Sara Bulman

RVPF exists to support professional women in medicine and their families ease the burden of financial decision making, planning, and management. The task of maintaining balance between the roles of professional, spouse, mother, sister, daughter, and friend can be overwhelming. RVPF is here to help. Betsy’s story begins in Iowa on a pretty typical small family farm. Her youth was spent playing sports, preparing projects for the county fair, a first job bagging groceries, and roaming about in a way that is atypical now. High school graduation sent her off toward a bachelor’s degree in Food Science. A couple collegiate job experiences included a test kitchen analyst for a large regional grocery store chain and quality control engineering position for the company that makes SPAM. Betsy then completed a master’s degree in family and consumer sciences, an area of study which gave rise to many of today’s collegiate financial planning programs. Four years of teaching personal finance to high school students while her new spouse completed medical school steered her toward a position as a personal financial counselor at Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA, where her spouse completed residency and eventually joined the teaching faculty. It was at the University of California Davis Extension where Betsy completed her CFP® professional certification and knew that she had found her calling. After over five years as an independent financial advisor, R&V Personal Finance, LLC, continues to serve women in medicine all over the country while expanding to provide a fee-only option for those who call the greater Decorah area home.

Jason Knox is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment since 2010 and previously operated Knox Financial Group for over two decades. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates Knox Financial Services, LLC, and Insurance Management Group, Inc. Lincoln Investment is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer managing approximately $18.9 billion in assets through a network of nearly 900 advisors. The firm serves individuals, employers, retirement plan participants, charitable organizations, corporations, and other registered investment advisers, offering a range of financial planning, custom and model portfolio management, and access to third-party managers.

Londa Grinna is a CFP® and ChFC® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cetera. She has been with Cetera and its affiliated entities since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 50% owner of Lifetime Financial Solutions and provides notary public services. Cetera Investment Advisers serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and retirement plans through a network of over 6,800 independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary solutions, combining advisor-managed accounts with firm-sponsored model portfolios and third-party managed options.

Keith Thompson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Decorah, Iowa. He holds the Series 66 designation and has experience working at Decorah Bank & Trust and FreedomBank. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Thompson Enterprises, a farm and ranch business in Decorah. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and charities. The firm offers a variety of financial planning and asset management solutions supported by an in-house research team and a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Michelle Alstat is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Decorah, IA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at CBE Group and PFS Investments Inc., and she is involved in sales of investment-related products as well as non-investment referrals for home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options under a tiered wrap-fee structure. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors while maintaining oversight and manager selection authority.

Chad Mills is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial in Cresco, Iowa. His prior roles include positions at Decorah Bank & Trust, Assured Partners, and Cuna Mutual Group. Outside of his advisory work, Mills coaches for Protivin Little League Baseball. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, charities, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and accommodates both advisory and brokerage needs through a large network of investment adviser representatives.