Hello, I am Ben. I started Simplified Planning and Investments out of a deep desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. For nearly a decade, I have had the privilege of guiding individuals and families through some of their most important financial decisions. Over time, I realized my greatest fulfillment comes from building meaningful relationships, truly understanding people’s stories, and helping them find peace of mind in areas that often cause stress and uncertainty. This led me to create a firm centered on people first - where financial planning is about more than money; it’s about impact, purpose, and simplicity. At Simplified Planning, everything begins with a passion for people. This firm was built on the belief that the foundation of finacial planning is built on relationships, trust, and helping others live with greater peace and purpose. Our purpose is to equip you to make confident financial decisions with clarity and ease. Every story is unique, and so is every financial plan. Exceptional financial planning starts with listening and understanding. That’s why we take a holistic, relationship-driven approach - thoughtfully blending overarching strategies with the important details that matter most to you. Because we work on a fee-only basis, our only focus is providing sound advice that puts your best interests first. By viewing your financial life as an integrated system - cash flow, investments, taxes, insurance, retirement, and estate considerations - we ensure each piece works together seamlessly, so your money serves your goals and values. Our aim is to simplify complexity, bring clarity to uncertainty, and provide a roadmap that balances today’s priorities with tomorrow’s vision. Outside of work, my life is centered around my family. We love traveling and discovering new places together. I stay connected to my community through commitments to my church, volunteering, and teaching personal finance. I’m also a high school football official, a passionate sports fan, and yes - one of those lawn guys. I look forward to connecting, understanding your story, and helping you create a financial life that reflects both your goals and your values - bringing clarity, confidence, and meaning every step of the way.

Alexandre Ducharme is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Woodlands Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2014. He has 10 years of industry experience. Woodlands Capital Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving a small client base, including high-net-worth individuals, with approximately $5.8 million in discretionary assets under management. The firm offers long-only and long/short equity strategies based on fundamental analysis, emphasizing risk control and client objectives, and employs a performance-based fee structure for its long/short strategy with qualified clients.

Joseph Hart is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He founded Hart Wealth Management in 2025 after seven years with West Financial Advisors, L.L.C. and nine years at RSM US LLP. Hart Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and investment-related tax planning to individuals, families, and businesses. The firm uses a long-term, multi-asset class approach with written investment policy statements and integrates tax-sensitive strategies such as tax-loss harvesting into its portfolio management.

Christina Lueders Ochanpaugh is a financial advisor at Kingdom Wealth Development, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked with Cambridge Investment Research and Trinity Financial Group, where she also serves as an independent insurance agent. Kingdom Wealth Development provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on written financial plans and ongoing portfolio oversight. The firm employs an asset-allocation framework primarily using mutual funds and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management with regular portfolio reviews.

Michael Banasiak is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at Omni Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2020. His prior experience includes positions at Iron Horse Wealth Management, Legacy Financial Group, and Merrill. Omni Wealth Management is an independent firm providing fee-only financial planning and personalized investment management to individuals and institutional clients such as retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm manages discretionary, tailored portfolios using a combination of in-house advisers and outside portfolio managers, and sponsors a wrap fee program noted as uncommon among peers.

Michael Moller is the principal of DSM Financial L.L.C. in Urbandale, IA, with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked in various capacities within the financial services industry since 1984. In addition to his advisory role, Moller maintains a life insurance practice focusing on term and whole life insurance. DSM Financial L.L.C. serves approximately 200 client relationships, including high-net-worth individuals, plan sponsors, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, educational seminars, retirement-plan consulting, and refers clients to registered third-party investment managers, acting as a liaison and providing non-discretionary ERISA services for retirement plans.

Lucas Speltz is the principal of Ashland Advisors PLLC, an independent investment advisory firm, with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior work history at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Wellmark BCBS. Outside of advisory work, he serves as Chief Financial Officer for two small businesses in the coffee and hospitality sectors. Ashland Advisors PLLC provides non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and families, alongside accounting and tax-preparation services. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified, income-preferred investment strategies and uses an hourly fee model, with clients directing implementation and selecting their own custodians.

Brian Weckman is a financial advisor at Actis Wealth Management with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at LPL Financial, LLC as well as other financial and business ventures. Outside of advising, he owns and operates Central Iowa Resellers, a business focused on purchasing and reselling estate sale items. Actis Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm uses model frameworks with client customization and employs strategies including option writing and active trading, offering services such as ERISA 3(38) investment-manager oversight and managing approximately $70 million for about 64 clients.

Steven Reed is the principal of Reed Financial, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Urbandale, IA. He holds the ChFC® designation and has 36 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Reed Financial, he held various roles at Northwestern Mutual and has operated his own sole proprietorship since 1987. He is also the managing member of Reed Commercial Lending LLC, which facilitates financial transactions between small business owners and lenders. Reed Financial provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities, including qualified retirement plans. The firm employs tailored investment strategies and offers pension consulting services, including limited-scope ERISA 3(21) fiduciary roles and preparation of related disclosures.

Jayme Bresnahan is a financial advisor with Successful Resource Management, Ltd. in Johnston, Iowa, holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. She has worked with Successful Resource Management and Investacorp Inc. and is also involved in managing a family limited partnership and serving as an officer of a holding company. Successful Resource Management provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, qualified-plan account management, financial planning, estate-planning services, and occasional CFO engagements. The firm uses documented investment objectives and technical analysis tools to guide asset allocation and security selection.

