The Team

Bill “Billy” Cardwell, is a Certified Financial Planner that has made his mission to serve and assist clients with their financial needs. A graduate of Manchester University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and a minor in Economics allowed him the background needed to pursue a financial planning career. Billy works directly with clients to develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive financial plans tailored to each individual’s needs. Billy strives to help members of his community, and those around the world to create the life of their dreams, free from anxiety and stress about money. 

Billy has an extensive background in creating financial plans for financial advisors all across the country while serving in his position as the Director of Financial Planning at a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Since holding this position, he has moved on to focus primarily on his clients and their needs when creating his own independent firm, Aurora Financial Strategies. At Aurora Financial Strategies, it was important to Billy that he run his business free of sales quotas and product placements to serve clients in the manner that best suits their individual needs. Billy takes great pride in taking the time to learn and understand each of his client’s unique financial needs and goals in order to build a plan that makes it feasible to reach said needs and goals. 

When not in the office, Billy stays active as a member of the Kokomo Y’s Men Club, a board member of Valley of Grace, a close friend to One 17 International, and Bridges Outreach. Billy enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Alli and his two awesome kids, Rory and Gavyn. When time allows, Billy can be found golfing, grilling out for friends and family on his Big Green Egg, and cheering on his favorite athletic teams- the Colts, Pacers, Cubs, and Boilermakers.

Austin Crites, is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder (CFA) - one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession. Austin is a graduate of Marian University in Indianapolis where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Austin began his career in 2008 starting as a financial advisor and later transitioned towards a focus on investment management. At Aurora Financial Strategies, Austin’s primary role is to serve as the builder of our clients’ portfolios. Austin’s attention to detail, research methods, and background in finance allow him to build client portfolios based on the personalized need of each of our clients.  

As an investor, Austin considers his natural curiosity to be among his greatest strengths. He is fascinated with learning and revisiting different types of businesses and industries to find what makes them tick. His wide-ranging curiosity allows him to sift through stock reports and build well-diversified portfolios. Austin’s experience as the Past- President of the CFA Society of Indianapolis along with being a current adjunct professor of investments at Marian University help him to stay connected with the local investment professional community.  

In his spare time, Austin enjoys exploring various hobbies such as vegetable gardening, fermenting apple cider, and reading non-fiction literature. Austin also loves watching baseball (Go Cubs!), playing soccer, grilling out, and strategy games of all kinds. Most of all, he relishes family time with his wife, Kundai, and their two children, Tatenda & Nyasha. They reside in the downtown Indianapolis area. 

Reed Hubbert was welcomed to the team as a Financial Planning Specialist in June of 2022. Previously, Reed was an intern on our team doing various roles from working with client paperwork, assisting with plans, and day to day office responsibilities. Reed is a Kokomo native, 2018 graduate of Western High School and 2021 graduate of Valparaiso University. He is working his way through the Certified Financial Planner program online through the American College of Financial Services, and he also has recently become licensed to sell life insurance in the state of Indiana. Reed says his driving force of learning more about our industry is because he wants to be able to make a difference in others’ lives in a meaningful way. Combining his own interests of growing and saving money while helping others will allow him to share his knowledge with others regarding his passions and what excites him!

In his free time, Reed enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, playing basketball, and volunteering in the community, especially at his church, Crossroads Community Church. Reed leads a life group at Crossroads called the Young Professionals Group where new college graduates have an opportunity to read the Bible and serve together. He is a volunteer for the Indiana Zeta Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the fraternity he was an undergraduate member of during his days as a student at Valparaiso University. Outside of volunteering, Reed is also a football coach at Western Middle School.

