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We are at a crossroads in the life insurance industry today. Interest rates have been so low for so long that insurance companies have been seeking other ways to profit. Recently, one company after another has decided to increase their costs of insurance on policies that have been in existence for as many as 20 years.
The net result is that premiums on existing insurance policies are multiplying way beyond your clients’ expectations, and it is critical that you, as their trusted advisor, be in front of this matter.
Churchley Financial Group’s six decades of combined life insurance experience enable us to leverage our successful relationships with carriers and the collective buying power of our broker-dealer, Valmark Securities, Inc., to help your clients navigate these issues—whether it is:
He had planning in place before we met. Then a mutual friend suggested we meet, and he agreed reluctantly. “A second opinion couldn’t hurt,” he said, confident his affairs were in order. He did not know it, but he had not fully leveraged the complete scope of opportunities and had an 80% plan. As an entrepreneur, he had opportunity coursing through his blood at all times. it was what kept him engaged and created his success, and he was intrigued by the opportunities we introduced.
He’d grown his business from garage to greatness in one generation. Some wealth transfer planning oversights were present and the untouched opportunities even greater. In his situation, we were able to create an effective process to employ the use of life insurance, which was used to maximize the good planning he already had in place.
His net worth was now greater than most, and his issues were somewhat complex. Only a team of advisors could ensure his objectives were met. And there must be a place on this team for someone who knows, truly knows his family, his needs and his options through and through. Someone who spends all of their days and some of their nights designing the plans and pieces and making sure they get done.
Churchley Financial Group is independently-owned and is not tied to any one company, product or provider. We guide you and your clients according to the priorities you establish and then help you tailor and integrate the right strategies and tools to fit your client’s objectives.
Through our independent relationships with our broker-dealer, Valmark Securities, Inc., and other industry leaders, we have access to some of the top echelon of global resources available. As your personal advocate, we bring together the necessary resources based on your client’s unique needs and deliver them with objectivity and superior personal service.
We can provide our services behind the scenes through your firm or via direct client interface on a case-by-case basis. Simply put, our goal is to add to your credibility—through technical intelligence and comprehensive resources—delivered objectively, promptly and thoroughly.
Our team is made up of skilled and experienced professionals from a variety of financial disciplines working together to provide seamless, tax-efficient solutions for optimizing your clients’ wealth transfer strategies. We have team members onsite at our main office in Denver as well as an external support network of specialists in insurance, tax, estate, and charitable planning.
For almost 40 years, I have worked with wealthy clients and their advisors located across the U.S. to enhance comprehensive wealth transfer and business planning strategies. I create sophisticated designs utilizing a diverse range of strategies and insurance products to meet the targeted objectives of my clients. I have designed a wide variety of unique tax reduction and wealth maximization strategies for some of the largest cable and media families in the country. Consistent commitment to a mastery of fundamental and innovative estate planning strategies is evidenced throughout my work with implementing plans for Forbes 400 individuals.
I believe it is important that no matter how complex the design, to structure it so that each component is easily explained and to keep the process simple for all those involved, from start to finish. Many of my clients want to implement wealth transfer planning or improve their existing plans, but feel a sense of inertia about the scope and direction of such a project. I energize this motivation to take a good plan that may already be in place to the next step and make it a great plan. I work with existing advisors to ensure that our designs provide a seamless fit inside their comprehensive estate plan. The successful entrepreneurs with whom I work have invested significant energy into the creation of their legacy and deserve no less than an exceptional transfer plan to preserve that legacy.
I have been a member of the Churchley Financial Group Team since 2007 and provide expert planning in the areas of wealth transfer and business planning, utilizing insurance products when it’s appropriate. When I meet with my clients, I believe in beginning the process by asking: What is the most important result you want to achieve with your planning? Once that objective has been clearly defined, I utilize the many tools and options that I have available, from my professional experience and industry connections to specialized services offered from the insurance carriers I represent.
I have expertise not only in life insurance and annuity products, but also in long- term care and disability insurance products. Objectives vary widely from person to person and so do my individualized planning solutions. My access to a variety of insurance products allows me to design a tailored and unique plan.
My typical clients are successful entrepreneurs who want to ensure their business goals are preserved, and their family is protected from financial challenge. My professional relationships are extremely important to me, and I value the mutual trust and respect that result from defining and achieving objectives together..
Active in the Vail Valley Foundation.
I enjoy mountain biking and spending time with my daughters.
I reside in Golden, Colorado with my wife, Meredith, daughters Ellie and Caitlyn, and Labrador Retriever, Lula.