Michael Marusiak is a financial advisor at Acumen Associates LLC in Clive, Iowa, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Eagle Strategies and New York Life entities. He has been associated with Acumen Associates since 2015. Acumen Associates LLC provides discretionary investment management to individuals and institutions, focusing on equity and volatility portfolios constructed with exchange-traded funds, individual equities, and option-writing strategies. The firm’s approach emphasizes volatility securities and derivatives, using proprietary models to implement collateralized put-write and covered-call strategies without leverage.

Redspire Wealth Management, LLC is a financial planning and investment management firm in West Des Moines, Iowa. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional who enjoys working with clients at any age and stage of life. I believe that it's never too early or too late to set yourself up for financial success. My favorite part of my job is meeting new people and working on their financial plans. Financial planning is a highly collaborative process. Working with people to discover what they want to accomplish, their dreams, and how to get where they want to go is the highlight of my job. The people and families I work with have more confidence and clarity about their financial situation - they get a strong sense of comfort knowing they have a plan in place and know how to implement it! Although I am located in the heart of central Iowa, I work with clients located outside of the area and can meet virtually. I know that between kids, work schedules, vacations, and other commitments that schedules can get hectic. I try to accommodate clients' schedules and needs because every situation is unique. Redspire Wealth Management, LLC offers flat-fee and ingoing financial planning service, as well as investment management so you can determine what is the right service for your situation.

Guthrie Gaylord is a financial advisor at 3G Capital LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and previously worked at Wells Fargo. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as President and Managing Member of Double Eagle Capital Partners Management, LLC, where he acts as a fiduciary for partners' invested capital. 3G Capital LLC provides financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management services to individual investors, high-net-worth clients, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs an active, value-oriented equity selection approach combined with diversified allocations to low-cost ETFs, emphasizing strategic asset allocation and periodic rebalancing.

Kirk Bond is the principal of Apexedge LLC, an independent financial advisory firm based in Grimes, IA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Apexedge in 2025, he worked with RIA Advisory Group, LLC for 15 years and has operated as a sole proprietor since 1999. Outside of his advisory work, Bond is a part-owner of Brokerstreet Insurance Services and is active as a life insurance marketer. Apexedge LLC provides financial planning, consultation, and discretionary asset management primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes a third-party manager network through Envestnet/ARIA to implement investment strategies based on client suitability questionnaires.

Fredrick Bell is a CFP® and CFA® with 24 years of industry experience. He is the founder and president of Bellwether Financial Advisors in West Des Moines, IA, where he has worked since 2003. Prior to founding Bellwether, he operated Fredrick A. Bell CFA, L.C. starting in 2001 and has been associated with Cambridge Investment Research since 2007. Bell also serves as treasurer and board member of the Iowa Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. Bellwether Financial Advisors provides financial planning, investment advice, and portfolio-related consulting to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and diversified, longer-term portfolios with selective tactical adjustments and maintains non-discretionary client relationships that typically include quarterly reviews.

Shawn Terrell is a financial advisor with Dentist Exit Planning in Windsor Heights, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Park Avenue Securities for 10 years and has been associated with Guardian Life Insurance Company for 15 years. Terrell is also the author of the book "The Professional Practice Trap." Dentist Exit Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to dental-practice clients and high-net-worth individuals, focusing on exit planning. The firm offers portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and ongoing consulting, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs while incorporating tax considerations and reviewing accounts quarterly.

Kevin Klein is a financial advisor at LIS Inc in Urbandale, IA, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Lifestyles Investment Strategies since 2017, following three years at RIA Advisory Group. Klein is also a licensed life insurance agent, dedicating a small portion of his time to this activity. LIS Inc is an independent registered investment adviser that provides portfolio management and financial and estate planning advice to a diverse client base, including individuals, businesses, trusts, and nonprofits. The firm employs a rules-based, globally diversified investment approach, primarily using low-cost ETFs alongside selected stocks and bonds, with most accounts managed on a discretionary basis.

Graham Jepsen is a financial advisor with The Planners Professional Services, Inc. in West Des Moines, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, and VOYA Financial Advisors. The Planners Professional Services, Inc. provides financial planning and consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plan participants, and small business entities. The firm serves a primarily retail client base with written plans, hourly consultations, and investment and insurance recommendations, using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in forming investment advice.

Jonathan Sherrod is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently operating Sherrod Wealth Management in Urbandale, IA. His prior experience includes roles at Fisher Investments, Charles Schwab, Merrill, Arvest Wealth Management, and Scottrade. Sherrod Wealth Management LLC is an independent registered investment adviser focusing on portfolio management and financial planning for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods with a long-term trading horizon, and works with third-party managers through Altruist’s Model Marketplace.

Peter Rothamel is the sole advisor at Rothamel Wealth Management, LLC in Urbandale, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Investacorp Inc, Successful Resource Management, Ltd., Investment Advisors Corp, and Wells Fargo Investments. Outside of advising, he is an author of a book titled "Let's Blame Everybody" and serves as an officer at Cartright & Kennedy, Inc. Rothamel Wealth Management is an independent firm managing approximately $40 million for around 100 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and educational events, focusing on long-term, value-oriented equity selection combined with tactical asset allocation.