HAMMER & ASSOCIATES - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Registered Representative / Investment Advisor Representative

Aaron joined Hammer & Associates in 2005 after graduating from St. Cloud State University with a finance degree. He earned his LUTCF designation for The American College in 2008 and is a graduate of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Leadership in Life Institute. Aaron has served on several MDRT committees and task forces. He is a Past President of the local NAIFA association, has served on state NAIFA committees and is a board member of the Young Advisors Team. He is also an active member of The Exchange Club of St. Cloud. His focus is on helping individuals and companies through the maze of life insurance, retirement planning - both the accumulation of wealth and distribution planning, and legacy planning. Each plan is uniquely created for his client. Aaron and his wife Melissa reside in St. Cloud with their son Carter.

Darshan has been with Hammer & Associates since 1999 beginning as the Office Administrator/Client Service Specialist. Before coming to work with Steve, she spent 8 1/2 years with another investment/financial planning company in St. Cloud. In 2006 Darshan became the Registered Securities Principal for our agency. She has focused her industry training in areas that enhance the running of a client service focused office. As a member of NAIFA MN she has volunteered in the organizing of the annual educational conference "Day with MDRT." When not managing the office, Darshan can be found with her camera in hand. Her love of travel, gardening, the outdoors and photography has taken her many wonderful adventures. Darshan and her husband, Dave, have been living in the St. Cloud area since 1982 and have raised two daughters.

Job Titles:

• Director of Underwriting
• VICE PRESIDENT - UNDERWRITING

Job Titles:

• Vice President
• Chief Investment Officer of TOPS® / ValMark Advisers, Inc

Michael McClary, Chief Investment Officer of TOPS®/ ValMark Advisers, Inc, has been with the ValMark organization and led the TOPS® program since 2003. ValMark is a leading national independent wealth management firm with over 50 years in business and offices in over 30 states. Mr. McClary has direct responsibility for ValMark Investment Alliance™, a 3 part entity that includes the RIA programs for ValMark Advisers, Inc., ValMark Institutional, and Bosshard Investment Management Company. Michael also oversees all broker-dealer investment products for ValMark Securities, Inc. Michael's main focus is leading the Portfolio Management Team for The Optimized Portfolio System (TOPS®). TOPS® is one of the nation's longest running, largest, and most successful exchange traded fund (ETF) investment management programs with about $5 Billion in ETF assets. TOPS® is available through Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), Collective Investment Funds (CIFs), and Variable Insurance Funds. Michael has a Bachelor of Science Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude) in Financial Services and a Master's Degree (MBA) in Financial Management, both from the University of Akron. Recognized as one of the nation's leading experts on ETFs, Michael was one of 3 individuals nationally selected to the 1st class of the ETF Advisors Hall of Fame by Research Magazine and IMN in 2007. In 2012, Michael was named as one of "10 Rising Stars" by ETFReport. Likewise, Michael has collaborated with the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's, Financial Advisor, and Research Magazine on ETF related topics and been a featured speaker for organizations such as the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and ETF.com.

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant

Sarah has an AAS degree in Business Administration and joined Hammer & Associates in May 2013 as the Administrative Assistant. She has been a great addition to the office. Prior to joining Hammer & Associates Sarah helped manage a Veterinary Clinic for 13 years. She started teaching dance in 2002. In her free time she still helps care for animals and is teaching dance classes to children. Sarah and her husband Shawn live in Sauk Rapids and are raising their three children Halle, Logan and Grady.