Churchley Financial Group is a Member Firm of Valmark Financial Group, a 58-year-old, invitation-only group of independent wealth and insurance advisory firms. Through this relationship, we have exclusive access to an experienced support team of over 100 professionals with credentials spanning multiple financial disciplines.
This enables us to leverage the knowledge and experience of these professionals to help us deliver innovative thinking and recommendations when helping our clients strategically plan for their futures. A sample representation of the team’s credentials includes:
AN UNDERWRITING ADVOCACY TEAM with several former insurance company underwriting vice presidents, directors and medical directors, a licensed physician, and a staff of case management, business processing and policy service specialists.
INSURANCE PLANNING AND ADVANCED CASE SPECIALISTS, including a team of attorneys, accountants, MBAs, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, Chartered Life Underwriters, and Chartered Financial Consultants who provide independent assessment and analysis of recommended product sets, policy management and life settlements.
*Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
In addition to working closely with our clients’ attorneys, accountants, financial, fiduciary, and banking professionals, Churchley Financial Group maintains independent relationships with some of the industry’s top echelon of global financial resources.
By combining these resources with our high level of personal service and expertise, we offer the best of both worlds – institutional quality and selection with concierge-level service and advocacy.
Churchley Financial Group is a Member Firm of Valmark Financial Group, a 58-year-old, invitation-only group of independent wealth and insurance advisory firms. As a collective group, Valmark Member Firms have over $50 billion of life insurance in force and an estimated $6 billion of assets under management, with an additional $25 billion of assets under management controlled through independent Investment Advisors associated with Valmark. This combined buying power gives us access to some of the nation’s top companies, products, and services, enabling us to advocate on behalf of our clients while maintaining independence.
Valmark Securities, Inc., our broker dealer, is a member of FINRA and SIPC, and is licensed in all 50 states for securities and insurance. The company has 100+ independently-owned Member Firms throughout the United States. Its affiliate, Valmark Advisers, Inc., is a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. WWW.VALMARKFG.COM
INSURANCE COMPANY PARTNERS
Through our affiliation with Valmark Financial Group, we maintain strong relationships with many of the industry’s most highly rated life insurance companies. Many of these company relationships span decades which gives us leverage in negotiating favorable arrangements on behalf of our clients. Although we have access to dozens of high-quality insurers, a few of the insurance companies we represent (and their websites) are listed below:
JOHN HANCOCK – https://www.johnhancock.com
LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP – https://www.lfg.com
MASSMUTUAL – https://www.massmutual.com
NATIONWIDE – https://www.nationwide.com
PRINCIPAL – https://www.principal.com
PROTECTIVE INSURANCE – https://www.protectiveinsurance.com
PRUDENTIAL – https://www.prudential.com
SECURIAN FINANCIAL – https://www.securian.com
CHURCHLEY FINANCIAL GROUP LLC
3000 Lawrence Street
Denver, CO 80205
T: 303.468.2100
SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH VALMARK SECURITIES, INC. MEMBER FINRA, SIPC. INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH VALMARK ADVISERS, INC. A SEC REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR, 130 SPRINGSIDE DRIVE, AKRON, OHIO 44333. 1-800-765-5201. CHURCHLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM VALMARK SECURITIES, INC. AND VALMARK ADVISERS, INC.
ANY TAX ADVICE CONTAINED HEREIN IS OF A GENERAL NATURE AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION. FURTHER, YOU SHOULD SEEK SPECIFIC TAX ADVICE FROM YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL BEFORE PURSUING ANY IDEA CONTEMPLATED HEREIN. THIS ADVICE IS BEING PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INCIDENTAL SERVICE TO OUR BUSINESS AS INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS.
For almost 40 years, I have worked with wealthy clients and their advisors located across the U.S. to enhance comprehensive wealth transfer and business planning strategies. I create sophisticated designs utilizing a diverse range of strategies and insurance products to meet the targeted objectives of my clients. I have designed a wide variety of unique tax reduction and wealth maximization strategies for some of the largest cable and media families in the country. Consistent commitment to a mastery of fundamental and innovative estate planning strategies is evidenced throughout my work with implementing plans for Forbes 400 individuals.
I believe it is important that no matter how complex the design, to structure it so that each component is easily explained and to keep the process simple for all those involved, from start to finish. Many of my clients want to implement wealth transfer planning or improve their existing plans, but feel a sense of inertia about the scope and direction of such a project. I energize this motivation to take a good plan that may already be in place to the next step and make it a great plan. I work with existing advisors to ensure that our designs provide a seamless fit inside their comprehensive estate plan. The successful entrepreneurs with whom I work have invested significant energy into the creation of their legacy and deserve no less than an exceptional transfer plan to preserve that legacy.
