Nathan Nicolaisen

Hello, I am Ben. I started Simplified Planning and Investments out of a deep desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. For nearly a decade, I have had the privilege of guiding individuals and families through some of their most important financial decisions. Over time, I realized my greatest fulfillment comes from building meaningful relationships, truly understanding people’s stories, and helping them find peace of mind in areas that often cause stress and uncertainty. This led me to create a firm centered on people first - where financial planning is about more than money; it’s about impact, purpose, and simplicity. At Simplified Planning, everything begins with a passion for people. This firm was built on the belief that the foundation of finacial planning is built on relationships, trust, and helping others live with greater peace and purpose. Our purpose is to equip you to make confident financial decisions with clarity and ease. Every story is unique, and so is every financial plan. Exceptional financial planning starts with listening and understanding. That’s why we take a holistic, relationship-driven approach - thoughtfully blending overarching strategies with the important details that matter most to you. Because we work on a fee-only basis, our only focus is providing sound advice that puts your best interests first. By viewing your financial life as an integrated system - cash flow, investments, taxes, insurance, retirement, and estate considerations - we ensure each piece works together seamlessly, so your money serves your goals and values. Our aim is to simplify complexity, bring clarity to uncertainty, and provide a roadmap that balances today’s priorities with tomorrow’s vision. Outside of work, my life is centered around my family. We love traveling and discovering new places together. I stay connected to my community through commitments to my church, volunteering, and teaching personal finance. I’m also a high school football official, a passionate sports fan, and yes - one of those lawn guys. I look forward to connecting, understanding your story, and helping you create a financial life that reflects both your goals and your values - bringing clarity, confidence, and meaning every step of the way.

We’re a different type of wealth management group. I founded Mandala Financial Advisors on the principal that progressive people deserve advisors who will guide them to financial success without compromising what they value - a sustainable and just world. Our clients come to us at all stages of life, each with a unique blend of circumstances and objectives. Yet they all share two traits: They value personal wellness and they are lifelong learners. Many are academics, nonprofit professionals, and business owners/entrepreneurs. Mostly women. They tend to be community-centric, compassionate, and follow the adage, “think globally, act locally.” Our mission is to: • Maximize the likelihood of your achieving your current and future financial goals. • Replace your stress over money with financial confidence and wellness. • Empower you to create positive social & environmental change. We use a holistic planning process that integrates all facets of your financial life into a personalized financial plan, a map to achieving your goals. We have found the ongoing coaching we provide is a key ingredient to ultimate success. We use a rigorous process for selecting best-in-class ESG (Environmental Social Governance) investment products to match your financial and sustainability objectives. We are a fee-only advisor which means our income is only from fees you pay us for services rendered, not from commissions investment companies pay some advisors for selling products. I have over 25 years of experience providing sophisticated and caring financial guidance to clients. I am a CFP® practitioner. My educational credentials include an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a B.S. in Mathematics from Loyola University of Chicago. I’m passionate about community service, with a keen interest in the environment, human rights, and the arts. Years of experience in leadership roles on nonprofit boards taught me capitalism without conscience is flawed. I’m openly gay which taught me early on to embrace the things that make each person unique. I’m an outdoor and fitness enthusiast who likes to spend time hiking, skiing, and exploring. I’m a student of secular Buddhism, always growing and learning to be a better me. I encourage you to visit our website (https://mandala.financial) to learn more about Mandala Financial Advisors. We make it easy to schedule a complimentary, no-pressure, introduction meeting.

Hello, I'm Mike. I founded Teacher Wealth to raise the standard of financial advice to educators. As a former teacher, I understand the challenges that educators face with their finances; as well as the unique opportunities. Unfortunately, in many ways, the financial services community has ignored the profession. I am trying to change that. Teachers deserve better! Many families just need someone to walk with them as they make important decisions. To really get to know them. To ask them the right questions. To challenge them. To offer them accountability. I am honored to be this person for my clients. At Teacher Wealth, we like to say that "it's not just about the money." Instead, the focus is on how money can best create clarity, security, and fulfillment in our lives. The K-12 financial literacy education movement is a passion of mine and I try to help with that by serving on the board of the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition. On the personal side, I've been married to my best friend Tisa for over 20 years. We live in chaos most of the time in our Des Moines, Iowa home as we raise our four awesome kids. We do our best to prioritize our marriage over everything else except our faith. We are active members of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines.