Pierson Mc Atee is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience, currently practicing at Prime Capital Financial. His background includes roles at Prime Capital Investment Advisors and positions associated with Kansas State University and HCI Hospitality. He is the managing member of Wildcat NIL LLC, which supports K-State student-athletes in monetizing their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights by facilitating deals and providing education on current rules. 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 sponsor and trustee services, and third-party manager selection. The firm employs diverse investment strategies and offers family office services, tax advisory support, and specialized retirement plan solutions.

Denise Crawford is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Kansas City, MO, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having eight years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Icma Rc and Porsch Financial. Valic Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker‑dealer serving primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts, and operates at scale with a large network of advisors and centralized technology solutions.

Daniel Pontarelli is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2017 and previously worked at Stepp & Rothwell, Inc. from 2014 to 2017. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various tactical approaches, and offers a range of affiliated non-investment businesses including legal, trust, and recordkeeping services.

Mark Basola is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with NewEdge Advisors, where he has worked since 2024, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining NewEdge, he spent six years at Enterprise Bank and two years at Commerce Bank. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing a variety of program structures and technology tools to support clients and advisors.

Logan Baker is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked at Country Club Bank and has a background in education, having been employed at Creighton University and Lees Summit West High School. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by advanced portfolio techniques and offers integrated legal, trust, and retirement plan services.

Joe Hildebrand is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Private Client Services, Cambridge Investment Research, and Lawing Financial Inc. He is a partner and consultant with Thematic Investments, advising on strategy and marketing for theme-based ETFs. 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 sponsor and trustee services, and third-party manager selection. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and offers family office services along with affiliated tax advisory capabilities.

Ryan Hurr is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with six years of industry experience, currently with AE Wealth Management, LLC. He previously worked with Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority and is also involved with Heritage First entities, including advisory, insurance sales, tax preparation, and facilitating estate planning document services. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, relying on discretionary model portfolios and a platform-focused approach that serves a high volume of clients per advisor.

Elizabeth Trimble is a financial advisor with CWM, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. She has worked at CWM, LLC and Trimble Investment Group since 2022 and previously at V Wealth Advisors LLC. Outside of advising, she is a commissioned notary. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of more than 600 advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, sub-advisory services, and retirement-plan solutions, combining model portfolios managed by an in-house Investment Committee with various analytical tools and third-party providers.

Donna Tilden is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with over 31 years of industry experience. She is currently affiliated with Principal Financial Services and has worked with Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company for more than a decade. Tilden also serves as a board member of Business West and volunteers with Next Step KC, assisting low-income clients by preparing personal income tax returns. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Nicholas Rawlings is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group based in Kansas City, KS. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at GWFS Equities, Inc. and American Century Investment Services Inc. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail account holders. The firm delivers services through a model integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Reed Hersma is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners in Leawood, KS, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera Planning Partners in 2021, he worked in various roles including at the University of Kansas and Ryan Transportation. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified allocations through mutual funds and ETFs tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance, supported by a range of ancillary services such as tax planning and estate planning.

Evan Federman is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Leawood, KS, holding a Series 66 credential and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors and Agia. He is also a partner in a non-investment-related business partnership. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

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.