Member, Past President, Board of Directors, Mountain Resource Center, which provides a broad spectrum of services to families living in the foothills west of Denver.
Long-time contributor to the Walter Kaitz Foundation.
Founding sponsor, The National Cable Television Center and Museum in Denver. Member of its Chairman’s Circle for the Endowment Campaign.
I enjoy golf, travel, and spending time with my family and dog, Jack.
I split my time between my homes in Evergreen, Colorado and Cape Canaveral, Florida with my wife, Laura. We have 6 children and 8 grandchildren, all living in Colorado.
In December 2021, my wife, Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard, journeyed into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft.
As Director of Insurance Marketing for our partner, Valmark Financial Group, Luke is responsible for advanced life insurance case design, product analysis, and the development of analytical and educational tools to assist our clients with their financial goals. He brings almost a decade of experience in the life insurance space working in roles at both a carrier home office and the independent agency environment. Mr. Ehinger holds a bachelor’s degree from Trine University and has his Series 6 and 63 registrations. He is also a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and holds a Certification in Long Term Care® (CLTC®).
Keith Miller is the Vice President of Insurance Planning for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. Keith works with the insurance planning team to provide advanced case design and sales expertise. His core areas of focus include customized wealth transfer solutions, product analysis and holistic life insurance design. Mr. Miller is a national presenter at the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) annual conference. He received his BA from Samford University and his MBA in Finance from the University of Alabama. Mr. Miller is also a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and holds the Alabama Life and Health licenses.
As Vice President of In Force Insurance Solutions for our partner, Valmark Financial Group, Michael leads the Valmark Policy Management Company (PMC) and Life Settlement teams. Michael is responsible for integrating strategies and solutions to maximize in force insurance business to best serve our clients. Previously, he was Manager of Practice Management at Securian Financial Services, Inc., a Senior Training Manager for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., and Sales Manager for Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Mr. Michlitsch earned his MBA from the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas and his BA in Management and Marketing from Bethany Lutheran College. He is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (CRPC®) and carries the following Financial Services Designations: CFS, CIS, CFF, CES, CAS and CTS. In addition, he holds Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations as well as Life, Health, and Variable Life and Annuity licenses.
James Dawson is the Director of Life Settlements for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. James is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the life settlement business. This includes establishing and implementing new processes and procedures, directing and facilitating the sale of policies from the initial offering through the formal case submission and acting as an escalation resource for complex and technical life settlement issues. He works to find ways to simplify the life settlement transaction process and improve efficiencies. Above all, Mr. Dawson is passionate about delivering the best possible experience for our clients. Mr. Dawson earned a BBA in Financial Planning from the University of Akron, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He also holds Ohio Life, Health, Accident and Variable licenses, Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
As Director of Underwriting for our partner, Valmark Financial Group, Michael Noss is responsible for the technical assessment and negotiation of underwriting offers and serves as a contact for any new business or underwriting issues. He also serves as an advocate for Valmark’s Member Firms through every stage of the underwriting process, working to anticipate potential issues, identify the best carrier for that issue and to negotiate the best possible offer. While Mr. Noss is a national presenter at Valmark’s Member Summit, he also presents at other various industry conferences. He earned his BA in Philosophy and Communication from Saint John’s University. Mr. Noss is also a member of the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) and a Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU).
Morgan Lee is an Underwriting Case Manager with our partner, Valmark Financial Group where she is responsible for reviewing policy applications, providing high quality customer service, and advocating on behalf of clients with insurance companies. Before joining Valmark, Morgan was an accountant with a resource management firm and holds a BBA in Financial Planning from The University of Akron.
Eric Johnson is Vice President of Underwriting for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. He is responsible for risk assessment appraisal, consultation and negotiation on behalf of Valmark Financial Group Member Offices and clients. Mr. Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience in impaired risk and jumbo case underwriting, reinsurance, sales and brokerage operations. He is a presenter at numerous industry seminars and workshops speaking on topics such as Challenging Underwriting Impairments, Jumbo Business and Brokerage Underwriting. Mr. Johnson earned his BA from Luther College and holds Minnesota Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses. He is a member of the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) and the Twin Cities Association of Home Office Life Underwriters (TCAHOLU).
As the New Business Operations Supervisor for our back‐office partner, Valmark Financial Group, Mindy Shaffer serves at the subject matter expert on all things related to process and procedures for Concierge Services. She also serves as the escalation point for any complex items. In addition, Ms. Shaffer works with our clients to provide excellent customer service and ensures that all life insurance cases get submitted, issued and placed in a timely and efficient manner.
