Scott Underwood first found his passion for financial planning through an internship with Northwestern Mutual in 1991. After being a Top 10 Intern for three consecutive years with one year as the top intern in the entire company, Scott began his full-time career with an insurance-focused business. As the industry evolved, so did his vision for the future. Today, as CEO of Socium Advisors, Scott leads a large team to develop comprehensive financial plans for individuals, families, and businesses all over the country.

Over and over, he has proven his dedication to delivering industry-leading services for his clients, and he has been recognized for his ceaseless efforts to navigate the complexity of each person’s unique situation. Throughout his career, Scott has had numerous things to consider accomplishments, but none so much as the trust and partnership he has built with his team and clients. Scott continues to earn the Barron’s Top 1200 Advisors award year after year.

When he’s not working, you could find Scott and his two boys, Billy and Peter, anywhere from the mountains of St. Lucia to riding four-wheelers around their farmland in Missouri.

As a Partner at Socium, Tripp Kelly specializes in solution-based planning through aggregating clients’ needs with high level resources.  While his perceptivity is innate, he first found his aptitude for problem-solving and finance with the hobby of stock trading in high school and a short stint working with a civil engineer in college. After graduating from Hampden-Sydney College with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, he served a tenure as an accountant for a small local business until starting with Northwestern Mutual in 2008 as a Financial Advisor. Tripp is originally from Newport News, Virginia, where he comes from four generations of individuals dedicated to professional service and considers his career a full embodiment of that tradition.

Tripp and his wife Sarah reside in Arlington, Virginia, where their house is filled not only with sounds of chaos from their three boys: Ford, Beau, and Quinn, but also sweet smells of barbeque from his Big Green Egg.

As Partner of Socium Advisors, Michelle Magner specializes in solution-based planning through aggregating clients’ needs with high level resources. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, she was a Portfolio Manager with a regional bank & trust company, where she handled investment portfolio design and implementation. In 2021, Michelle became the first ever non-contracted equity Partner at Northwestern Mutual.

Today, Michelle’s breadth of knowledge in investment management continues to serve her in her efforts to help clients decipher their financial portfolios and oversee Socium’s Investment Committee. She’s proud of her team, but she’s even more excited for what the future holds.

Away from the office, Michelle moves quickly. Whether she’s chasing her three boys, Walter, Hank and Max, or running a marathon, she rarely sits still. While she enjoys a nice, long jog in her free-time, Michelle has bridged her love running with an organization close to her heart: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. She has raised money for and participated in St. Jude’s Marathon several times and describes running through the hospital’s campus seeing patients and their families in the surrounding area as one of the most moving experiences of her life. Most recently Michelle added a Boston Marathon under her belt.

Justin serves as Partner at Socium Advisors and Founder of Athletes Advantage Financial. After joining Northwestern Mutual through the internship program in 2007, Justin built a successful career by narrowing his focus and becoming one of the foremost experts in financial planning for collegiate and professional (NFL, NBA, MLB, and Olympic) athletes. 

Throughout his career as a wealth management advisor, Justin has been awarded several prestigious internal awards at Northwestern Mutual while also earning the #2 spot on the 2022 Forbes Financial Security Professionals Best-In-State list in the state of Arkansas. He is passionate about providing innovative solutions to help clients accomplish their personal, professional, and financial objectives.

He attended Assumption College in Worcester, MA for two years where he played middle linebacker and earned his bachelors from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. It was here that he met his wife, Megan. Justin and Megan reside in Fayetteville with their 3 children. Justin and Megan are members of The Grove Church in Fayetteville and their passions include supporting their charities of choice, The Arkansas Children's Hospital and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals list (July 2022, October 2021), based upon data as of December 31st of the preceding year. Research and ranking provided by SHOOK Research. Northwestern Mutual and its advisors do not pay for placement on 3rd party rating lists, but do pay marketing fees to these organizations to promote the rating(s). Rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success.

Jodi joined Northwestern Mutual in 2006 and has loved working with clients ever since. In 2021, she joined Athletes Advantage Financial as the Director of Insurance. While Jodi is new to Socium, she brings decades worth of experience and expertise and is thrilled to be a part of Socium Advisors. Jodi joins as a Client Service Associate.

