Michelle Miller is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at Eagle Strategies LLC, NYLIFE Securities Inc., New York Life Insurance Co., Lincoln Savings Bank, LPL Financial LLC, and Principal Financial Group. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer for Des Moines Estate Planners on a volunteer basis. Gilbert & Cook serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, employer retirement plans, and business entities, offering comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach combining active and passive strategies across public and private instruments, integrating insurance capabilities and alternative-investment due diligence into its advisory platform.

Alan Hulstein is a financial advisor with Compass Financial Services in West Des Moines, IA, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial and Compass Financial Services since 2021. Outside of advising, he has a non-securities related role with Amazon. Compass Financial Services provides investment advice and wealth management to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs an active, diversified investment approach using proprietary model portfolios and offers comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary services.

Steven Conard is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Compass Financial Services since 2012 and also has a long-standing affiliation with LPL Financial, LLC dating back to 2004. Conard serves as a general agent for life and health insurance products and acts as a referee outside of his advisory work. Compass Financial Services provides investment advice and wealth management to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs an active, diversified approach using proprietary model portfolios and manages accounts on a discretionary basis, conducting regular reviews and adjustments based on client objectives and market conditions.

Matthew Roberts is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience, currently serving at Syverson Strege & Company since 2010. He is based in West Des Moines, IA, and is part of a 14-advisor team. Syverson Strege provides wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and estates, including high-net-worth clients. The firm operates on a fee-based fiduciary model and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizing an institutional automated platform with features such as automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

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 holds a Series 65 license with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Gilbert & Cook Private Wealth Management since 2023 and previously spent seven years at BerganKDV Wealth Management, LLC. He is based in West Des Moines, IA. Gilbert & Cook, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a mix of active and passive strategies and conducts due diligence on private and alternative investments.

David Suntken is a financial advisor with RIA Advisory Group, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and totaling 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at RIA Advisory Group since 2020 and previously spent six years with Visionpoint Advisory Group and over two decades with LPL Financial. RIA Advisory Group, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other entities. The firm manages diversified portfolios using discretionary strategies informed by charting, fundamental, and technical analysis, and maintains formal affiliations with legal and accounting professionals alongside operating affiliated technology and research businesses.

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 with four years of experience at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. Prior to joining Gilbert & Cook, he worked at BHE Renewables and Eaton Corporation, and he has an academic background from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Lincoln. Gilbert & Cook serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, employer retirement plans, and business entities, offering comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of active and passive strategies within a global asset-allocation framework and integrates insurance capabilities and alternative-investment due diligence into its advisory platform.

Alan Ryerson is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Gilbert & Cook, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He previously worked at BCC Advisers for over two decades before joining Gilbert & Cook in 2018. Gilbert & Cook serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, employer retirement plans, and business entities, offering comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, wrap-fee platform management, and private wealth services. The firm employs a combined active and passive investment approach tailored to client objectives, with a focus on both public and private instruments and ongoing monitoring.

Christopher Cook is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Gilbert & Cook, Inc. since 2016. 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, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer plans. The firm employs a blend of active and passive investment strategies and conducts due diligence for private and alternative investments.

Jeremy Lyons is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including J. Lyons Capital, LLC, IFP Securities, LLC, Independent Financial Partners, Advantage Investment Management LLC, and LPL Financial LLC. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, and trusts. The firm emphasizes individualized planning and offers discretionary asset management through model portfolios and direct security management, with operational implementation delegated to a sub-advisor.

Madison Vestweber is a financial advisor at Private Wealth Asset Management with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Private Wealth Asset Management, Madison worked at The 20 MSP and has a background that includes academic roles at the University of Iowa and John F. Kennedy High School. Private Wealth Asset Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, family offices, trusts, and nonprofit organizations, managing approximately $1.85 billion in discretionary assets. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach supported by quantitative, fundamental, and technical analysis, and offers specialized services such as oil and gas holdings management and business transition planning.

Brian Newton is a financial advisor at Wealth Advisors of Iowa, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Wealth Advisors of Iowa since 2016 and is also affiliated with McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith, PC, where he has worked since 2001. Wealth Advisors of Iowa serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, trusts, banks, and business entities by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and qualified retirement plan services. The firm employs a fiduciary investment approach using various analytical methods and offers services such as ongoing account monitoring, participant education, and a wrap-fee program.

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 McBride III is a CFP® with 46 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with RDA Financial Network, where he has been since 2001, and also works with Monetary Strategies. RDA Financial Network serves individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a combination of discretionary portfolio management, third-party sub-advisors, and proprietary strategies, and is notable for providing fiduciary plan-sponsor services and operating a Model Portfolio Advisor Program for other registered investment advisers.

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.