Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC

Robert Powell is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience currently affiliated with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. His career includes prior roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Concurrent Advisors. He is also the CEO of Hebrews 135, LLC, a business he owns and operates outside of his advisory work. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions to tailor investment advice to client objectives.

Svetlana Koltun is a financial advisor with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Fort Collins, CO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at UBS Financial Services, Citigroup Global Markets, and Raymond James Financial Services. She is also the Director of Operations at Impact Financial Strategies, where she manages account processing, cash management, compliance, and related functions. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers tailored investment advice using a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and alternative investment programs.

John Young is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. and Golden State Equity Partners. Outside of advising, he is the owner of John R. Young Capital Management Inc. and is involved in enrolling clients in HSA accounts. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a variety of investment strategies that include discretionary management, third-party managers, and alternative investments.

William Byford is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Las Cruces, NM, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Golden State Equity Partners, LLC, Carter Bain Wealth Management, Westwind Capital, and Morgan Stanley DW Inc. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program that allocates clients into illiquid private funds under a documented allocation policy.

James Matt is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Golden State Equity Partners, Freedom Investment Management, and Fidelity. Matt has maintained a presence in various wealth management roles since 2008. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by offering asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach using discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program that includes illiquid private funds under a documented allocation policy.

Brian Tinker is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. His career includes roles at ORG Partners, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and United Planners' Financial Services, among others. Outside of advisory work, he is active in community fundraising for American Martyrs Grammar School and assists individuals with Medicare plan selections through Warner Pacific. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm customizes investment advice to client objectives using a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions.

Colton Lightner is a CFP® with six years of industry experience currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. He has worked at Golden State Equity Partners and Topwater Capital LLC since 2025 and previously held roles at Four Pillars Financial Planning Group and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Lightner also serves as a volunteer director for The Road to Independence, Inc., a Florida nonprofit organization. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach utilizing discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program that includes allocations to illiquid private funds.

Jeffrey Cismoski is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2026. Prior to this, he held positions at ORG Partners LLC, WealthShield Partners, LLC, Cresset Asset Management, LLC, and Evanston Investments Inc DBA Evanston Advisors. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm customizes investment advice based on client objectives and employs a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program for allocating clients to illiquid private funds.

Jody Howard is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Greenville, SC, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including ORG Partners, LLC, Sanders Morris Harris LLC, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of advising, he is an independent insurance agent involved in selling fixed and variable insurance products. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach using discretionary management, third-party managers, and private direct investments, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Dominic Messina is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including ORG Partners, WealthShield Partners, and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a custom furniture business. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities with asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers tailored investment advice through discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program focused on illiquid private funds.

Sean Duffy is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Fort Collins, CO, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and Peak Brokerage Services. He also works as a Wealth Planning Associate at Impact Financial Strategies. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach that includes discretionary management, third-party managers, co-advisory arrangements, and private direct investments, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Elizabeth De Muro is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she is an instructor at Huntington Beach Adult School. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach utilizing discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program.

Timothy Murray is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. for 24 years and Raymond James Financial Services for four years. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Shotgun Chaps LLC, a business related to independent financial advising. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions to tailor investment advice to client objectives.

Sarah Brace is a financial advisor with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at ORG Partners, LLC, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and United Planners' Financial Services. Outside of her advisory work, she volunteers at Huntington Hospital’s gift shop and serves as a notary public. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities with asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach utilizing discretionary management, third-party managers, and private direct investments, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Gina Rypkema is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. She currently works at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC, joining the firm in 2026 after three years at Golden State Equity Partners and 21 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. She serves as a board member and treasurer for the Walker Area Pregnancy Support Center. Ascentis Independent Advisors provides asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm offers tailored investment advice utilizing discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program focused on illiquid private funds.