She and her husband Todd, live in Prairie Grove, Arkansas and have 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 2 on the way! They enjoy biking, camping, hiking and spending time with family.

With a diverse background in insurance, Emily is thrilled to continue her career with Socium Advisors as a Client Service Administrator.  

Soon after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2010, Emily began her career learning the complexities of Medicare and how to serve customers compassionately with the Allsup Medicare Advisor team at Allsup Inc. After returning to school to pursue a paralegal certificate, Emily landed a position as Legal and Operations Assistant at Automated Installment Systems (AIS). Over the course of eight years, Emily strove to learn AIS’ multi-faceted servicing of their premium finance clients. Having no previous background in property/casualty lines or premium financing, Emily worked diligently to provide exceptional service from both a paralegal and operational standpoint. By 2022, her duties consisted of filing license applications and annual reports with state insurance departments, overseeing the customer service department, and onboarding and training new clients. Now at Socium Advisors, Emily is eager to learn, to build new relationships, and to support the team in providing exceptional service.

Emily enjoys serving within various ministries at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, including the children’s ministry, youth group, and college age ministry. In her free time, Emily also loves spending time with her immediate and extended families. 

Sarah is Executive Assistant to Partners Tripp Kelly and Michelle Magner. Sarah enjoys working with others and building a team comradery in order to achieve results.

Prior to joining Socium, Sarah worked in Administration in a University hospital setting supporting high level physicians and multiple specialty divisions. Her experience in Administration and Management in the fields of banking and retail have helped her learn a high sense of responsibility and attention to detail.

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Southeast Missouri State University. Sarah lives in the greater Affton area and enjoys weight training, a great show on TV and spending time with her large family and church community.

As Socium’s Operations Associate, Jackie Ayala demonstrates her dedication to matchless customer service daily under the philosophy that every client is unique and deserves a tailored experience. She started working in the insurance industry for a major company in 2011, and her depth of product knowledge as well as her priority for client convenience has been directly reflected in her work since joining Northwestern Mutual in 2016. Jackie was born and raised in El Salvador but moved to America when she was twelve years old. While today she considers the Washington D.C. area home, she is frequently reminded of her roots through her work with Spanish clients and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

When she’s out of the office, she could be found at the beach, on the dance-floor, or spending time with her family.

DJ is a business development specialist with Socium Advisors. As a former Division I and Pro Athlete turned coach, DJ understands the importance of setting goals and working diligently to achieve success. DJ emerged as leader among his peers, both on and off the field. His transformational leadership style allows him to relate to the other coaches and players to inspire them to become the best version of themselves.

DJ found his passion for analytics and attention to detail through the game of baseball and these qualities translate into all aspects of his professional career. Recognizing the importance of education, DJ returned to college after an eight-year career in Minor League baseball and earned his Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Arkansas. 

DJ resides in Northwest Arkansas with his wife, Kaley, and their two boys, Griffin and Noah. With the boys being only 21 months apart, the sounds of giggles and Bluey fill the house daily. His family enjoys eating at Las Fajitas, getting Crumbl cookies, and going on walks after dinner.

William Cole, a dedicated research analyst at Socium Advisors, joined the firm in August 2021. Born and raised in the Kansas City area, Will pursued Economics at the University of Notre Dame. Following his graduation, he ventured to Dallas, where he initially served as an Investment Associate before transitioning seamlessly into the role of a research analyst at Socium.

In his current position, Will plays a pivotal role in preparing and analyzing companies, fixed income opportunities, and alternative investments for client portfolios. Leveraging his economics background and ongoing education in equity markets, he provides valuable insights to the Investment Committee weekly. Will holds an Analyst Academy certification, showcasing his proficiency in fundamental and technical analysis methods. At Socium Advisors, William is motivated by the mission to deliver superior returns and exceptional service.

Outside the office, he enjoys walking his Australian Shepherd, Ollie, and exploring new restaurants around the Kansas City area.

