Speakers
An impressive line-up of speakers and topics await the money-smart women who attend! Register today.
Opening Session
Christine Benz
Director of Personal Finance for Morningstar, Inc.
Presents:
Is Your Portfolio Tracking with Today's Economy?
Christine Benz is director of personal finance for Morningstar, Inc., an investment research firm based in Chicago, and editor of Morningstar Practical Finance, a monthly print newsletter for individual investors. Before assuming her current role in 2008, Benz served as Morningstar's director of mutual fund analysis, and she has also served as editor of Morningstar Mutual Funds, the firm's flagship newsletter.
In addition to writing a weekly column on Morningstar.com, Benz is co-author of Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success, and author of the book's second edition as well as author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances.
Benz has worked as an analyst and editor at Morningstar since 1993. She holds a Bachelor's degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and serves on the board of directors for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana where she is the council's treasurer.
Closing Session
Chuck Grassley of Iowa
United States Senator
Presents:
What's Ahead for Investors
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley ranks among the nation's most influential lawmakers. A farmer from northeast Iowa, he began his political career as an Iowa legislator in 1958 and was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974. His tenure in the U.S. Senate began in 1980, and he has received numerous honors for his work, including awards from Citizens for A Sound Economy, Watchdogs of the Treasury, Project on Government Oversight, and National Whistleblower Center Award.
Today, Senator Grassley is the senior Republican and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. He also is a senior member of both the Judiciary and Budget committees and the only working family farmer serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Because of his seniority on the Finance Committee, he is a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation. He also serves as co-chairman for the Senate's Caucus on International Narcotics Control.
Senator Grassley received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from University of Northern Iowa and did PhD work at University of Iowa. He and his wife of 55 years have five children.
Breakout Sessions
Margaret Van Ginkel
Families/Resource Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension
Presents: Money-Saving Secrets to Find Investing $
Margaret VanGinkel has served more than 29 years with ISU Extension. She is currently Resource Management Specialist for central Iowa and teaches basic financial literacy, credit education, and other consumer management topics for a variety of audiences. She also serves as Coordinator for several ISU Extension Hotlines: Iowa Concern, Healthy Families, TeenLine, 2-1-1, and Bets-Off.
VanGinkel earned both B.S. and M.S. degrees from Iowa State University, and previously taught family and consumer education in Des Moines Public Schools. She has served several professional organizations, including Iowa Family and Consumer Science Association, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, National Association Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, Iowa Association of Extension Consumer Sciences, AgriWellness, and American Council of Consumer Interest. She also serves as a volunteer representative payee in Des Moines.
Craig Goettsch
Securities Department, State of Iowa Insurance Division
Presents:
Secrets to Find a Great Advisor and Avoid Bad Guys
Craig Goettsch is Director of Investor Education and Consumer Outreach/Securities Counsel for the Iowa Insurance Division. He began his work for the Securities Division in 1975 as a securities examiner.
A native of Davenport, Goettsch received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa Law School and is a member of the Polk County and Iowa Bar Associations. Goettsch has served as President of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), has served on several committees, served on the Board of Directors, and currently chairs NASAA's Uniform Securities Act Project Group and Corporate governance Project Group.
He has served on several task forces of state securities regulators to negotiate multi-state settlements, as an adjunct professor teaching securities law at both Drake and Iowa law schools, and as secretary for the Iowa JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Goettsch is a founder and trustee of the Investor Protection Trust, a public charity dedicated to investor education.
Tammie Schroeder
Advisor, Edward Jones 
Presents:
Annuities or ETFs? Demystifying Trendy Investments
Tammie Schroeder is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments, and is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist. Schroeder coaches individuals and small businesses on defining financial goals and developing alternatives to reach them. She is a monthly finance columnist for the Altoona Herald and loves helping women find their financial feet.
Tammie has a B.S. degree in engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA degree from the University of Iowa. Proud to be an Iowa native, Tammie resides in Pleasant Hill with her husband and three children, a son and two daughters.
Adam Carroll
Four Legacies Mortgage
Presents:
Real-Life Monopoly: The Keys to Real Estate Success
Adam is founder of Four Legacies Mortgage, the first socially responsible, education-based mortgage company in Iowa. Four Legacies Mortgage was created to educate consumers on personal finance and help them understand that financial freedom is the first and most lasting legacy you can leave for your family.
Adam is also founder of National Financial Educators, a financial literacy seminar company in West Des Moines. Their proprietary program and book of the same name, Winning The Money Game, has been seen by over 150,000 students throughout the country. In four years, Adam and his team of speakers have helped students create a stronger financial future for themselves while still in school. Adam is co-author of Winning The Money Game, a member of the National Speakers Association, member of American Mensa, and also shares his thoughts through his blog at adamspeaks.com.
Jason Zach
Vice President, BancWest
Presents:
Get IRAs Organized in 2010: Converting to Roth IRAs
Jason Zach has spent the past 12 years in the securities industry, and is a financial advisor for BancWest Investment Services. Jason manages clients' investment accounts for several Bank of the West locations through the Des Moines area. He holds both a Series 7 securities and an Iowa insurance producer's license, allowing him to focus on retirement accounts for clients.
Jason received his degree in corporate finance and investments from Drake University in 1998. A Nebraska native, Jason has lived in the Des Moines area for 16 years. Before his current position, Jason served as regional vice president for both ING as well as Prudential Financial, managing investment product solutions for clients and advisors throughout the Midwest.
Gretchen Hurt
BetterInvesting Volunteer Advisory Board
Presents:
Can An Investment Club Help Me Build a Portfolio?
Gretchen Hurt is director and instructor of the BetterInvesting Volunteer Advisory Board. She is also a director for the Central Iowa Chapter of BetterInvesting. An investment club aficionado, Gretchen has started two face-to-face investment clubs with friends and is a member of an online family investment club.
Now retired from a varied career as a teacher and small business owner, Gretchen enjoys teaching and sharing with others what she has learned about investing.
Laurie Barrick & Sharon Willmore
RSM McGladrey
Presents:
Investor Habitudes: Get Your Financial House in Order
Laurie Barrick is a tax director for the Des Moines office of RSM McGladrey. She primarily provides tax consulting services for the manufacturing and agriculture industries, focusing on mid-sized, family owned businesses needing corporate and personal tax planning. She has been a tax specialist since 1996.
A member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Laurie is a graduate of Iowa State University. She received her master's degree in accounting degree from Western Michigan University. She is active in her community and church, and serves as a board member for the Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center.
Sharon Willmore is also a tax director for the Des Moines office, providing tax services to small businesses and individuals. She has expertise in international taxation of ex-patriots and non-resident aliens. A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants, she has been with McGladrey since 1981.
Sharon received her accounting degree from University of Northern Iowa.
