ADVANCED FINANCIAL GROUP - Key Persons
Deb has 25 years' experience in the Financial Services industry. She can be contacted at deborah.saur@lpl.com.
Jennifer has been in the Financial Services industry for over 25 years. You can contact Jennifer at jennifer.root@lpl.com.
John Ehardt is a financial life coach - beyond giving investment advice, he seeks to help individuals create solid financial futures. As both a CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) and a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), John takes a comprehensive look at his clients' entire financial situation to make sure they are on the right track. John's tax background is very helpful in positioning a client's portfolio to minimize taxes both now and in the future.
John began his career in 1986 as a CPA with the Detroit office of Arthur Andersen & Co.; he embarked on this venture after graduating with an accounting degree from Western Michigan University. In 1991, he decided that financial advising was his true calling and migrated to IDS/American Express. Soon afterward, he became a CFP®. In January of 2000, John and two of his partners (Jim Olesnavage and Tod Taylor) left American Express and joined LPL Financial; their goal was to be more independent in the products and services they could offer their clients. Their new company, Advanced Financial Group, Inc. (AFGI), was formed then and continues today with seven partners and five full-time staff. John is president of the company and currently works with over 250 clients located in many states - most of his clients reside in Michigan.
What John appreciates most about working with LPL Financial-the largest* independent broker-dealer in the United States-is LPL's independence. John says, "They aren't pushing us to put our clients into their proprietary products, because there are no financial products manufactured by LPL. No products, no ties, they aren't beholden to anyone." LPL reinforces this idea, stating, "We believe in empowerment through guidance and collaboration." LPL brings support, collaboration, and guidance - instead of pressuring clients into proprietary financial products. Clients' needs are genuinely the first priority for John and LPL.
Regarding the AFGI office setting, John deems it familial and mutually supportive: "We are here for one another. If I'm not in the office, there is someone in the office who can back me up. If I can't be reached, clients will be able to talk with one of our highly qualified staff members or another financial advisor in the office. Nine times out of ten, when you call the Advanced Financial Group office, you will be put in touch with a person who can answer your question or provide you with the help you need on the spot."
Although the AFGI office is based in Traverse City, John services all of Michigan and is licensed in over twenty-eight states. As of right now, much of John's financial planning clientele is based in Detroit and Grand Rapids, and he frequently travels downstate to visit with his clients. John works with a wide variety of clients, but he focuses on clients that are ages 45 and up and who are very focused on achieving a successful retirement.
John lives on Spider Lake just outside of Traverse City, MI with his wife Robin, two daughters Nicole & Danielle (Dee), and dogs Lexi & Taco. John is involved with a number of things including being a Eucharistic Minister and past member of the Pastoral Council at Christ the King Catholic Church. He is past President of the School Advisory Board for GTACS (Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools) as well and past Chairman of their Technology Committee and currently serving on their Finance Committee & Capital Campaign Committee. John is a past board member of TAGS (Traverse Area Girls Softball), and recent retiree as a 15-year volunteer for East Bay Township as both an EMT and Firefighter. John's personal hobbies include: downhill skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, mountain and road bicycling, inland lake and big lake boating, and riding his 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Springer.
Kris has been with Advanced Financial Group for over 4 years. She can be reached at kristin.selk@lpl.com
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor and Life Insurance Agent
- LPL Financial Advisor
Larry Avery has been a licensed Financial Advisor and Life Insurance Agent since 2000. He spent five years with Robert W Baird Inc., followed by 5 years at Edward Jones Investments, joining the partnership of Advanced Financial Group, Inc. in December of 2009. In the 20 years prior to his work in financial services, Larry was owner/manager of the State of Michigan Historic Restaurant, Dills Old Towne Saloon. He has two sons; Justin is a professional musician living in Los Angeles, California currently touring with a national act as keyboardist/vocalist. Son Kyle is a full-time student at Grand Valley State University pursuing a career as an occupational therapist. Larry is a current member of the Old Town Playhouse Board of Trustees, Secretary of the Acme Christian Charities Board, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, board member for the Bay Area Music Foundation, a member of Kensington Church, and past president of Traverse City #1 Business Network International Chapter. Also, moonlights on guitar and vocals with Judy Harrison and Swing Shift.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- LPL Financial Advisor
Maurie has been a financial advisor for over twenty years. In building his practice, he has focused on building deep relationships with his clients and their families. The satisfaction he gets from helping his clients anticipate their needs and working with them on how to pursue their goals and dreams is why he loves his business.
