Don Erickson, ChFC

Don serves as President and CEO of Clarity Asset Management. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. 

Don graduated from Iowa State University in 1979. While at ISU, he also lettered as a member of the Cyclone wrestling team.  In 1986, Don started Resource Planning Group, a financial planning firm focused on retirement, investment, and estate planning. His desire was to break away from the traditional approach to financial advising which included gaining commissions from selling certain products. He began with a “fee only” compensation method to allow for objective financial planning while seeking to alleviate any conflicts of interest – and that is how we are still operating today. In 2012,  Resource Planning Group merged with Clarity Asset Management. Don obtained the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College in 1987.

Don and his wife, Becky, have been together since 1976 and currently reside in Ames. They have two daughters, Amber and Casee, and numerous grandchildren. Don enjoys spending time with his grandkids, volunteering, and doing outdoor activities. He is a past President of the Ames Foundation and the Ames Town & Country Kiwanis. Don is also a past Treasurer of the Story County Community Foundation and Kiwanis.

“I began this company to give people unbiased financial advice from someone they trust. I am still in the business because I enjoy meeting new people and working with them through their unique financial planning issues.”

Kacy Bass, CFP®

   kbass@investmentclarity.com

Kacy is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor and a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional. He works directly with each of our clients facilitating collaborative financial planning.

Kacy grew up in Huxley, IA before heading to the suburbs of Chicago to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies and to compete in college basketball at Trinity International University. After graduation, he moved back to Central Iowa and started his career in financial planning with Clarity in January of 2014. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Master of Family and Consumer Sciences Degree (MFCS) specializing in Family Financial Planning in August of 2018. Kacy and his wife, Sophie, live in Ames with their three sons.

“I enjoy the relationships our firm has with our clients, focused on financial stewardship and driven by wisdom. It is humbling and rewarding to have a positive impact on not just our clients' lives, but on their families and the community.”

Steve Larson, CMFC, SIPC

  slarson@investmentclarity.com

Steve is currently the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Clarity Asset Management, and has worked with Don since January of 2000. Steve’s expertise is in asset management and developing personalized investment portfolios within the context of an overall financial plan.

Steve graduated from Iowa State University in 1975 with a business degree in Industrial Administration. He was employed by Des Moines Savings & Loan and Ames Savings & Loan, from 1975 to 1989, where he was Assistant Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and a member of the Financial Managers Society. He holds the Series 65 license, the Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning, and a Certificate of Financial Planning from the Boston University Center for Professional Education. In 2018,  Steve earned the Sustainable Investment Professional Certification through the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

A resident of Ames since 1971, Steve and his wife, Shelly, have four children and numerous grandchildren. He is active in theological education and pastoral leadership, his full-time profession from 1989 to 2000. Steve conducted leadership training seminars throughout the United States and Southeast Asia throughout that time and continues to travel to Myanmar and Thailand, helping church networks with leadership training and community development projects. Locally, he serves on the board of the Matthew 25 House, a faith-based halfway house for former inmates, and he helped found the Two Paths mentoring ministry to Story County Jail inmates and their families.

“The field of financial planning and asset management has been a lifelong pursuit for me. I enjoy working with people in trusted relationships, addressing and helping to fix financial health issues. This, I believe, not only benefits those individuals and families but also contributes to the health and prosperity of our whole community. I enjoy communicating the complexities of investing and investment analysis in terms that are easy to understand.”

Nevin Conlon, CFP®

  nconlon@investmentclarity.com

Nevin is a Certified Financial Planner™  Professional and joined our team in 2016. He oversees all communication, form processing, investment trading, and handles any service-related questions and issues.

Upon graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with a math education degree, he taught five years of junior high math and coached basketball in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In December 2015, he earned a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). After attending a personal finance course through his church and later teaching a similar mini-course in his junior high school, Nevin decided to make a career change to pursue this passion for helping others with their finances. Nevin earned the Certified Financial Planner™ designation in 2021.

Nevin and his wife, Sami, live in Ankeny with their daughters, Eiley, Nora, and Elsie. He enjoys spending time with family, playing basketball, and participating in various activities and groups through his church.

“I enjoy seeing others accomplish their goals and am honored when I get to be a part of making it happen. I love being part of this team as we seek to develop long-term trusted relationships and help people make wise financial decisions throughout all of life's transitions.”

Julie Siegel

Julie Siegel is the Chief Compliance Officer of Clarity Asset Management. Her role is to oversee all of our activities to make sure we are meeting compliance standards.  

She graduated from Iowa State University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.  She worked with us from 1995 through 2003 and then returned to the team in 2013 after being home with her children for 10 years.  She has also worked part-time as a bookkeeper for several small businesses and non-profits over the last 20 years.   

Julie and her husband were married in 1993 and have two children and live in Ames.  She enjoys family time, watching her children perform and play sports, being involved with her church family and yoga.  

“I love being a part of the team at Clarity.  I can use my gifts to fill a behind-the-scenes, but necessary, function to help ensure we are providing the very best service to our clients.”