Erica Gabrick

Growing up I had always dreamed of owning my own business. I was first inspired by my grandparents who owned an insurance business in a small Kansas town. I grew up in Manhattan, Kansas and attended Kansas State University where I studied Business Administration and Leadership Studies. Upon graduation, I moved to Kansas City and married my college sweetheart. I decided to enter the banking industry because I wanted to help people achieve financial life milestones. The bank I worked at was located in a disadvantaged neighborhood with high rates of poverty. It was this job that reinforced lessons I had been taught early in life on empathy, compassion, and the importance of financial independence. After gaining new perspectives in banking, I joined a wealth management firm where I spent six years in the investment world. It was at this time that my wife and I went through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, a class that forever changed my perspective on personal finance and altered my life trajectory. I went on to earn a Master of Science in Finance and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification. When completing my studies I remember thinking to myself, “Why isn’t anyone working with my generation?”. I was routinely told that it could not be done because young people lacked the amount of investable assets needed to be desirable clients. In other words, most financial advisors considered working with young people a waste of their time. This narrative continued to weigh on my mind until I discovered XY Planning Network (XYPN), a network for financial planners catering to younger clients in an objective, fee-only capacity. I have since become a member of XYPN to define my vision of helping younger generations develop a plan to succeed financially so that they may live a great life and do good in the world. Monthly Fee Starting @: $109/mo (Singles) & $159/mo (Couples) Quarterly Fee Starting @: $327/qt (Singles) & $477/qt (Couples) Flat Fee: $600+/One Time Engagement AUM: 0.50% ($300 min/annual) I continue to call Kansas City home with my wife, our two young sons, and our dog Charlie. When I am not drawing up financial plans for clients, I enjoy coaching my sons in sports (baseball), cheering on the K-State Wildcats, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Chiefs, and participating in my fantasy football leagues (This year is the year baby!).

Next Bloom Wealth takes a team-based approach to financial planning and investment management. My partner, Ashley Dickson, and I have worked together for the past 8 years. The Next Bloom team offers two perspectives, with the objective of helping our clients reach their goals. We believe that two sets of ears are better than one. We take a goals-based approach during the accumulation phase and shift to cash flow planning as our clients transition into retirement. Our comprehensive planning services often include tax planning and analysis, estate planning, risk management/insurance, investment allocations, social security/Medicare planning, cash flow analysis, budgeting, education planning and debt management. We recognize that each client has different needs, and we tailor our planning priorities to efficiently address our clients planning objectives. Our services are best for those looking for a long-term relationship with a financial planner that can support you through each phase of life. We manage our client’s investments, meet regularly, and provide a collaborative living financial plan. Visit us at https://nextbloomwealth.com for more information.

Jared Gudenkauf is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with busy, successful individuals, couples, and families, providing forward-thinking financial guidance to help them grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth effectively. Jared specializes in areas including executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and tax minimization. He serves clients by addressing diverse financial needs such as investments, benefits optimization, retirement planning, wealth transfer strategies, higher education savings, and banking services. Jared brings extensive experience to his role, having worked at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 2011, following previous positions as a Financial Advisor and District Manager for Ameriprise. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and has earned several professional designations, including Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His expertise is recognized nationally, having been named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor multiple times, including most recently in 2024, and a Top Next Generation Wealth Advisor in 2017 and 2018. Beyond his professional commitments, Jared is actively involved in his community through charitable organizations such as the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He has served as president of the Financial Planning Association of Kansas City and is a board member of the Personal Financial Planning Program at Kansas State University, where he also lectures. Jared and his wife, who is also a Merrill advisor, split their time between Kansas City and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and have a blended family of four children. His personal interests include boating, fishing, photography, skiing, tennis, traveling, and woodworking.

Fabio De Andrade is an International Wealth Advisor affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he serves high-level corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and affluent families by providing a comprehensive range of financial advisory services. His practice focuses on assisting clients with asset allocation, investment decisions, risk hedging strategies, liquidity creation, and developing retirement, estate, and succession plans. Fabio collaborates closely with clients' external professionals, including attorneys, business managers, and CPAs, to deliver integrated financial solutions. With a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas, Fabio holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is also registered with FINRA and licensed in insurance. Fabio resides in Lee’s Summit with his wife Kori Ann and their daughters Alessandra Sofia and Emilia Marie. He is actively involved in his community through volunteer work, reflecting his commitment to service beyond his professional responsibilities.