A Team of Authentic & Approachable Professionals
For 20 years, we’ve worked to provide successful and long-term retirement plan strategies. Our experience and passion for partnering with individuals such as yourself are why we do what we do.
Kristi Turchan
Managing Partner
Kristi Turchan
Managing Partner
Kristi is an LPL Financial Advisor and brings over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry to her role at Ascend Investment Management. From a young age, she knew that she wanted to work in the financial services industry. Kristi has the drive to inspire and educate her clients as they navigate their financial lives. She helps them to understand, organize and pursue their goals. Approachable and down-to-earth, Kristi believes that the key to client success is building a genuine relationship.
Kristi earned her BBA from Grand Valley State University with a major in finance. After graduating, she worked for Old Kent Bank and Morgan Stanley before joining Voya (and the predecessor Aetna) in 1999. Now, she works on a team that focuses on asset management for institutional retirement plans, individual wealth management and income distribution strategies. Day-to-day, Kristi meets with clients to update their financial plans either face-to-face, over Zoom or on the phone. By explaining principles and strategies in a way that is easy to understand, she makes sure that clients do not feel overwhelmed or lost. In 2022 Kristi partnered with her new broker dealer, LPL Financial.
Kristi previously sat on the Women’s Advisory Council for Voya, which is dedicated to helping women grow their businesses and expand the community of female financial professionals.
As a Michigan native, Kristi grew up in Petoskey. She has given back to the community through the Women’s Resource Center, Junior Achievement, Paws with a Cause, the American Cancer Association and the YWCA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, including her dog Ziggy, a golden retriever. Her other hobbies include traveling, personal fitness, cooking, creating new recipes and gardening.
Licenses:
- Series 7 held through LPL Financial
- Series 63 held through LPL Financial
- Series 65 held through LPL Financial
- Series 32 held through LPL Financial
- Life and Variable Insurance
Debbie Verker, CFP®
Managing Partner
Debbie Verker, CFP®
Managing Partner
Debbie focuses on retirement planning with a commitment to understanding your needs, wants, wishes, family dynamics and future. Her objective is to provide you with ideas, suggestions and alternatives that can be implemented to help you experience a comfortable and dignified retirement.
Debbie’s greatest strength is helping people set financial goals and work toward achieving them. By educating her clients about financial strategies, Debbie empowers them to select those they feel are the best personal fit, so they can be confident in their financial future.
A graduate of Purdue University, Debbie earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 2001, she acquired her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification and is currently an LPL Investment Advisor Representative with Ascend Wealth Management. Debbie also has FINRA Series 63 and 66 securities licenses held through LPL Financial, and holds both life and health insurance licenses and variable annuities licenses required by the State of Michigan.
Debbie moved to Grand Rapids in 1998, where she met and married her husband, Brad. In 2008 and 2010 they welcomed their 2 sons into the family. Debbie enjoys spending her free time keeping up with her boys.
Licenses:
- Series 7 held through LPL Financial
- Series 63 held through LPL Financial
- Series 66 held through LPL Financial
- Life and Variable Insurance