Joe McCulloch, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the McCulloch Family!

It’s amazing how quickly the year has gone by, and we’ve sure had our share of excitement. J.J.’s club soccer team took home 3 tournament championships this year along with winning their league in the spring and fall. Grayson decided to become a switch hitter for his baseball team and was crushing the ball from both sides of the plate by the time the season was over (at 6 years old!). And Sadie was finally old enough to play soccer. She was on a coed team and had no problem showing the boys who’s boss! But most importantly, they are all doing an amazing job at school and receive constant compliments from their teachers about how great of kids they are.

In our biggest news, Trisha won her election and effective January 1, 2023, will be the Division 6 Associate Circuit Judge in St. Charles County! She set this goal over 3 years ago and has been working tirelessly to achieve it. I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of the hard work she put in to make this dream a reality. Even the kids recognize how big of an accomplishment this is and can see firsthand that anything is possible with hard work.

I can’t wait to see what 2023 holds in store personally and professionally, and I look forward to continuing to serve all of our great clients. Cheers!

– Joe, Trisha, J.J. (9), Grayson (6), Sadie (4)

Kevin Conard, CRPC®

CEO – Principal & Senior Wealth Manager

I’d say that 2022 was an interesting one – but then again, every year seems to be more interesting than the last! It started out with a bang! Katie and I got engaged in February, spilling into Spring Break with a trip to Vegas with the boys. And while an Elvis impersonator officiating a spontaneous no-drama wedding in a Las Vegas white chapel was tempting, we opted to stick to the plan and get married in September in KC.

We of course made the lake part of our life this summer. The boys are getting really good at wake surfing and wakeboarding! I dutifully continue as the unpaid Uber driver for the boat and Katie doubles as the videographer for their boarding tricks. Individually, the boys are doing great. Corin is officially behind the wheel. He’s in charge of filling up his car with gas. Which has also served as an education in inflation and subsequently a much needed job at Chick-Fil-A. He made the high school soccer team again and this Fall made the Junior Varsity basketball team as a sophomore. Kash (8th grade) is excelling at school and is more than ready for high school. Daily, you’ll find him working on his jump shot. Hourly, you’ll find him checking his hair in the mirror – because, you know, girls. And as for Kiptyn (6th grade), never one to blend in has adopted a man-bun. He seems to think our entire house is a training ground for dribbling a soccer ball, which it is not, as he is reminded about frequently. His hopes to play in the MLS are still alive and well!

In September, Katie and I pulled the trigger and got married. Skipping the Vegas wedding was the right call. It was a super small event with all three boys as my Best Men! I’d need a few pages to go on and on about Katie. But I can tell you that she’s gracefully and lovingly stepped into a “fraternity of four boys” and makes all of our lives so much better – especially mine! I look forward to the day you get to meet her!

Kevin, Katie, Corin (16), Kash (14), Kiptyn (11½)

Kristy Ashworth

Wealth Manager

Happy Holidays TRPG Family! 2022 was a year of “firsts” for the Ashworths.

We took our first family trip to Disney World. We surprised Kennedy at 5 am one Saturday morning and I don’t think her excitement let her touch the ground for 7 days. Despite the 45F degree weather and rain, we hit every park, rode every ride, and spent every dollar we had. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. We’re certain Kennedy is already planning our return trip.

While at Disney, we ate at an Irish restaurant (Raglan Road) complete with live music and dancers. Little did we know that this night out would spur a new passion for Kennedy. The week we returned, she asked if she could take Irish dance lessons. After doing some research on this completely foreign activity, she began lessons at The Clark Academy of Irish Dance, and we haven’t looked back. Kennedy has found something that lights her up and fills her with confidence and we could not have anticipated her level of dedication to this sport. She began dancing competitively in July (traveling around the Midwest) and was invited to compete in the middle America championships in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving weekend. This usually takes a dancer several years, not months. She placed 23rd! Caleb and I could NOT be prouder of our little girl.

As if 2022 could handle any more change and excitement, we’re proud to share that our family will be growing early next spring. After years of trying, we’re expecting a baby GIRL in April 2023. While Caleb and I are anxiously awaiting her arrival, Kennedy is busy designing the nursery, picking out names, and greedily seizing every opportunity to share her news with everyone she meets. While some questions she has have left us red-faced and stalling for an answer, experiencing this with Kennedy has brought us closer and been a real blessing.

We’re wrapping up the year with a much-anticipated trip to Asheville, NC the last week of December. Caleb has found some hiking trails and restaurants to check out, but Kennedy and I are most interested in our stay on the Biltmore estate. She keeps confidently telling people we’re going to “Baltimore” for Christmas, and we just laugh.

We’ve been fortunate to have made so many memories and find new activities to enjoy together this year. 2023 promises to be another year of “firsts” and we cannot wait.

From the Ashworth family to your family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kristy, Caleb, and Kennedy (8)

Rob R. O’Blennis, JD, CRPC®

Principal & Senior Wealth Manager

Xavier (8) started third grade this fall and is loving it. He’s working on his math. Gustav (6) started first grade. He’s working on his reading and loves sounding out new words. He’s getting the hang of it. They both come home from school worn out and dirty so we figure they are having a good time at recess.

Over the summer we did our annual trip to Tablerock Lake with Rob’s family. Xavier learned to water ski this year. He had four older cousins, two uncles, and his dad hooting and hollering for him. We made quite a ruckus. Over Thanksgiving, we visited Colorado Springs to see Lori’s dad, her brother, and his family. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge and had a terrific time. While there we also visited Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, conveniently located just outside of Colorado Springs.

Gustav played T-ball with his kindergarten class in the spring. He has an eye for hitting. Gusty was practicing hitting with dad and grandpa in our backyard and knocked a birdhouse out of a tree. Xavier joined the neighborhood swim team over the summer and loved it. He practically turned into a fish. Both boys played soccer in the fall. A lot of soccer. Both play for our parish’s CYC team. Xavier also joined a club team. Early in the season, Xavier decided he wanted to play goalkeeper on both teams and did a tremendous job.

2022 was good to the O’Blennis family. We hope it was for your family too. This year reminded us to be grateful for the blessings in our lives and the time we have to appreciate them. Thank you for the trust and faith you place in us. We wish you a Merry Christmas. See you in 2023.

Taylor Swartzendruber

Wealth Manager

What a year it has been! It is hard to believe over a year has passed since I joined TRPG. You know what they say, “time flies when you are having fun,” and I sure do have fun here.

Roman started a new job fulfilling his passion of working with members of our special needs community as the Special Populations and Special Olympics Coordinator for the Blue Valley District. He recently began his second season as the varsity assistant for Blue Valley Southwest High School Boys’ Basketball as well. Last season, they had a very successful run competing at the 5A State Basketball playoffs in March. We are already gearing up for another exciting season with the players’ frequent requests for homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Our Nova girl has not missed a daily walk since the last Christmas card despite the many times I wished to sleep in and avoid the negative, or triple digit, temperatures. Nevertheless, she is happy, healthy, and the best pup we could ever ask for.
In July, I was surprised with a marriage proposal from Roman, and without hesitation, I said, “it’s about time!” Just kidding, I said, “yes!” Nova is very excited for her humans to get hitched next year! 2022 was truly a year to remember. We are so blessed and thankful to be a part of the TRPG family with you.

Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!

Roman, Taylor, and Nova