Trent Porter, CPA, CFP®
Financial advisor & CEO
Trent Porter founded Priority Financial Partners with a simple goal, give people the kind of financial advice he wished his own family and friends had received. After seeing too many “financial advisors” profit from confusion, he built a fee-only, fiduciary firm focused on clear guidance, honest recommendations, and long-term relationships. Trent is a CPA, CFP professional, and certified life coach, bringing a rare mix of tax planning depth and practical, human-centered advice. He is frequently consulted by the media for his expertise and has been interviewed on NPR and co-hosted the Your Money show on SiriusXM.
Outside of work, he’s into vinyl, guitars, trails, and family time with his wife and two sons.
Derek Lawson, Ph.D., CFP®
Financial Advisor & Chief Investment Officer
Derek is a CFP professional and partner who brings a calm, practical approach to retirement planning. He helps clients make confident decisions with a sharp focus on taxes and investment management, building strategies that support sustainable income and long-term peace of mind. Derek has also taught financial planning at the university level for more than ten years, and that educator mindset shows up in every meeting, clear explanations, and thoughtful tradeoffs. He works with clients to create a retirement plan that holds up in real life, not just in a spreadsheet, coordinating income, portfolio strategy, and tax decisions so everything works together.
Based in Des Moines, he works with clients across Iowa and nationwide. Outside of work, he enjoys ice hockey and time outdoors with his two kids.
Katy VanMeerhaeghe
Associate Advisor
Katy is an Associate Advisor at Priority Financial Partners, and she’s the steady, detail-loving engine behind great planning. She helps turn the “big picture” into clean next steps, keeps the moving parts organized, and makes sure nothing important gets lost in the shuffle.
She’s at her best building plans, spotting gaps, and bringing structure to complex situations, the kind of work that makes the rest of the team better. When something gets done quickly and correctly, there’s a good chance Katy had a hand in it.
Katy loves getting outside with her husband and daughter whenever she can.
Ashley Quamme, LMFT, FBS®, CFT™
Money Mindset Coach
Ashley blends therapy training with financial awareness to help clients build the habits and confidence that make a financial plan actually stick. She focuses on the behavioral side of money, helping clients navigate stress, clarify priorities, and follow through on their day-to-day decisions that support long-term goals.
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds the Financial Behavior Specialist and Certified Financial Therapist designations. She also earned a graduate certificate in Financial Therapy from Kansas State University.
Outside of work, Ashley is a wife and mom of two busy kids. When she’s not shuttling them to activities, you’ll usually find her gardening or spending time on the lake.
Mark Porter
Director of Compliance and Security
Mark brings more than 20 years of experience in compliance and fraud prevention. Before joining the team, he served as a Director and Senior Manager at Western Union, where he helped lead programs focused on risk management, oversight, and protecting clients.
Outside of work, Mark is a devoted husband, dad to four boys, and proud grandpa.
Violet Zinkerman
Director of Getting Sh!t Done
If our day-to-day had a “keep it together” button, Violet would be the one pressing it. She keeps client requests moving, keeps the details from slipping through the cracks, and helps our processes run smoother.
She brings years of industry experience in client service, operations, and account administration, plus a steady, can-do vibe. When she’s not working, she’s either outside, rewatching favorite shows, soaking up live music, or spending time with Atlas, her Shar Pei-Boxer mix.