Despite graduating decades apart, Nick Hentges (BBA81) and JD Klopfenstein (BBA18) share more than a finance degree. Both are building careers as trusted advisors, remain deeply engaged with Tippie, and now share another distinction as Tippie’s 2026 Alumni of the Year. As a nod to their careers, we asked them to measure life’s biggest lessons in the language of finance. Here’s how they sized up the investments, risks, and returns that have mattered most.

2026 Tippie Alum of the Year

Nick Hentges, CEO, Captive Resources

Best ROI?
Uprooting my life in Des Moines 33 years ago to join Captive Resources. At the time, we were a $50 million company; today we’re more than $6 billion. It’s been financially rewarding, but the real return is the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve enjoyed along the way.

Best long-term investment?
My high school sweetheart, Mary. I convinced her to marry me in 1980, and that investment has paid dividends beyond my wildest dreams. Three great kids, two daughters-in-law (all Hawkeyes), and a granddaughter on the way. I never could have achieved what I have without Mary as my partner.

Biggest risk?
Leaving a great job I wasn’t passionate about and moving to Chicago to join a startup for 40 percent less pay. Many people told me I was crazy—and they were probably right. But I loved what Captive Resources was building. Today I’m even more passionate about it than ever, which is why retirement isn’t even on my radar.

2026 Tippie Young Alum of the Year

JD Klopfenstein, Managing Partner, Legacy Wealth Management
Executive Chair, Tippie Young Alumni Board

Best long-term investment?
Marrying my wife, Emily. She’s the foundation that makes everything else possible—the long hours and the nights I come home drained. The best return on that investment isn’t measured in dollars. It’s having someone who gets it, who’s in it with me, and reminds me why I’m doing this in the first place: to serve others. 

Biggest risk?
Betting on myself. I was 21 with zero mentorship and no team when I jumped into this career. Some days I was the advisor; other days I was handling HR or figuring out why the printer wasn’t working. It was terrifying, completely necessary, and the best post-Tippie education I could have asked for.

Undervalued asset?
Patience. Everything worth building takes longer than you think it should. Too many people burn out because they expect to feel successful by a certain age. I made peace early with the fact that the compound interest of investing in your career, relationships, and health takes time to build. Keep taking one step forward each day, and eventually you’ll arrive where you hoped to be.

This article appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Tippie Magazine.