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.

Redspire Wealth Management, LLC is a financial planning and investment management firm in West Des Moines, Iowa. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional who enjoys working with clients at any age and stage of life. I believe that it's never too early or too late to set yourself up for financial success. My favorite part of my job is meeting new people and working on their financial plans. Financial planning is a highly collaborative process. Working with people to discover what they want to accomplish, their dreams, and how to get where they want to go is the highlight of my job. The people and families I work with have more confidence and clarity about their financial situation - they get a strong sense of comfort knowing they have a plan in place and know how to implement it! Although I am located in the heart of central Iowa, I work with clients located outside of the area and can meet virtually. I know that between kids, work schedules, vacations, and other commitments that schedules can get hectic. I try to accommodate clients' schedules and needs because every situation is unique. Redspire Wealth Management, LLC offers flat-fee and ingoing financial planning service, as well as investment management so you can determine what is the right service for your situation.

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.

Matthew Turcotte is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he provides advice and guidance tailored to clients' goals and priorities, focusing on personalized wealth management strategies that consider the full financial picture. He works with individuals, families, and businesses to develop flexible strategies that adapt to changing market conditions and leverage investment insights from Merrill as well as banking and lending solutions from Bank of America. Matthew’s areas of expertise include corporate benefits, employee benefits planning, executive and equity compensation services, liquidity management, retirement income, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and small business strategies. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Iowa. In addition to his professional work, Matthew participates in community volunteer activities consistent with Merrill's tradition of service. His personal interests include adventure sports, baseball, biking, football, golfing, hiking, hunting, running, and spending time with his family.

Seth Harjes is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in helping individuals and business owners achieve financial clarity and long-term security. Based in Iowa, he focuses on understanding each client’s full financial picture to create personalized and flexible wealth management strategies. His approach integrates investment insights from Merrill and banking and lending solutions from Bank of America. Seth’s expertise covers a broad range of areas including divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management, retirement income, tax minimization, and planning for defined benefit and contribution plans. He holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Seth earned his Bachelor's Degree from Grand View University. Outside of his professional work, Seth enjoys activities such as billiards, camping, chess, cooking, fishing, gardening, hiking, hunting, pickleball, and spending time with his family. His personal philosophy centers on delivering financial clarity so clients can focus on enjoying life rather than managing money.