Our Team
Scott Sparks
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Bachelor of Science in Business Finance
Colorado State University - Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU ®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC ®)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6, 7, 63 and 66
Background and Expertise
Scott joined Northwestern Mutual as a college intern and has been a full-time Financial Advisor for Northwestern Mutual since 1990. In this time, he has built a wealth management team that regularly achieves the highest honors across the financial services industry. Scott focuses on building long-term relationships based on integrity, knowledge, and commitment. Scott’s overall goal is to help people define, build, and enjoy prosperous lives.
Personal Spark
Scott is a life time resident of Colorado. He and his wife Holli have two children, Taven and Tanner. He has a balanced life with work and family, and attributes this to his top-notch team at the office.
Gary Wing
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting
Colorado State University - Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC ®)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU ®)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA 7, 65, and 63
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.
Ted Holmes
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Bachelor of Science in Finance
Penn State University - Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU ®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC ®)
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®)
- FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, 66, and 63
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
Background and Expertise
Ted joined Sparks Financial in 2006 as an Advisor. Ted entered the financial services industry in 2000, yet his roots in the business date back over 40 years - from the careers of both his father and brother.
Personal Spark
Ted and his wife Emily enjoy skiing, hiking, and spending time outdoors with their three children. You may also find Ted playing and coaching Lacrosse, a passion from his days of captaining Penn State’s Men’s Lacrosse team in 2001.
Peter Egan
- United States Naval Academy
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7 and 63
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 children. Sports are a big family activity – volleyball, lacrosse, the Broncos, and the “family derby” – Spurs vs. Gunners. Pete’s passion is skiing with the family. They are active in the community and have raised many puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Maggie Bardsley
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance
Arizona State University - Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU ®)
- Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7 and 66
Background and Expertise
Maggie joined Sparks Financial in 2013. As an associate advisor, she is responsible for insurance and investment implementation with a focus on planning.
Personal Spark
Maggie enjoys spending time with her husband, their five children and one granddaughter. She loves the outdoors and spending time playing golf, tennis and skiing. She is involved with her church and enjoys reading.
Jonathan Rains
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Bachelor of Arts, Economics
Gonzaga University -
Masters in Business Administration
University of Denver - Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)
- Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF)
- FINRA Series 7 & 66
- Colorado state Life/Health Insurance Licenses
Background and Expertise
Jonathan has two decades of investment management industry experience including 15 years with Russell Investments prior to joining Sparks Financial.
Personal Spark
As a Colorado native, Jonathan and his wife Maile enjoy helping their four kids and one dog explore Colorado. They especially enjoy skiing, hiking, and road trips into the Rocky Mountains. Jonathan is involved with his church, and the Boy Scouts. He and his family live in Washington Park, and spend lots of time there enjoying Denver’s great weather.
Matthew Haynes
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Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
University of Colorado, Boulder - Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU ®)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC ®)
- Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP ®)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7, 66, and 63
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. Passions include traveling and spending time at home with their English Bulldog Watson. You can find Matthew and Jen enjoying the cultural scene in Downtown Denver where they currently reside.
Taven Sparks
- Texas Christian University- M.J. Neeley School of Business
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) Entrepreneurial Management, Finance, Leadership (Emphasis)
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
Background and Expertise
Taven joined Sparks Financial in 2019 as a Financial Representative. After graduating from TCU Taven spent 2.5 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 Taven’s free time you may find him at Red Rocks, playing Volleyball in Washpark, or spending quality time with family and friends around a fire pit after a long day of skiing or hiking.
Bryce Hefner
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Bachelor of Science in Finance & International Business
University of Denver - Colorado Life and Health Insurance Licenses
Background and Expertise
Bryce joined Sparks Financial in April of 2019 as an Investment Operations Specialist after 2 summers interning at Sparks Financial.
Personal Spark
Bryce is a Colorado Native who currently resides in the University of Denver area. Bryce spends the majority of his free time outside golfing, fly fishing, skiing, and running triathlons.
Drew Babb
- Bachelor of Science in Finance
University of Denver - Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7 and 63
Background and Expertise
Drew joined Sparks Financial in 2018. As an Advisory Operations Specialist, he is responsible for service support for insurance, investment and planning operations.
Personal Spark
Drew resides in University Hills with his wife Laura. Laura and Drew have a passion for traveling and in their free time they like to get out on the golf course. Drew spends his spare time volunteering with Hope Kids which hosts fun events for families with children undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital.
Julie Baizley
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Associate of Business
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee - Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- Certified Master Trainer
Background and Expertise
Julie joined Sparks Financial in January of 2017 as the Director of Insurance Operations and since has become the Director of Client Operations. Prior to joining Sparks Financial, she spent five years with Northwestern Mutual as a Director of Training and Development, in addition to running the Client Relations Center. As the Director of Client Operations, she oversees the overall client experience and seeks operational improvements to provide you with exceptional service.
Personal Spark
Julie resides in Aurora with her husband Jacob. In her free time Julie enjoys reading, wine tasting, outdoor activities, watching the Brewers and volunteering with the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses- Centennial.
Don Sant
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management
Colorado State University
Background and Expertise
Don joined Sparks Financial in 2016 as the Chief Operating Officer. He is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services and technology industry. Formerly with Cisco Systems and NCR Corporation he is skilled in sales, sales management/leadership, professional services, data center, and software as a service (SaaS).
Personal Spark
Don enjoys dirt biking across the mountain peaks of the Colorado Rockies, water skiing, and bird hunting with friends and family.
John Courier
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Bachelor of Arts in Economics
University of Puget Sound - CFA
- Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63
Background and Expertise
John joined Sparks Financial in 2018 as Director of Business Development and Investment Strategy. He has been in the investment industry for over 29 years, most of that time with Russell Investments. He has worked extensively with some of the largest advisors in the United States.
Personal Spark
John lives in Lonetree with his wife of 25 years, Kathleen. They have two boys, both attending CU Boulder. John enjoys spending time with his family, going to yoga, and endless attempts at playing guitar. John and Kathleen plan on venturing into the greater outdoors to attempt all the famous Colorado 14ers in the upcoming years.
Sarah Snyder
- Bachelor of Arts, English
University of Wyoming
Background and Expertise
Sarah joined Sparks Financial in March of 2020 as the Lead Advisor Support Associate. Prior to joining Sparks Financial, she spent extensive time working within the Financial Services industry.
Personal Spark
A Dallas transplant, Sarah spends the majority of her free time exploring Denver, visiting her family in Wyoming, and spending time with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cooper.
Chris Horvat
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance and Investment Management
Duquesne University - FINRA Series 7, 66, 9, and 10
BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE
Chris has worked previously with Northwestern Mutual as a Director of Network Office Supervision for nearly eight years. He has worked in the Financial Services Industry since 2010.
PERSONAL SPARK
Born and raised in Cleveland, Chris attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he ran both cross country and track. He and wife Kelsey are proud parents to seven month old son, Jack.
Marshall Morris
- Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences
- Colorado Life and Health 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, CO with his fiancé, Alex. In his free time, Marshall enjoys spending time with family, traveling around Colorado, golfing in the summer, and skiing in the winter.