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.

Rebecca Havens is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Change Path, Client One Securities, and Securities America. 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 that integrates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure while offering a range of institutional and retirement services.

Kristopher Osborn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2014 and multiple positions at J.P. Morgan entities dating back to 2003. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, using an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning services and serves a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Garrett Howard is a financial advisor at Mariner with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Capitol Federal Savings Bank. Mariner serves a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to various third-party managers. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by both in-house research and external platforms, along with integrated tax and accounting services and administrative family office capabilities.

John Meyers is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Kansas City, MO, with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with firms including GWFS Equities, Prydes Old Westport, Inside Ventures, Southwind Enterprises, and the University of Missouri. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Michael Russell is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Creative Planning, Centriq Training, and CBOE Global Market. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees, and offers comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and ancillary services such as tax planning and estate-planning support. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified allocations aligned with clients’ objectives and risk tolerance, supported by a formal planning process and access to a broad network of affiliated resources.

Ryan Costello is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera Planning Partners since 2004. Based in Leawood, KS, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has spent over two decades with his current firm. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement advice. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate planning through a third-party provider, employing a diversified investment approach tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Drew Van Scyoc is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2023. Prior to this, he was involved with Prairie Highlands Golf Club and Shadow Glen Golf Club. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions through affiliated and third-party managers, utilizing proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Antwaine Barnett is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 24 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Gwfs Equities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc., and J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of A&R Enterprises, LLC, a rental property management business. 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 delivers services through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in their planning approach.

Sheri Birdsell is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. based in Overland Park, KS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and previously at Prestwood Financial Group. Birdsell is also an independent insurance agent specializing in the sale of fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plan sponsors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting through various program structures such as wrap programs and third‑party money manager access. The firm often provides non-discretionary recommendations and operates both as an SEC-registered investment adviser and a broker-dealer.

Margaret Fitzgerald is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Creative Planning, where she has worked since 2021. She has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at Waddell & Reed and G.L. Huyett. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, institutions, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure while supporting retirement plans with sub-advisory and managed account services.

Nolan Keim is a CFP® with seven years of experience at Mariner Wealth Advisors. He serves as a board member of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Kansas City and co-leads committee meetings focused on increasing financial awareness in the community. Keim is also a member of the finance council at Ascend Church in Olathe, KS. Mariner serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to specialized investment vehicles. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers and offers integrated tax, accounting, and administrative family office services.

Dane Broadie is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® certification along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His prior work history includes roles at Rhino Financial, Perspectives Financial, Allstate Insurance, Legacy Financial Strategies, LPL Financial, and Equity Services. Oppenheimer serves a wide range of clients including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides diverse investment and advisory programs, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios.

Jason Batt is a CFP® and ChFC® with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Centaurus Financial, Inc. since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Jason serves as an adjunct professor at San Diego Christian College and Kyoto International University, teaching undergraduate courses and developing course materials. He is also president and CEO of Open Door Financial, a non-investment related business. Centaurus Financial, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, families, small businesses, and institutions. The firm offers a mix of financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements with a variety of analytical approaches and specialized services.