About Us

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 Bonnie is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®), and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) based in Topeka, Kansas. She brings a unique blend of expertise and down-to-earth friendliness to clients from all walks of life, helping them confidently navigate their financial journeys.

Bonnie is a Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law graduate. She founded Maize Financial to help make financial advice accessible to everyone. In 2024, she earned her CFP® and AFC® designations and welcomed Cale Yost as her business partner. Together, they rebranded the firm as Blazing Star Financial, inspired by the spectacular native plant found on Kansas prairies. Like the plant’s deep roots and resilience help it thrive in challenging conditions, Bonnie and Cale aim to help clients establish solid financial foundations to succeed no matter the circumstances. 

With Cale on board, Blazing Star Financial has been able to serve even more clients while maintaining the same high level of personalized service. They also launched Blazing Star Tax to offer small business advisory and tax preparation services, giving clients a more holistic approach to their financial well-being.

Bonnie is incredibly passionate about providing a safe space for individuals traditionally underserved by financial services. She focuses on women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and narrowing the racial wealth gap. She believes everyone deserves the opportunity to feel financially secure and works to make that a reality for her clients.

Outside of work, Bonnie enjoys life with her husband and three children outside Topeka. You can find her collecting far too many books and houseplants or watching hockey in her free time. She also enjoys serving with a local non-profit, helping to educate and financially empower under-resourced communities.

Cale is a financial planner and investment advisor at Blazing Star Financial. He specializes in tax planning and retirement income strategies. He joined the firm in 2023 and became a full partner a few months later.

His journey, beginning in a small town in Western Kansas and leading him to Lawrence in 2009, is marked by a deep appreciation for community—a value he brings to his work daily.

Cale served over 19 years in the Kansas Air National Guard. As he prepared to transition out of service, a meeting with a financial professional sparked a newfound passion. This led him to pursue a Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University. He also earned the prestigious Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation and is a candidate for CFP® certification.

Cale is a devoted family man, cherishing moments with his wife and three daughters. Watching them grow into strong, capable women keeps him grounded and fills him with pride. Whether it's driving the family minivan to various activities or enjoying simple moments at home, family life is central to Cale's world.

A shared vision for inclusive and approachable financial planning sparked Cale's collaboration with Bonnie. He was drawn to her commitment to meeting clients where they are and demystifying the financial planning process.

Professionally, Cale focuses on making retirement planning accessible to everyone. He believes in empowering clients with affordable, impactful solutions and helping them find their financial Zen.