Alex Borgardts

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!).

Steven Loyd is a Senior Resident Director with Merrill, specializing in wealth management strategies tailored to the needs of affluent families, accomplished professionals, and successful business owners. Since beginning his career in the financial services industry in 1994, he has worked alongside a team of specialists to deliver goals-based wealth management through personalized advice and a disciplined investment approach. Steven holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and has a High School Diploma from Billings Missouri. He emphasizes one-on-one collaboration with clients to develop financial strategies aligned with their long-term goals. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Steven is engaged in community service, dedicating time to volunteer with local organizations consistent with Merrill’s tradition of community involvement.