu is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. He has been with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2012, including a current tenure starting in 2022. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporate entities through investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an Investment Committee and integrates tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Brian Mayfield is a financial advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes eight years at American Century Investment Services Inc. and two years with The Colony Group, LLC. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, corporate, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, integrating both proprietary and third-party investment options.

Isaac Jambor is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he held roles at Mana Bar Lawrence, Ramen Bowls, Dillons, Red Pepper, HiTea, and House of Cha. 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 follows a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental portfolio management options and affiliated non-investment businesses.

Daniel Bishop is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Gwfs Equities, Inc. for 12 years before joining Empower Advisory Group in 2025. 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, focusing on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and client savings rates rather than short-term forecasts.

Lance Boeger is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. He has a background that includes roles outside of financial advising, such as benefits specialist at Amerilife Benefits, where he assists employer groups with benefits communication and insurance enrollment. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and utilizes a range of investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced strategies through its turnkey asset management platform.

Lawrence Ingram is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2012. Based in Leawood, KS, he holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a trustee of a family trust. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies managed internally and by third parties, with periodic portfolio reviews and rebalancing overseen by an Investment Strategy Committee.

Michael O'Neill is a financial advisor at Mariner with 42 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® and PFS™ designations, along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to his current role, O'Neill has been associated with Msec, LLC since 2011 and Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as board treasurer for the Kansas City Irish Center. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office solutions. The firm’s approach combines discretionary, customized portfolios managed by an investment committee with tax integration and administrative capabilities unusual for a firm of its size.

Lars Ragan is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in North Kansas City, Missouri, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He worked at Waddell & Reed for 15 years before joining Independent Financial Group in 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is the president of Ragan Wealth Management, LLC, a marketing DBA, and also works part-time as a bartender. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and pension plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, combining strategic asset allocation and multi-manager portfolios with both passive and active investment exposures.

Daniel Mumma is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2024. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he held positions at Geico and Walmart. 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 approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Brett Kunshek is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Mariner since 2018 and previously worked at 440 Investment Group. Outside of financial advising, he serves as a director on the board of a trucking company. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by in-house research and third-party managers, with notable capabilities in tax integration and employer financial wellness solutions.

Janet Fitzgerald is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has a work history that includes Empower Financial and Security Distributors, Inc., as well as self-employment since 1991. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services emphasize long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, delivered through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Brian Nowak is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Gwfs Equities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc., and J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services LLC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as retail clients. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Eric Krause is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Prime Capital Financial and has previous experience at Private Client Services, Cambridge Investment Research, and Lawing Financial Inc. Krause serves as a board member of the Fayetteville Area Community Foundation, where he assists in general oversight and scholarship activities. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and family office offerings, employing a combination of core/satellite, thematic, and tactical investment strategies.

Michael Wickley is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lockton, Ferrellgas, and World Fuel Services. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory 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 focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors.