• Colorado State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Gary joined Sparks Financial in 2004 as a Wealth Management Advisor. He has worked in the Financial Services Industry since 1999.

Personal Spark

Gary is a Colorado native and has four children with his wife Ande. He has been a dedicated coach in youth sports for over 30 years and sits on the board for Denver Street School.

• Alma College
  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Accounting
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 6, and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

With over a decade of experience at Northwestern Mutual, Lynn joined Sparks Financial in 2021 and currently serves as a Client Service Associate. Throughout her career, Lynn has successfully supported advisors on the Insurance and Investment platforms in both the Orlando and Denver markets.

Personal Spark

Lynn and her husband Bob enjoy life with 3 children and 7 grandchildren! They love spending time with their family and traveling to their vacation home in Winter Park, Florida. Lynn is involved in her church and in her free time enjoys reading, cooking, and college football. As a Michigan native, she is a huge Michigan Wolverine fan and enjoys game days!

• Marietta College
  • Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 7, and 66
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Nate grew up in Ohio and moved to Colorado in 2017 to work as a Petroleum Engineer in the Oil and Gas Industry. He currently resides in the Denver Tech Center. Nate started working in Financial Planning in 2021 and joined Sparks Financial in 2024. He is passionate about helping clients experience greater levels of freedom in their finances allowing them to enjoy life today, while having peace of mind for the future.

Personal Spark

Nate is a man of strong faith, which drives his involvement with local non-profit CrossPurpose to abolish relational, economic and spiritual poverty in the Denver-Metro Area. He is also an active member in his local church, House Denver where he serves with youth ministry. In his free time Nate enjoys traveling to National Parks, skiing, hiking, camping and playing sports.

• Penn State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®)
• FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, 63, and 66
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Ted joined Sparks Financial in 2006 and became Partner in 2022. Ted's passion for financial, estate, and charitable planning stems from his family's history in the industry for over 50 years.

In 2021, After 17 years in Colorado, Ted and his family moved home to the Northeast to both be closer to family and to expand the reach of Sparks Financial.

Personal Spark

Ted, and his wife Emily, met at Penn State University where they were both varsity athletes (lacrosse and soccer). They have three wonderful children, Gabe, Elliot, and Hadley. The Holmes family loves to hit the road travelling especially to their favorite spots like Key West and Crested Butte. You'll also find them exploring the outdoors of Upstate New York and the Rocky Mountains.

• State University of New York, Geneseo
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Math
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 6, 7, and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Annelise joins Sparks Financial with 5 years experience within Northwestern Mutual.

Personal Spark

Annelise is originally from Syracuse, NY and moved to Denver in fall of 2021 where she now lives with her boyfriend, Drew, and their dog, Earl. She spends her free time traveling, getting outside to enjoy the West Coast weather, and watching the Buffalo Bills on gamedays.

• Texas Christian University
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Management, Finance and Leadership
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE) 7 and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Taven joined Sparks Financial in 2019 as a Financial Advisor and has since become a Partner in the firm. After graduating from TCU, Taven spent 3 years as a consultant with Deloitte within the Financial Services Industry.

Personal Spark

Taven was born and raised in Colorado and is an avid Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and Avalanche fan. He also loves traveling and has been to 5 of the 7 continents. A few highlights from his travels include hiking Machu Picchu, hang gliding in Switzerland, and riding elephants in Thailand. In their free time, Taven and his wife, Lauren, enjoy shows at Red Rocks, playing volleyball at Washington Park, skiing, hiking, and spending quality time with family, friends and their English Cream Golden Retriever, Leo.

• Texas Tech University
  • Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• FINRA Series 7 and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Marshall joined Sparks Financial in July of 2020 as a Client Services Manager. Prior to joining Sparks Financial, he worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the Denver Area.

Personal Spark

Marshall lives in Parker, Colorado with his wife, Alex. In his free time, Marshall enjoys spending time with family, traveling around Colorado, golfing in the summer, and skiing in the winter.

• United States Naval Academy
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• FINRA Series 7 and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Pete joined Sparks Financial in 2010. He has worked in the financial services industry since leaving the U.S. Navy and moving to Denver in 1996. Having worked with clients through both the ups and downs of stock market cycles, Pete understands the real-world impact of financial risk and return. As an Advisor at Sparks Financial he brings that experience to life, building all weather portfolios designed around his clients’ individual financial planning goals.

Personal Spark

Pete and his wife Kathy have three adult children and two dogs. A bluebird powder day skiing with the family in the Colorado mountains is an ideal day. Pete also enjoys music and playing guitar. He is active in supporting the Alzheimer’s Association and Food for Thought – Denver. Pete is also a volunteer high school lacrosse coach.

• Colorado State University
  • Bachelor of Science
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 7, and 66
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Jerry joined Sparks Financial in June 2022 as a Private Wealth Service Advisor. Prior to Joining Sparks Financial, Jerry worked as Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual. Before Northwestern Mutual, Jerry spent a year in JP Morgan’s Advisor development program and 7 years helping implement/develop Walmart’s Omni Channel Ecommerce division with his latest role as a Digital Operations Manager.

Personal Spark

Jerry is a Colorado Native who currently lives in the Denver, CO area with his Wife Dana and their dog Monty. In Jerry’s free time, he enjoys spending time in his garden, checking out the local breweries and going to sporting events.

• University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Matthew joined Sparks Financial in 2014. He was previously an investment operations specialist for the Northwestern Mutual Denver office. As an Advisor he is responsible for insurance and investment strategy implementation with a focus on financial planning.

Personal Spark

Matthew enjoys spending time with his wife Jen and their son Henry. Passions include traveling and enjoying all that Colorado has to offer. You can find Matthew, Jen, and Henry enjoying walks around their Crestmoor neighborhood and enjoying restaurants in Cherry Creek and Downtown.

• University of Northern Colorado
  • Bachelor of Communication
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 6, 7, and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Nicholas joined Sparks financial in 2022 as an Operations Assistant. Prior to joining Sparks Financial, he worked for Theodore Financial within Northwestern Mutual.

Personal Spark

Nicholas is a Colorado native who currently resides in Highlands Ranch with his wife, Jessica. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys spending time with family and playing golf.

Ross is the Managing Director at Northwestern Mutual-Denver. Ross strives to be the best Bucket Filler, Leader, and Inspirer he can be, and values being a Father, Husband, and Athlete at his core. He is a Colorado native and developed his work ethic and positivity while playing football at Truman State and Colorado College. Ross’s focus has always been team over self, and he strives to live a life of significance – uplifting the lives of those around him.

Colton started his career with Northwestern Mutual as an intern advisor in 2012, before his senior year at Colorado State University. He graduated with honors through the College of Business, emphasizing Personal Financial Planning. Colton ran his practice full-time until 2018 and is now the Director of Financial Planning. Colton maintains his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional, Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), and Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®) designations.

Colton is married to Elizabeth, and they have three children. Colton is originally from Wisconsin and learned that his family has been served by Northwestern Mutual for at least four generations. Colton loves sports/athletics (specifically playing golf), is dedicated to serving the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the University of Denver and active in his church, Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

• Illinois State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance and Insurance
• FINRA Series 7 and 66
• Life and Health Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Prior to joining Sparks Financial, Frank had over a decade of experience in the finance industry as an operations and implementation manager. Frank’s main focus is solving complex issues to create efficiencies that allow the success of the overall firm, and for the Sparks Financial Team to focus the entirety of their efforts on their client’s financial planning needs.

Personal Spark

Frank and his wife Jennifer are originally from Chicago and currently reside in Centennial with their two children. Outside of work you can expect to see the entire family outdoors and on the local trails. In addition to hiking, Frank aspires to become a better golfer and enjoys time spent improving his game on the course.

• University of Denver
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Vy joined Sparks Financial in 2021 as a Client Support Associate. Prior to joining the team, she worked as an executive assistant and volleyball coach in the Centennial and Denver areas.

Personal Spark

Vy was born and raised in Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, exploring new mountain towns, and finding the best food trucks. She is an active supporter of Food for Thought - Denver.

• Taylor University
  • Bachelor of Administration in Psychology

Background and Expertise

Erin joined the Sparks Financial team in 2013. Being with people makes her come alive. She recognizes that our industry exists to cultivate prosperity so that our families and broader communities may thrive. Her education in psychology and experience in customer service and event planning helps her excel in her three main areas of focus: fostering relationships with clients, crafting beautiful environments for connection, and engaging meaningful philanthropic opportunities.

Personal Spark

Erin is married to Neil, and they have two sons, Everett and Asher. Their family enjoys rich community in their church, where her husband serves as a pastor. You’ll often find them traveling, enjoying the outdoors, and perusing the Denver food scene. When not with family or engaged in work, Erin is often on a walk, reading, or deep in conversation with a friend (likely over a glass of wine or a latte).

• Abilene Christian University
  • Bachelor of Science in Advertising/Public Relations
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses
   

Background and Expertise

Elizabeth joined Sparks Financial in 2024 as a Leadership Support Associate. Prior to joining the team, she worked as an event producer for a local wedding caterer.

Personal Spark

Elizabeth was born and raised in Texas. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, finding the best local restaurants, and (re)watching The Office or Friends. She is actively involved in service opportunities through her church.