Darren Clerkin is a CFP® and ChFC® with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Empower Advisory Group and has previously worked at Personal Capital, COUNTRY Trust Bank and its affiliates, and Transamerica. Outside of his advisory work, Clerkin teaches a nightly financial planning class as an Instructional Assistant Professor at Illinois State University. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage account holders. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing through an integrated service model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Jeffrey Bauer is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with VALIC Financial Advisors since 2001 and also holds an agent position with Agia, where he is involved in non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction and management.

Michelle Casulo is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Summit Global Investments and Transamerica, with additional experience at Wfg and CCLC UPC Child Development Center. 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, offering an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Ryan Kaszycki is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2017. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial and Brown & Tedstrom Estate Planning, Inc. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Aurora, CO. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process featuring low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure managing approximately $217 billion in client assets.

Kurt Beerline is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Lakewood, Colorado. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Agia, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, Fidelity Investments, and Aflac. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning through a large network of advisors, utilizing unified managed accounts and a combination of technology and third-party model managers.

Tristan Beck is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Denver, CO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Bank and KeyBank. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a video game content channel on Twitch under the business name XXSIXER. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm’s approach uses algorithmic risk assessments and delegates portfolio implementation to approved strategists and third-party managers.

Brandon Vinton is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Merrill, Charles Schwab, and Navy Federal Credit Union. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party planning methodologies with Empower’s administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates.

Yiwen Chen is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with nine years of industry experience. She is currently affiliated with NorthCoast Asset Management LLC and has previously worked at Focus Partners Wealth, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Transform Wealth, and BSW Wealth Partners. NorthCoast Asset Management provides investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a quantitative and systematic investment approach using proprietary models and manages most client relationships on a discretionary basis.

Jacob Hughes is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where he has worked since 2026. His career includes roles at Empower Financial Services and experience outside finance with the Big Red F Restaurant Group. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering integrated services connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed accounts.

Chito Resurreccion is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations. He has been with Empower since 2025 and has prior experience in various roles outside the financial industry. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s approach features an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Tiffany Kobs is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank. Outside of her advisory work, she is a business owner of Solidarity Dental Solutions, PPLC in Denver, where she is involved in bookkeeping and membership voting. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through proprietary and third-party solutions.

Zachary Heath is a CFP® at Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Aveo Capital Partners and Innovest Portfolio Solutions. Moneta Group Investment Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and concierge services. The firm uses a partner-led team approach with an open-architecture investment process and manages proprietary multi-strategy funds such as the Retirement Advocate Funds.

Rebecca Leonard is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks, Summit Financial Group, and Summit Brokerage Services. Leonard operates a marketing DBA under the name Bartleys Wealth Management. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers brokerage, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services through a national field force, utilizing multiple advisory programs and third-party asset managers.

Rian Morrissey is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a wealth manager at Kestra Advisory since 2019. He previously worked at Edward Jones and Oppenheimer Funds. Outside of advisory work, he co-owns and manages an Airbnb rental property in Tabernash, Colorado. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a broad range of institutional and individual clients, including very large investors such as sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers comprehensive services including plan design, fiduciary consulting, and pooled plan solutions, supported by extensive third-party relationships and multiple management platforms.

Brendan Manna is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Corient with nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Securities Service Network, Inc. He is based in Denver, CO. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates individual security strategies, third-party managers, and customized asset allocation, with continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management.

Dannie Westlake is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Denver, CO, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Mercer Global Advisors in 2026, Dannie worked at Empower Financial Services, Inc. and Empower Advisory Group from 2023 to 2026, and at Personal Capital Advisors Corporation and Personal Capital from 2016 to 2023. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments with a range of investment advisory and planning services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach using globally diversified portfolios with a variety of investment vehicles and offers specialized services including retirement plan consulting and charitable advisory.

Lauren Mc Carroll is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. She has worked with Charles Schwab Investment Advisory, Inc. since 2014 and joined Schwab Wealth Advisory in 2025. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, utilizing standard asset allocation models and Schwab research tools. The firm conducts annual account reviews and recommends investments but does not exercise discretionary trading authority, distinguishing its operating model within the Schwab ecosystem.

Eric Samson is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Greenwood Village, Colorado, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and having 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2021 and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors as well as Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC from 2016 to 2021. 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 integrated services combine proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates, with a wide reach supported by its affiliation with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Julia Curry is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at firms including LPL Financial, Bloom Wealth Advisors, and Cetera Advisor Networks. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, corporations, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment strategy using a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis and offers a broad range of wealth management, fiduciary, and advisory services.

Kelly Traczek is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Empower Advisory Group since 2026, with prior experience at T. Rowe Price. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a small clothing business selling LuLaRoe through online and occasional in-person events. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as select retail clients. The firm’s integrated service model emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups established by plan sponsors.