In 2019 he chose to affiliate his business with Advanced Financial Group, Inc., the largest LPL office in Northern Michigan. The experienced staff and financial advisors at AFGI allow him to provide exceptional service for his clients and provide the opportunity for collaboration with other advisors in investment ideas and research. These resources allow him to focus on communicating with his clients and fine-tuning their plans. He is honored by the number of individuals who allow him to serve them, their families, their companies, and their futures.
He has worked in the securities industry since 2000, starting with a training period at PaineWebber headquarters in New York. His interest in Modern Portfolio Theory, asset allocation, and portfolio construction began with this intensive program.
His time with UBS (the largest asset manager in the world, at the time) honed his research skills and broadened his approach for investing. He saw the importance of understanding the total financial picture for the people and businesses he works with and began to focus on the roles of estate planning, tax planning, retirement planning, and insurance.
He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit; in 2007 he started his own financial planning firm: Superior Investments & Retirement Planning, Inc. This venture taught him the ins-and-outs of running a business. In addition to the investing and client service aspect of his business, he learned how to manage employee relations and staffing, an accounting department, payroll, office maintenance, etc. He bring this experience to his business clients.
Outside his profession, he participates in several personal and community activities. He is a life-long resident of Traverse City, MI. He and his wife Tara have been married since 2002. They have three children: Trey (15), Beckett (12), and Colette (9). They love to travel, hike, bike, swim, and eat. They spend the winters snowshoeing and skiing (with an occasional short trip to a warmer climate). They explore our beautiful area by camping and boating on summer weekends.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- LPL Financial Advisor
Randy Brothers has been a financial advisor since 1994, beginning his career with Prudential Securities and moving to Robert W. Baird in 1996 where he spent ten years. In 2006, Randy joined the independent practice of Advanced Financial Group, Inc. (AFGI) as a partner offering investment products through LPL Financial. Randy believes that the independence of LPL Financial and AFGI allows him to best meet his clients' needs, as there are no proprietary products. Randy firmly believes in putting his clients first - only when their financial goals are achieved does he feel he has succeeded. Randy currently holds Series 7 and 63 licenses with LPL Financial, along with a variable insurance license that allows him to offer life and annuity products to his clients. Randy's financial practice emphasizes a conservative investment management approach utilizing various forms of securities and insurance products to assist his clients with their financial goals.
Over the last twenty years, Rick White has been immersed in the world of financial planning and investment advisory services.
After fourteen years in the insurance industry, where he helped clients with their business and personal insurance needs, Rick began his career as a financial advisor in Traverse City, Michigan with Merrill Lynch in 1998. Now, as an independent LPL financial advisor, Rick seeks to serve his clients as part the team at Advanced Financial Group, Inc. The foundation of Rick's success is based on first taking care of his clients. His passion is helping his clients pursue their financial goals by helping them protect and grow wealth. The desire to do what is best for his clients motivates Rick every day as he studies and enhances his financial advising practice.
Rick and his wife, Ellen, have two grown children: Christina, who has her Master's degree from Central Michigan University and currently works in the Marketing department at Samaritas Senior Living; and Cameron, a filmmaker who has produced two movies and several commercials. Ellen and Rick embrace living in Northern Michigan by boating, snowmobiling, biking, hiking, camping, and competing annually in the M-22 Challenge. Most recently, Rick has been active in serving his community through Freedom Builder's Ministry.
Robin has been with Advanced Financial Group for over 8 years. She can be reached at robin.loving@lpl.com.
Sally has over 12 years in the Financial Services industry. She can be contacted at sally.walter@lpl.com.
One of Tod's main goals is to help his clients with important decisions related to their retirement. He typically does this through a comprehensive financial planning approach. Tod has been an advisor for 24 years. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a professional designation that focuses on meeting the advanced financial planning needs of individuals, professionals, and small business owners. The ChFC designation is offered through the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Tod is also a Retirement Income Certified Planner (RICP®) with a strong focus on helping clients devise an optimum Social Security withdrawal strategy. Tod's focus is on increasing the liquidity, use, and control of his clients' money while addressing their cash flow, protection, tax, and retirement goals. Over the course of Tod's career as a Financial Advisor, he has seen plenty of market volatility and because of this has a great appreciation for risk management. He has a keen eye for growing assets while attempting to protect on the downside.
To schedule a meeting with Tod, feel free to call his office at (231) 922-8993 or (800) 968-0983.
Tod is married to his wife, Barbara and has two daughters, Cassidy and Rachel and resides in Lake Ann. He enjoys skiing, kayaking, and outdoor adventure travel.