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Professional Team
Learn more about our team of professionals.
You
You
The most important team member is you! By providing our team with up-to-date financial information and sharing your goals, perspectives, and values, you give us the foundation to craft a truly unique financial strategy for you.
Jason Brotsky
Managing Partner
Jason Brotsky
Email: jason@spfgnow.com
A financial services professional since 2002, Jason is primarily responsible for ensuring that all clients of Strategic Partners Financial Group receive a consistent, exception experience when working with our team. In addition, Jason proudly continues to serve a select group of clients as their wealth advisor.
In recent years, Jason has also led a firm initiative to proactively partner with experienced legacy advisors in our communities to develop succession and continuity plans for the advisor and for his/her respective clients. He has experience in dealing with many different types of succession plans, and provides some unique resources to the legacy advisor in need of a continuity plan.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys chasing his two children wherever their curiosities may lead them, as well as mountain biking, skiing, golfing, fly fishing, and spending time with friends and family.
Clayton Shearer, CFP®
Managing Partner - Rocky Mountain Region
Clayton Shearer, CFP®
Email: clayton@spfgnow.com
Clayton graduated from Kansas State University in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Personal Financial Planning, and earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation in 2010. Clayton is responsible for overseeing the success of the firm's CPA and legacy advisor relationships in the Rocky Mountain region, and continues to proudly serve a select group of clients in an advisory capacity. Clayton was recognized as a *Five Star Wealth Manager in the Denver Metro area in 2015.
Clayton has a heart of giving. He is heavily involved in the Broomfield Rotary Club, whose motto is "service above self", and currently services as its President. He is also a prominent member of the Broomfield United Methodist Church, where he enjoys offering financial education seminars. Clayton also participates in the annual Financial Planning Day that is sponsored by the Certified Financial Planning Board and Financial Planning Association.
When Clayton is not donating his time, he loves spending time with his wife Maggie and his two young daughters. Clayton also enjoys skiing, working on cars, brewing beer, and playing with his two dogs.
*To receive the Five Star Wealth Manager award, individuals must satisfy a series of eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with wealth managers who provide services to clients. Recipients are identified through research conducted by industry peers and firms. Third party rankings and recognitions from rating services or publications are not indicative of past or future investment performance. For more information, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com
Abigail Holden
Advisor
Abigail Holden
Email: abbie@spfgnow.com
Abbie takes our company's core values to heart in everything she does for the firm. With a professional background ranging from advising clients to operations leadership, Abbie has a well-rounded view of the total client experience and a belief that each client situation is unique and deserves personalized service.
With over ten years of experience in the ever-changing financial services industry, Abbie's expertise brings productivity, quality, and integrity to our firm. Abbie works closely with our firm's clients and advisors to help provide an exceptional client service experience.
Abbie is a graduate of Wichita State University with a B.A. in Finance, with an emphasis in Real Estate. She lives in Derby, KS with her husband, Davy, and their two daughters, Daisy and Meadow. She enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and rediscovering the world through their daughters’ eyes.
Melodie Davis
Advisor
Melodie Davis
Email: melodie@spfgnow.com
A licensed advisor since 1998, Melodie loves bringing her passion for the client service experience to her clients while working with them to solve their biggest challenges and help them take advantage of life’s opportunities.
A proud Wyoming native, Melodie holds a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Wyoming, in addition to a variety of industry-specific investment and insurance licenses. As such, Melodie brings a unique combination of industry experience and educational coaching to her client and team relationships.
When she’s not in the office, Melodie can be usually found attending community events, helping with local fundraising initiatives, or supporting her family in their day-to-day adventures together.
Derek Hammond
Advisor
Derek Hammond
Email: derek@spfgnow.com
With over ten years of experience serving as a client-facing advisor, Derek has had the opportunity to guide many clients through adverse economic conditions, keeping them on track to accomplish their most important goals. Derek takes great pride in working with his clients to organize their investment portfolios, and in helping them gain clarity with regard to their planning goals and objectives.
A native Wichitan, Derek played football at Butler County Community College, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University in 2006. Derek still closely follows the Wichita State Shockers basketball team.
When he's not in the office, Derek can often be found exercising with his wife, Kate, and his two children, Hagen (5) and Hannah (3). In addition, Derek enjoys shooting sporting clays, golfing, hunting, fishing, and supporting his two children in numerous sporting activities.
Beth Bateman
Advisor
Beth Bateman
Email: beth@spfgnow.com
Beth has had an active independent financial planning practice for individuals in the Wichita community for the last 35 years. She is a graduate of Pittsburg State University and holds the Series 7, 24, and 63 securities licenses.
