Merkle Retirement Planning

Loren Merkle is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Merkle Retirement Planning. He has worked with Elite Retirement Planning, LLC and Global Financial Private Capital. Merkle is the owner of MRP Holdings, Inc., which includes several related businesses such as a tax preparation firm and an insurance agency. 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 offers client education through workshops, newsletters, and media appearances.

Haley Danforth is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Elite Retirement Planning since 2018. Outside of advising, Danforth serves as Chair of the West Des Moines Chamber's Young Professionals Program and is the Alumni Chair for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy advisory council. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities. 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.

Melissa Gray is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Elite Retirement Planning since 2019, following a tenure at VOYA Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2018. Merkle Retirement Planning serves individuals, retirement-plan sponsors, trusts, and other entities, offering tailored financial planning, discretionary asset management, and retirement-plan consulting under ERISA standards. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach combined with direct security management and provides client education through workshops, webinars, and media appearances.

Chawn Honkomp is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at multiple firms including Princor Financial Services Corporation and United Planners Financial Services of America. Outside of his advisory role, he operates an independent insurance agency focused on non-variable insurance products. 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.

Allyson Martens is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with six years of industry experience. She has worked at Elite Retirement Planning, LLC for nine years and previously spent a year at Big Green Umbrella Media. Outside of finance, Martens serves as a primary props and set designer at the Des Moines Playhouse in a part-time capacity. Merkle Retirement Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, with a focus on model-driven portfolio management and asset allocation. The firm provides tailored financial planning, direct asset management, and educational workshops, combining internally developed and third-party model portfolios.

Brady Auderer is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merkle, he worked in roles at Hy-Vee, Stark Ag., and Fareway. Merkle Retirement Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, utilizing model-driven portfolio management and tailored financial planning. The firm combines internally developed and third-party model portfolios with discretionary management, educational workshops, and periodic performance reporting.

Isaac Stadsvold is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been in the industry since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Security National Bank, Midwest Heritage, and Amazon. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, focusing on asset allocation and model-driven portfolio management with discretionary authority to implement and rebalance strategies.

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.

Jeremy Lyons is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning in Grimes, IA, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including J. Lyons Capital, LLC, IFP Securities, LLC, Independent Financial Partners, Advantage Investment Management LLC, LPL Financial, and Ameriprise. Merkle Retirement Planning serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities with investment advisory and financial planning services, focusing on model-driven portfolio management and asset allocation. The firm offers tailored financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, educational workshops, and integrates insurance and tax services through affiliated entities.

Katharine Bertness is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Mercer from 2018 to 2021 and has experience outside finance at Pagliai's Pizza. 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 through model portfolios, tactical and strategic asset allocation, and direct-indexing, while offering educational workshops and maintaining a media presence.

Alisha Mullin is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Elite Retirement Planning and Principal Securities. Merkle Retirement Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, focusing on asset allocation and model-driven portfolio management. The firm implements strategies through both internally developed and third-party model portfolios, providing tailored financial planning, portfolio management, educational workshops, and periodic performance reporting.

Kailey Hanson is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Mokosak Advisory Group and Sammons Financial Group. Hanson also serves as a Client Service Administrator at Financial Advisory Service, Inc. 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.

Nkiru Nwachukwu is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merkle, Nwachukwu held positions at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, offering tailored financial plans and model-driven portfolio management implemented through proprietary and third-party models. The firm also conducts educational workshops and publishes periodic client communications.

Stacey Perkins is a financial advisor at Merkle Retirement Planning with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Northwestern Mutual and Gilbert and Cook. Outside of advising, she is involved in a multi-level marketing business related to online fitness subscriptions and nutritional products. Merkle Retirement Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, managing portfolios on a discretionary basis through internally developed and third-party model portfolios. The firm integrates asset allocation strategies with educational workshops and offers affiliated insurance and tax services.