Dennis Grothaus

Mark Schmerge is the president of Schmerge Executive Planning Services, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license with 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Fortune Financial Services, Inc. since 2012 and has led his own firm since 1989. Schmerge is also an independent insurance agent. Schmerge Executive Planning Services provides wealth management and financial planning for individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and company retirement plans. The firm employs model-driven investment strategies sourced from third-party research and manages portfolios on a discretionary basis with an emphasis on downside risk control.

James Dunphy is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Dunphy Wealth Management, Inc. since 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he provides tax preparation services. Dunphy Wealth Management serves individuals, IRAs, revocable living trusts, and small businesses with fee-only portfolio management, financial planning, and tax consultation. The firm combines investment management with accounting and tax services, offering diversified portfolios built from no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds and ETFs, as well as automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting options.

Brock Muller is a financial advisor at E2 Financial Services, LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Edward Jones, Cornerstone Retirement Advisors, and Raymond James Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, he operates as a sole proprietor insurance agent. E2 Financial Services provides investment advice and ongoing portfolio management on a non-discretionary basis to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm combines personalized investment planning with insurance product recommendations through an affiliated agency and emphasizes client approval for all trades.

Chad Lively is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of experience in financial advising. He founded Lively Financial LLC, where he serves as the sole advisor, and has prior experience with firms including Bankers Life and Touchstone Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a tax expert at Intuit, a role unrelated to his investment activities. Lively Financial LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, providing portfolio management and financial planning that includes tax planning and preparation. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary management and incorporates a range of investment analyses and strategies, while also offering educational resources such as a monthly newsletter and seminars.

Timothy Mandel is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with seven years at Mandel Financial Services and prior experience at Mandel & Associates, Beam Suntory, Republic National Distribution Company, and Salerno Group. He is based in Cincinnati, OH, and has four years of industry experience. Mandel Financial Services is an independent, single-advisor registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with a focus on customized portfolio management and integrated financial planning. The firm employs a diverse range of analytic methods and investment strategies, managing approximately $28 million for a small client roster.

Adam Schmidt is a financial advisor with Strategic Wealth Partners LLC in Fort Thomas, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Foundations Investment Advisors, UBS Financial Services, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Outside of his advisory role, Schmidt serves as a ski patroller at Perfect North Slopes, where he promotes safe enjoyment of snow sports and provides emergency first aid when necessary. Strategic Wealth Partners LLC provides fiduciary investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans. The firm focuses on managing portfolios through third-party sub-advisers and turnkey asset management platforms while tailoring investments to client objectives and risk tolerance.