Beth enjoys working in the areas of investment, retirement income distribution and estate planning. In the early years of her practice, she focused most of her time in comprehensive financial planning. She is also involved with senior advocacy and support for some clients in her practice.
Beth lives in Wichita and has a grown son and daughter and three grandchildren. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, golfing, reading, and dinners and Music Theatre with friends.
Tim Schumacher
Advisor
CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
Tim Schumacher
Phone: (785) 625-3566
Email: tim@spfgnow.com
What do a teacher and a financial representative have in common?
A lot, actually. The desire to inform. The need to succeed. The opportunity to change lives. The mission to help others.
Tim was a music teacher for 17 years before making a career change and becoming a financial representative. His excitement seeing a student excel in the classroom has carried over to his obvious enthusiasm to help his clients excel in the financial world, whether it's building a nest egg for a new home, saving for child's college education, or funding a secure retirement.
He has been in the financial industry since 1992 and maintains an office in Hays, although his clients stretch throughout the state of Kansas and beyond. He considers his clients' success, his success, in building a strong financial foundation.
When not in the office, Tim still loves to perform music and is also an avid hunter and fisherman. His wife, Ruth, is his office manager and client service representative. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Jacob Heeren
Advisor
Jacob Heeren
Email: jacob@spfgnow.com
Born and raised in Wichita, KS, Jacob is responsible for assisting the SPFG advisory team with client meeting preparation and follow-up as well as research with individual client service items to ensure proactive and rewarding relationships with our clients. Since joining the team, Jacob has obtained his Series 7, Series 66, and Kansas Life and Health Insurance licenses and is an advisor in our beautiful Broomfield, Colorado location.
Jacob graduated from the University of Kansas where he studied Finance and was part of the Alpha Xi chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He enjoyed contributing to the School of Business during his time at KU working as a teaching assistant for a Business Professionalism course and participating in the Rock Chalk Investment Club. A milestone for Jacob was completing Applied Portfolio Management where he and the class collectively managed funds in an endowment account for the benefit of the University and the School of Business.
Outside the office, Jacob enjoys spending time with his three brothers, learning from binary market reactions, and reading history and finance books. Jacob cherishes his family vacations in Colorado where they take advantage of all the hiking, biking, four-wheeling and skiing Breckenridge has to offer.
Olivia Stingo
Advisor
CFP®
Olivia Stingo
Email: olivia@spfgnow.com
A Wichita, KS native, Olivia has worked with the SPFG team since the May of 2020. In December of 2021, Olivia earned her degree in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University, after which she joined the SPFG team on a full-time basis.
Olivia successfully passed the Certified Financial Planner® exam in November of 2021, and serves clients as part of the SPFG advisory team as a Financial Advisor.
Olivia began her journey in the Financial Planning Industry for the simple reason that she is passionate about making a positive impact in other's lives. When she's not in the office, Olivia enjoys spending time with her family, attending Life Church, exercising, and going on walks downtown with her miniature dachshund.
Blake Moore
Advisor
Blake Moore
Email: blake@spfgnow.com
Born and raised in Laramie, Blake graduated from Laramie High School in 2017 before attending Colorado Mesa University, where he played football and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Finance in December 2021.
As a licensed advisor, Blake works with his clients to help ensure that they receive top-notch service.
In his free time, Blake enjoys playing golf, being in the outdoors, and attending 'Pokes games and community events.
Leah Emes
Director of Client Service and Operations
Leah Emes
Email: leah@spfgnow.com
As our firm's Director of Client Service and Operations, Leah regularly collaborates with our advisory and operations teams to ensure that our clients have a consistently great experience and seamless communication as we assist them withi their day-to-day service and advisory needs. She continuously reviews and updates internal processes and new technology platforms creating efficiencies within our team so we can continue to focus on connecting with our clients about what matters most to them.
A native of Wichita and a graduate of the Engineering Academy at Wichita West High School, Leah is our resident problem-solver! Prior to joining Strategic Partners Financial Group, Leah attended Butler County Community College and spent several years in a leadership role at Account Recovery Specialists, Inc.
Leah is passionate about lending a hand to others, the education of our children, protecting the environment. and providing the office with some comic relief with her sweet dad jokes :). When she’s not assisting our clients, she can often be found serving in her local community, playing softball or volleyball, or spending quality time with her husband Erick and three children, Bliss, Brady, and Tiago.
Julie Devine
Advisory Team Coordinator
Julie Devine
Email: julie@spfgnow.com
Julie is an Advisory Team Coordinator, based out of Laramie, WY. She has been part of the team since 2012 and has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know many of our clients. She genuinely enjoys talking to our clients and hearing about what they are up to in their jobs or retirement, with their kids or grand kids or in their pursuit of their hobbies.
