OUR BACK OFFICE TEAM
Through our relationship with the ValMark Companies, we have access to an experienced support team, with credentials spanning multiple financial disciplines – from legal, accounting, tax and financial advisory expertise to life insurance, retirement planning and securities. This team of over 100 professionals serves as our back office support staff.
TYLER DENHOLM, CFA®
Tyler Denholm is the Vice President of Investment Management and Research for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. His primary responsibility includes overseeing the investment management process and conducting research for the various Valmark Wealth Solutions (VWS) Programs, including TOPS®, TOPS® Core, VWS Flex, VWS Custom and the TOPS® Variable Insurance Trusts. Specifically, he is responsible for portfolio design and portfolio management. Mr. Denholm regularly analyzes the TOPS® Portfolios and is heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of portfolio management. He also helps analyze our prospective portfolios, and we work directly with Tyler to determine which of the various Wealth Solutions would be the best fit for our clients. He earned his BSBA in Finance from the University of Akron, graduating Summa Cum Laude. In addition to his Series 7 and 24 registrations, Mr. Denholm is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT).
MICHAEL McCLARY, MBA
Michael McClary is the Chief Investment Officer of both Valmark Advisers, Inc. and Valmark Financial Group. His primary responsibility is coordinating all investment management solutions for Valmark Advisers, Valmark Wealth Solutions and Valmark Institutional, including TOPS®, TOPS® Strategic Allocation Portfolios, TOPS® Managed Risk ETF Portfolios, Valmark ACCESS™ and ACCESS™ Plus solutions. He is a nationally recognized expert in institutional portfolio management and RIA companies. He has more than 14 years of senior-level experience in financial management. Mr. McClary was named by EFTReport as one of “10 Rising Stars” in 2012 and one of “10 All Stars” in 2014. He is nationally recognized as one of the first three members of the IMN/Research Magazine “ETF Advisors Hall of Fame” in 2007 and is regularly published on ETF.com. In addition, he has collaborated with the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, Financial Advisor and Research Magazine on ETF-related topics and has been a featured speaker for organizations such as the S&P and the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Mr. McClary holds Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations, is a member of the Cleveland Society of Chartered Financial Analysts and is a Registered Investment Advisor. He earned an MBA in Financial Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Financial Services from The University of Akron, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
CHRIS BOTTARO, MBA
Chris Bottaro is the Senior Vice President of Insurance for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. He is responsible for the vision, strategy and execution of life insurance marketing, underwriting, new business, and inforce insurance solutions. In this role, he prides himself in partnering with advisors and insurance carriers to help make the life insurance process simpler and more efficient for clients. He has a technical risk assessment background and spent the first 12 years of his career in various underwriting production and leadership positions at Lincoln Financial Group in Hartford before relocating to the Twin Cities to join Valmark in February of 2015. He has an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, a BA in Economics from Boston College, and holds Series 6 and 26 registrations. Chris is a proud member of the Twin Cities Association of Home Office Underwriters, Brokerage Underwriters Forum, the Minneapolis Leadership Roundtable and sits on multiple insurance company advisory boards.
CHRIS FINEFROCK, MBA, CFP®
Chris Finefrock is the Senior Vice President of Financial Planning and Investments for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. In his role, he oversees and is a resource for the team responsible for all aspects of design and implementation of various brokerage, insurance and advisory solutions intended to assist investors with risk management and reaching their accumulation and/or distribution goals. He also oversees the practice management and financial technology area which assesses third-party vendor technology and assists Member Firms in the selection and implementation of processes within their practice. Lastly, he oversees the investment operations division including data processing, books and records retention, principal review and custodial platform relationships. In addition to his Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations and his Ohio Life, Health and Variable licenses, Mr. Finefrock holds a BSBA in Financial Services and an MBA in Finance from the University of Akron. He is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional.
ZACH HURST, CFP®
Zach Hurst is the Director of Financial Planning for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. In his role, he is responsible for aspects of design, marketing, and implementation of Valmark’s unique financial planning processes. He oversees a team of financial planners and product experts that assists with accumulation, income distribution, and legacy planning through various processes designed to best meet the unique needs of clients. Mr. Hurst earned a BSBA in Financial Services from The University of Akron, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional, and a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®). Additionally, he holds the Ohio Life, Health, Accident and Variable Life Insurance licenses and FINRA Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations. Mr. Hurst has presented on financial planning topics at Valmark’s Member Summit, as well as at various College of Business courses and panels with the University of Akron, where he was recognized for Outstanding Work and Accomplishment in the Field of Financial Planning from The University of Akron’s Finance Advisory Board. His recent published articles for the Technolink Association include “Democratizing Retirement Income Planning through the Lens of Economics and Finance” and “21st Century State-of-the-Art Dynastic Estate Planning with an Emphasis on Multiple Generations.”