Since Darren can remember he has always had a passion and desire to understand personal finances. As a young child, he was often found looking through the stock section of the newspaper, tracking the performance of companies as if he owned shares of their stock. This passion for financial planning and his desire to make a positive impact on people's lives led him to become an Associate Advisor at Socium Advisors.

After graduating from Radford University in 2009 with a degree in Accounting and Finance, Darren spent several years working as an Accountant. However, he soon realized that his true calling lay in researching financial strategies, and he made the decision to pursue this as a career.

At Veritas Financial, Darren honed his skills in preparing comprehensive financial plans and reports, leading meetings, building strong client relationships, resolving inquiries, and managing client accounts and money movement transactions while assessing risks.

Now a valued member at Socium, Darren brings a unique perspective and an unparalleled level of energy to the team. He is committed to ensuring that clients receive the best possible service, often going above and beyond to provide the support they need to achieve their goals.

When Darren is not in the office, you can find him coaching youth basketball, or playing golf with friends and family. He is one of the Founders of the NOVA GameChangers a Youth Basketball Organization based in Northern Virginia. He enjoys spending as much time with his two nephews, golfing and traveling.

Heather’s experience in financial services stretches over two decades. As a part of Sociums Advisors’ operations team, she helps to ensure clients’ needs are met and helps them through the onboarding process. Along with her extensive industry experience, she brings strong organizational skills as well as an ability to multitask that is unparalleled. Heather’s combination of proficiencies is not only beneficial for Socium Advisors' clients but also internally for the team. She spends her free time with her husband Colin, her stepchildren, or with her 3 grandchildren. In addition to spending time with her family, Heather is a dog-lover and helps her husband train them for competition shows as a hobby. She is keen on traveling whether that’s to her next dog event or her favorite vacation spot.

Stamo joined Northwestern Mutual in 2019. She schedules client appointments, assists client with questions regarding their policies, accounts, online access and is responsible for marketing, bookkeeping and team wide projects. She is insurance licensed and holds the series 6 and 63.

Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Stamo was an Assistant Vice President at Citicorp Credit Services in  the Business Planning & Analysis division.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

As a Client Relations Associate, Bevan Gourley ensures clients’ needs are met by strategic and focused follow through. After graduation from Humboldt State University with a bachelor’s in economics, he started his professional career working at a private school as the Director of Extended Care and camps.

In this position, he developed a passion for building lasting relationships. His interest in finance and ability to work well directly with people led him to a wealth management firm in Long Beach, California, and eventually to Socium Advisors in January of 2020. Bevan enjoys helping others navigate the complexities of financial planning as well as forming genuine partnership.

In his leisure time, Bevan enjoys time spent at the golf course, walking his dog, or with his fiancé, Cheyenne.

Adam Heath graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Computer Science. He started his career as an intern at AG Edwards, evolving into a full-time position. Joining Socium Advisors, he now serves as the Director of Financial Planning. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Adam leverages his industry experience and team-oriented approach to create comprehensive financial plans for clients. Outside of work, he values family time with his kids, Chase and Addyson, and enjoys activities like golfing and cycling.

Haig is a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual. His favorite part about what he does is cherishing the relationships of his clients to bring them one step further in achieving their legacies. Haig holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designations in order to provide the expertise needed for his clients.

Haig earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the Centre College of Kentucky and his M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore.

Hailing from Reston, Virgina, Haig enjoys playing tennis, road and mountain biking, independent movies and fine arts. He loves to travel to Costa Rica, India and Europe as his favorite destinations. Haig is passionate about supporting various charitable organizations and spending time with friends and family.

Broc serves as an Investment Associate.

Broc grew up in Mid-Missouri and moved to Springfield, MO following high school. He studied and graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management. His passion for finance led him to work at a community bank where he was a Branch Manager. He soon learned that he wanted to make a larger impact on helping others with their finances and became a Investment Associate. Broc is grateful to be able to combine his passion, hobbies, and work, all in one by continuing to learn about investments and portfolio management.  

