• 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. She spends her free time traveling, getting outside to enjoy the West Coast weather, watching the Buffalo Bills on gamedays, and hanging out with her dog, Earl.

• Texas Christian University
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Management, Finance and Leadership
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• 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.

• University of Colorado at Boulder
  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, specializing in Pre-Med and Bio-technology
  • Minor in Biochemistry
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)
• FINRA Series 6, 7, and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background & Expertise

Jessica began her financial planning practice in 2013 after spending over 13 years in the biopharmaceutical sector. Her career change was driven by a newfound interest in, and genuine need for, financial planning when she and her husband, Kirk, had triplets. In 2025, Jessica joined Sparks Financial, bringing with her a deep passion for navigating complex financial situations and specializing in retirement readiness and transition planning. She is especially renowned for her expertise and empathy in handling challenging financial circumstances, such as divorce, widowhood, and inheritance.

Personal Spark

Jessica and her husband, Kirk, have four adult children: Gavin, Keagan, Samantha, and Taryn. The Veitch family enjoys tackling escape rooms throughout the state and are frequently found indulging in their love for theatre: attending as many shows as possible and creating intricate costumes and props for various festivals.

• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
• Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC®)
• FINRA Series 7 and 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Kathleen joined Sparks Financial in 2025 as a Private Wealth Service Advisor. She started with Northwestern Mutual in 2014 as a Financial Advisor and transitioned to AWMA in 2020.

Personal Spark

Kathleen enjoys looking for hidden treasures at yard sales and thrift stores with her daughter, as well as helping others organize rooms, closets, and shelves in their homes. When she isn’t organizing and thrifting you can probably find her in the mountains.

• 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.

• University of Denver
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Management
  • Minors in Data Analytics and Leadership
  • Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Troy started his career with Deloitte Consulting, spending three years working in development for integrated eligibility software in a client facing role. In this position, Troy led design sessions and worked in conjunction with State Government leadership to ensure the systems continually evolved to meet the needs of the state constituents. In April 2023 he joined the Sparks financial team as an Operations Associate.

Personal Spark

As a lifetime Coloradan, Troy is passionate about all the activities that make Colorado a unique place to live. From skiing in the winter, to hiking and fishing in the summer, Troy can always be found in the mountains in his free time. Avid fan of the Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets, and Rockies.

• 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.

• Colorado State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Concentration of Financial Planning
• FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

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 before transitioning to become Director of Financial Planning at Volition Wealth Group.

Personal Spark

Colton is married to Elizabeth and they have four 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 is active in his church, Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

• Regis University
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance
• FINRA Series Securities Industries Essentials (SIE), 6, 7, 63
• Life, Health, and Long-Term Care Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Katy joined Sparks Financial in 2024 and currently serves as a Private Wealth Service Advisor. Prior to joining Sparks Financial, she accumulated extensive experience in financial services, having worked for a Fortune 100 Company providing financial services for organizations and individuals working in the nonprofit industry. Katy also brings valuable insights from her years working in banking with JPMorgan Chase.

Personal Spark

Born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, Katy now resides in Parker, Colorado with her husband, Kevin, and their son, Leo. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, exploring new travel destinations, uncovering the best golf courses, and savoring lattes. Katy is also an active volunteer for CricketTogether.