Chad was born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana. He graduated from Western High School in 2017. Chad continued his education at Purdue University graduating in 2021. Chad then worked as a financial advisor at Westpoint Financial Group for 3 years before joining Aurora in February of 2025. Chad enjoys working with clients and making their life simpler by explaining financial solutions in a way anyone can understand. Chad is active in the community in several community groups along with being a Member of the Board of Directors for the Family Services Association of Howard County. Outside of his career and community activities Chad enjoys playing golf and tennis. Chad also enjoys hanging out with his family and his siblings Megan and Bret. Chad is also an avid sports fan cheering on Purdue, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Alex Watkins joined Aurora Financial Strategies in June 2026 after beginning his financial services career with Community First Investment Group in June 2025. As a Financial Advisor, he is dedicated to helping individuals and families pursue their financial goals with confidence. Alex works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their unique investment needs, objectives, and long-term aspirations.

A graduate of Western High School, Alex went on to attend Indiana Institute of Technology, where he earned his bachelor's degree in financial services. During his time at Indiana Tech, he competed as a member of the university's baseball team for three years, developing the discipline, teamwork, and perseverance that continue to guide his professional approach today.

Committed to continuous growth and professional excellence, Alex is currently pursuing the prestigious Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation. His passion for helping others extends beyond financial planning, as he strives to build meaningful relationships and provide guidance that helps clients make informed financial decisions.

Outside of the office, Alex enjoys spending time with friends, staying active through workouts, and playing pickleball. He also provides baseball instruction through Laird's Training, where he enjoys mentoring young athletes and helping them reach their potential. Whether working with clients or coaching athletes, Alex is driven by a genuine desire to help others succeed.

Alex has been an active member of Crossroads Church for the past eight years, where his faith and commitment to serving others continue to shape both his personal and professional life.

Jackson Collins joined the Aurora Financial Strategies team as an Associate Financial Planner in June 2026 after graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in finance.
Jackson’s journey with Aurora began during his senior year at Maconaquah High School when he completed an internship with the firm. During that time, he gained firsthand experience in the financial planning profession and developed a passion for helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals.

As an Associate Financial Planner, Jackson assists in developing comprehensive financial plans while helping clients navigate their financial goals and make informed decisions for the future. During his time at Purdue, Jackson was an active member of both the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Financial Management Association (FMA), where he expanded his knowledge of financial planning and investment management.

Outside of the office, Jackson enjoys golfing with friends, working out, and spending time with family. He also enjoys watching his younger siblings compete in baseball and basketball and cheering on his favorite sports teams with family and friends.

Rishabh is a recent graduate of St. Olaf College where he studied Quantitative Economics and Mathematics. He has a strong interest in financial markets and portfolio management and is actively pursuing the CFA charter. Rishabh has prior experiences in financial analysis and strategic consulting through internship experiences in corporate finance and previously at another RIA in Minnesota. He is particularly interested in understanding businesses from the ground up, how industries operate, what drives competitive advantage, and how disciplined investment decisions create long term value. Outside of work, Rishabh enjoys following market trends and staying active through sports including golf, cricket, badminton, squash, and running. He also enjoys exploring local coffee shops, long drives, and a good poker game with friends. 

Eleni is our Director of Client Services at Aurora Financial Strategies. Eleni brings a vibrant mix of organizational expertise and problem-solving skills to the team. Known for her ability to juggle multiple tasks, her proactive approach and commitment to excellence ensures smooth operation and effective support for our clients, financial advisors, and portfolio managers. As a dedicated team member at Aurora Financial Strategies, Eleni thrives on building meaningful connections with clients. She is passionate about understanding their unique needs and goals, ensuring every interaction is personalized and impactful. Her enthusiasm for client satisfaction drives her to go above and beyond, fostering long lasting relationship that contribute to shared success. Outside of work, Eleni enjoys anything that allows her to be creative I her spare time including traveling, painting, baking. She loves spending time with her husband and son, family, and friends. Together, they love going for walks, bike rides, and exploring out in nature.

Allison is Aurora’s Fractional Marketing Director and helps the team with a variety of marketing and sales needs. Outside of helping her clients devise marketing strategies that drive results, she enjoys keeping up with financial news and promoting financial literacy in her community.

Allison is an advocate for the city of Indianapolis and lives downtown with her two dogs.