He recently moved to St. Louis to be closer to friends and family and explore a new city. When Broc is not at work, he enjoys traveling the country with his fiancé, Sarah. He also enjoys watching sports, visiting natural parks, and attending concerts. 

Marlene Lupas first found her love for the financial services industry when she took a part-time job at a brokerage firm in college. She then went on to a brokerage position trading equities and options, and eventually moved into a Director position at a national firm where she was part of a fixed-income sales team covering primarily states, corporations, municipalities and commercial real estate accounts.

Joshua has been with Northwestern Mutual for over two decades. He helps our clients with insurance policies, investment accounts and the underwriting process, and assists the team in preparing and implementing financial solutions.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College and also has Series 6, 7 and 63 licenses.

Katherine Mustain serves as Client Service Associate with Socium Advisors. As a master of organizational process and data management, Katherine enjoys preparing and perfecting a seamless process for Socium’s clients. Keen on problem-solving, Kathy is always finding a faster and more efficient way to accomplish a result. 

Amanda Olsen, a Client Service Representative at Socium Advisors, brings a wealth of experience from her career in the mortgage industry. A 2018 graduate of UMSL with a BSBA in Business Administration and an emphasis in management, Amanda showcases dedication to leadership development. In her role at Socium Advisors, Amanda's adaptability and commitment to client service shines through.

Beyond the professional sphere, she finds joy in family, with deep roots in Oakville, MO. At home, Amanda's companions are her two beloved cats, Ivan and Stella. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, walking, and hiking.

Tommy is a Financial Planning Associate. He finds great joy in helping clients understand what’s possible and helping them achieve their goals through the work he does at Socium Advisors. Tommy began his career as an intern with Northwestern Mutual before going into a Financial Advisor role. In 2021, he joined Socium Advisors.

Tommy graduated from University Missouri – Saint Louis. He and his wife Anna reside in St. Louis and enjoy golf, running and the great outdoors.

Harper Phillips, a Communications Coordinator with a diverse range of marketing experiences, calls St. Louis her home. With a BA in Graphic Design from Briar Cliff University and an MA in Media Communications from Webster University, Harper excels in crafting compelling communications tailored for diverse audiences. Beyond her professional achievements, Harper is a dedicated individual with a passion for connecting with people.

Driven by a lifelong desire to explore the world, Harper's journey led her to teach English in Taiwan. In her downtime, you can find Harper enjoying the outdoors, listening to music, experimenting with new recipes, or hanging out with her rescue rabbits, Maybe and Darcy.

Bill is a seasoned Retirement Plan Strategist with over 25 years in the industry.  He has experience in sales, consulting, investment education and relationship management.  Companies he's worked for include Fidelity, Principal Financial Group, PNC Financial Services and Pacific Life Insurance Company.

Bill’s passions include assisting plan sponsors with managing their fiduciary duties and helping participants save for retirement.

In his spare time, he enjoys college football and basketball as well as playing golf most weekends when the weather is good!

Heather Stonebarger is an Advisor who specializes in proactively overseeing and coordinating the comprehensive financial planning needs of retired, active duty and reserve members of the military, government workers, medical professionals, business owners and their families.

As a military veteran and member of a fourth-generation military family, Heather has a deep understanding of military benefits and advises both active-duty service members and veterans on how to incorporate them into a comprehensive financial plan.

She is passionate about educating her clients on protecting, optimizing and growing their assets, so they have money, choices, and peace of mind in retirement.

Heather has earned numerous awards and acknowledgements for her client practice and services, including Northwestern Mutual’s Pacesetter First 40, Centurion Platinum and Pacesetter Second 60 Awards. Heather studied Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and has Associates degrees in General Studies from National American University and Community College of the Air Force. Heather and her family live in Saint Louis.

Walter Stubbings is a seasoned Research Analyst and dedicated financial professional with over 25 years of experience, passionately serving a diverse range of clients. His expertise extends to effectively managing Fixed-Income investments, including investment grade, high yield, mortgages, and structured products, navigating through various credit cycles. Walt brings a wealth of knowledge in equities, real estate, and commodities, showcasing his versatility in investment management.

