Our Team Members
Rick Bain, RICP®, CFS® - Founder & Advisor
rbain@LighthouseStrategies.com
Rick is the founder of Lighthouse Financial Strategies, and specializes in designing customized financial plans and managing investment strategies for families and small business owners since 2002. Rick has been recognized and featured in issues of Forbes, Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and 435 KC Magazine multiple times as a Kansas City Five Star Wealth Manager. His professional background includes manufacturing engineering, product development, and business management. He has served Dave Ramsey listeners since 2006.
Rick's goal is to educate you with the heart of a teacher, providing “Guidance when YOU need it”, (beyond 9 AM to 5 PM), to help you make meaningful decisions regarding your unique circumstances. Strategies include financial planning, retirement income, investing, (including Biblical Faith Values and alternative investing options), tax reduction, as well as life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance.
When not assisting clients, Rick enjoys sailing, hunting, working on home and farm projects, as well as gardening and cooking. He looks forward to live music and dancing with Mona on most Saturday nights in downtown Lee's Summit. He has always loved family vacations – visiting lighthouses whenever possible.
Licenses: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Seri
es 7 and Series 66
Accident and Health, Life, Variable Contracts. Not registered in all states.
View Award Details & Fortune Listing
This award was issued on 01/01/2026 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2025 through 10/01/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2198 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 119 (5 % of candidates) were named 2026 Five Star Wealth Managers.
Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Ethan Hays, CFP®, CPA, EA - Financial Advisor
ehays@LighthouseStrategies.com
Ethan graduated from Baker University in 2016 with a double major in Accounting and Business Finance.
Prior to joining us, Ethan worked for a large public accounting firm. Ethan uses his expertise to assist clients by providing advice that considers both investment and tax implications. Ethan believes that unless you consider both aspects, you may not be looking at the entire financial picture. Along with offering the convenience of tax planning/preparation services under one roof*, Ethan enjoys helping clients plan for their current and future goals, striving to provide “guidance when you need it” through exceptional service and genuine care for clients' concerns. Ethan plays a key role in client interactions, including meetings, financial plan development, investment analysis, tax preparation/planning, and other financial advice.
Outside of work, Ethan is a devoted father and proud dad who values his time with family. He especially enjoys family adventures like the zoo or day trips. He can also be found hunting, fishing, hiking, around a campfire or snowboarding.
Licenses: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Series 7 and Series 66, Not registered in all states
Accident and Health, Life, Variable Contracts. Not registered in all states.
Kylie Hays, CFP® - Financial Planner
khays@LighthouseStrategies.com
Kylie graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana in February 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Minors in Economics and Entrepreneurship.
Out of college she worked in Fort Wayne, Indiana at a small engineering company serving the orthopedic industry. Kylie joined Lighthouse Financial Strategies in early 2018 to assist with technology implementation and process optimization, using her project management engineering skills to assist our team in practice management and operations, and also serving our clients as a registered assistant. Kylie obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 2021 and helped refine our detailed financial planning process.
Kylie now works part time, dedicating this season of life to raising her daughter and cherishing moments at home. Between family adventures, Kylie enjoys DIY projects, painting, and decorating her home for all the holidays (even the small ones!).
Licenses: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Series 7 and Series 66, Not registered in all states
Accident and Health, Life, Variable Contracts. Not registered in all states.
Lilly Dunn - Financial Services Specialists
ldunn@LighthouseStrategies.com
Lilly received her education at the University of Central Missouri and is set to graduate in May 2026 with a B.S.B.A. double major in Economics/Finance and a minor in Computer Information Systems.
She joined our team part-time in July 2025 and interned with us as part of her degree program through her final semester in spring 2026.
Before joining our team, Lilly worked as a pharmacy technician for a small grocery store pharmacy where she loved interacting with her patients and serving her community. Lilly grew up listening to Dave Ramsey with her family and developed a passion for finance as she got older.
Lilly spends most of her free time out on the range practicing for her shotgun sports competitions. When she isn't on the range, she loves hunting, baking, sewing, and visiting her parents at their farm with their dogs and chickens.
Morgan Bain - Marketing & Sales Support
mbain@LighthouseStrategies.com
Morgan graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Missouri in 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.
Morgan spent five years passionately helping young children achieve developmental milestones at a corporate daycare. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Morgan coordinated the school activities and special events for students, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
In January 2026, Morgan joined our team and brought her insight, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and keen attention to detail to support our marketing and sales initiatives.
In her free time, Morgan enjoys hunting, spending time with her family and friends, along with her loving and energetic Maltese - Sparky. She loves listening to live music and dancing the night away.
Our team is available to see that your needs are a priority!
As Stephen Covey says, "Begin with the end in mind!".
The sooner you define your goals, (your retirement needs), the more time you have to react, and the easier it will be.
Good money managers balance current wants and needs with future wants and needs. They monitor their progress toward their goals to stay on track and make adjustments as needed.