Julie was born and raised on her family’s ranch outside of Laramie, and is a graduate of Laramie High School and the University of Wyoming. She graduated with a B.S. in Child and Family Studies. Before joining our firm she worked as a Child Protection worker in Denver as well as an Admission Associate at University of Colorado Hospital and later at Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
Julie’s favorite activities include being with her two sons, Jackson and Weston, and her husband, Chris, as well as cheering her boys on at whatever school or sports activity they are involved with. She volunteers on the Booster clubs for High School Football and Basketball and loves being a member of the Laramie community.
Keaton George
Advisory Team Coordinator
Keaton George
Email: keaton@spfgnow.com
Keaton is from the small town of Baldwin City, Kansas.
He spent 4 years at Kansas State University obtaining his Bachelors degree in Personal Financial Planning, and works alongside the SPFG advisory team to help ensure that our clients have a seamless of an experience as possible when engaging with the advisory team. In addition, Keaton is currently studying to become a licensed advisor.
Personal finances and helping others have always been a passion and driving force for Keaton. They bring joy to Keaton's life and he is incredibly thankful to be able to work in an industry where he can continue to serve others in these ways.
Other passions of Keaton's include going on walks with his girlfriend and two dogs, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working on his car.
Barbara Kurz
Client Relationship Manager
Barbara Kurz
Email: barbara@spfgnow.com
Barbara’s father was an officer and pilot in the U.S. Army and her family traveled extensively while she was growing up. She graduated from high school in Heidelberg, Germany. After her father’s military retirement, her family settled in Wichita, Kansas, her parents’ birthplace.
She attended Friends University in Wichita, KS, and, prior to joining Strategic Partners Financial Group, worked for many years as an assistant to an industrial psychologist. Barbara joined Strategic Partners Financial group in 2007, and has a leadership role in growing and developing truly rewarding relationships with our clients and communities. Anyone that has called or stopped into our office has experienced Barbara's infectious energy and positive attitude!
Barbara has raised two sons, has four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Outside of the office, her passions include decorating, hosting family gatherings, and spending time with great friends.
Carrie King
Client Service Coordinator
Carrie King
Email: carrie@spfgnow.com
A resident of Laramie since 2011, Carrie is our Client Service Coordinator, and helps to ensure that our clients have a service experience that is as seamless as possible, whether that be by helping them process their service requests, or simply by keeping them "in the loop" while the team is helping them with a pending client service opportunity.
Holding a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Wyoming, Carrie taught at The Open School in Laramie for ten years, and now brings her love of community and education to the clients of Strategic Partners Financial Group.
Carrie loves spending time with her family and being involved in the Laramie Community. When she is not in the office, she and her family of five love to travel and enjoy the outdoors, with hiking and fishing among Carrie's activities of choice! As her oldest two children have "left the nest" Carrie loves to spend time with her youngest son, Joshua, supporting his traveling hockey team!
Janis Dimick
Client Service Coordinator
Janis Dimick
Email: janis@spfgnow.com
Janis graduated from the University of South Dakota at Springfield. Prior to joining the SPFG team, she worked for many years in the automobile dealership industry.
Janis and her husband Scott were both born and raised in South Dakota, but now call central Kansas home. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, crocheting, reading, and traveling with her husband.
Ruth Schumacher
Office Manager
Ruth Schumacher
Phone: (785) 625-3566
Fax: (785) 625-3286
Email: ruth@spfgnow.com
Ruth has been Tim's office manager and client service representative since 1995. Her roles have included receptionist, clerk, and all things related to customer service. She takes on the role of making sure the Hays office runs smoothly, client meetings are prepared, and customer questions and requests are handled promptlly. While Tim is the agent their clients know and trust, Ruth knows the clientelle well and is very comfortable in her supportive role.
In her spare time, she enoys gardening, crafts, and reading, and is a grandma to 7.
Rachel Loux
Client Service Coordinator
Rachel Loux
Email: rachel@spfgnow.com
Our Client Service Coordinator, Rachel values the team-oriented environment of our firm. She works closely with our advisor and operations team members to ensure that our clients receive great service and communication!
Rachel is a native of Wichita, KS and a graduate of Wichita West High School, and holds an Associates Degree in Accounting. Rachel has extensive experience in professional office environments and in customer service, so applying them as part of her roles and responsibilities comes naturally!
When Rachel isn't working, she can almost always be found either outside (especially near water), travelling, or spending time with her family. She loves home projects and is always looking to learn something new!
