Ryan Thompson serves as Vice President and Fiduciary Consultant in Argent Trust Company’s Kansas City and Atlanta offices, specializing in fiduciary services for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). He works closely with business owners, boards of directors, and ESOP participants to provide independent trustee services, governance oversight, and transaction support.
Prior to joining Argent, Ryan served as Vice President at First Trust of MidAmerica, where he acted as discretionary and directed trustee for more than 50 ESOPs. In this role, he represented plan participants as the legal voting shareholder, led trustee engagements for ESOP transactions, directed valuation reviews, and partnered with corporate leadership to ensure fiduciary integrity and regulatory compliance. He also oversaw complex compensation and ownership structures, including stock appreciation rights, warrants, and employment agreements.
Previously, Ryan was a Senior Wealth Advisor and Chief Compliance Officer – ERISA at Great Plains Trust Company. During his tenure, he managed more than $500 million in client assets and advised high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and executives on wealth management and long-term financial strategies. As Chief Compliance Officer, he was responsible for ERISA compliance and regulatory governance, ensuring adherence to Department of Labor, IRS, and ERISA requirements while providing fiduciary oversight and compliance training.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance from Park University.
He is an active member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and The ESOP Association (TEA).
