Module 7 — Putting It Into Practice

Lauren Clough is Co-Founder and CEO of bQuest, a Longevity Planning and Care Coordination solution purpose-built for financial services. bQuest partners with wealth management firms, RIAs, and family offices to help families navigate aging, caregiving, end-of-life, and after-loss transitions.

Drawing on more than a decade leading within her family’s global logistics business, Lauren brings deep expertise in scaling complex systems. Her leadership is also shaped by her family’s multigenerational Alzheimer’s journey, which exposed the gaps between financial planning and aging care. Her mission is to make longevity planning and care coordination a standard client service within financial services.

Ranie Verby, CPA, CFP® is Director of Practice Management at Plancorp, where she leads advisor development, practice growth, and initiatives that strengthen the firm’s client experience. She joined Plancorp in 2019 after more than a decade in public accounting and financial services, bringing a unique combination of tax expertise, financial planning, behavioral finance, and client advocacy. Ranie also advises clients through complex financial and life transitions, with a particular passion for helping families plan thoughtfully for caregiving needs.

Ranie is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy in Taxation. She received the SIUC College of Business Emerging Saluki Leadership Award and has remained actively involved with the university’s School of Accountancy. She is also involved in community organizations including COCA and has a longstanding commitment to developing talent and expanding access to financial education.

Sarah Mouser, CFP®, CDFA®, CES™, CTS™, CCFS®, ELA™ is Executive Vice President of Financial Planning at Merit Financial Advisors, bringing more than two decades of experience in the wealth management industry. She helps lead the firm’s financial planning platform, with a focus on strengthening planning infrastructure, developing advisor talent, and delivering a more comprehensive client experience. Her expertise spans estate and legacy planning, tax planning, and the financial and personal decisions families face as they age.

Sarah previously served on the Board of Directors of Insight Memory Care Center, where she held leadership roles as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair. This experience deepened her commitment to helping families navigate the intersection of longevity, caregiving, cognitive decline, and financial planning. She believes financial advisors have an important role in helping families prepare earlier for healthcare and caregiving costs, housing transitions, and the complex conversations that accompany aging. A nationally recognized thought leader and frequent industry speaker, Sarah has been featured in publications including Barron’s, InvestmentNews, and Financial Planning. She also serves on financial planning advisory boards at Virginia Tech and George Mason University, supporting the next generation of financial planning professionals.