With an MBA with honors from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Walt has a solid academic foundation complementing his extensive practical experience. In his previous role as the Director of Investments at the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation in Columbus, Ohio, Walt excelled in providing recommendations related to asset allocation, liability management, external investment managers, policies, and processes. His role included supporting the execution of these recommendations, highlighting his hands-on approach to strategic decision-making.

Walt's track record includes managing wealth management accounts, separately managed accounts, institutional portfolios, insurance portfolios, mutual funds, pension funds, and 401(k) accounts. His commitment to excellence and proven long-term investment management expertise make him a valuable asset in the financial landscape. Beyond his professional achievements, Walt is known for his dedication to delivering client-centric solutions and navigating complex financial landscapes with precision.

As an Associate Advisor, Sid values developing relationships with his clients. After starting his career in finance through an internship, Sid spent 14 years with Northwestern Mutual as an Associate Advisor, Wealth Management Advisor and within leadership as a College Unit Director. During this time Sid received several notable accomplishments within Northwestern Mutual. In 2019, Sid went on to expand his leadership experience within the industry before returning back to Northwestern Mutual and Socium Advisors in November 2021.

Sid co-founded The Dental Advisory Group which serves as a resource to dental practices around the country. As the President of the Gainesville, VA Chapter of Nexco National, Sid works to network and uplift others.

Sid earned his Bachelors in Finance from George Mason University School of Business to which he still sits on the Alumni Board today.

Sid and his wife Deepika reside in the McLean, VA area and enjoy travel.

Justin serves as Socium’s Financial Planning Analyst. He joins Socium with 15 years of Wealth Management and Investment banking experience. His former roles include VP of Private Wealth Management for Regions Bank, VP Middle Market for BBVA and as a Physical Natural Gas Trader for BP. He got his start out of college with A.G. Edwards and Sons as a Stock Broker.

After receiving his undergrad at the University of West Florida, Justin attended Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

Justin has served as Chairman since 2016 and remains to today for the Community Foundation of Northwest Florida. With a passion for the Early Learning Coalition, he served as Governor Appointee Executive Committee from 2016-2018 and served as Honorary Squadron Commander from 2014-2015 for the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base.

Justin was born and raised in Destin, Florida. He recently relocated to St. Louis, MO. Justin has two children, Abbey Leigh and Justin Jr., and his hobbies include snow skiing, golf and triathlon.

As a Client Service Associate for Socium Advisors, Bethany Walmer assists in managing client requests and account maintenance. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Bethany graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Urshan College this spring.

Bethany joins Socium with insurance expertise and experience from within the industry having previously worked for several large insurance companies. Her passion for helping clients protect what matters most to them and diligence in providing world class service in financial services shine through. Out of the office, Bethany loves to cook and travel the globe with her husband Christian.

Jeff Schaumburg is an accomplished financial professional with extensive experience in financial forecasting and FP&A. With a solid background in the investment and RIA industries, he has facilitated decision-making related to various complex financial operations, including partnership compensation, valuation, and mergers and acquisitions.

As the Chief Financial Officer at Socium Advisors, Jeff oversees the financial strategy and operations of the organization. Prior to this role, Jeff held positions at Moneta and State Street, where he honed his expertise in forecasting, financial modeling, automation, and other various FP&A areas.

Jeff's educational background includes a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Missouri State University and the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Jeff has been actively involved in various Non-Profit organizations throughout the years. Most recently these include serving as a member of Wish STL (Young professionals board for Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas) and volunteering in numerous capacities as an Alumnus of the Zeta Chi Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

With a proven track record of driving financial performance and fostering strategic growth, Jeff is poised to continue making significant contributions to the financial industry.

Ian Powers is an Advisor who believes in prioritizing his clients' financial goals and understanding their needs with attention to detail. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Missouri - St. Louis and has worked in various roles in the financial industry, including helping individual investors and plan sponsors navigate their Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans.

Ian has always been passionate about money management, which was a fixture in his upbringing. This passion led him to join Socium Advisors in April of 2024.

When Ian is not working, he likes to spend his free time at his family farm, playing golf, or enjoying the company of his wife Whitney and their son Nolan.