Business owners wear many hats and as a consultant and bookkeeper, one of the things I help with is deciding what, when and who to delegate to when they get so busy they can no longer do it all themselves.  Erik Kolomaznik at C.K. Financial Resources is one of the first introductions I make when those businesses have employees.  Employee retention and culture is one of the challenges I hear about most often.  Many business owners think providing benefits like insurance and retirement will automatically improve company culture and they seek it out via the well-known providers, not realizing they may not get the best price, let alone service. 

 

Erik is thoughtful and thorough in his approach, always listening intently to get the whole picture before ever talking about possible solutions.  He asks important questions and gets to know the mission and vision of the business and meets the team he will be serving.  Only after he has all the pieces to the puzzle will Erik carefully and methodically find the perfect solution.  Because C.K. Financial is independent, I know my clients won't be pushed toward a product that's not in their best interest. 

 

Having worked with Erik personally and collaborated with him on multiple projects, I know that the relationship is not over when the sale is complete.  Erik is a valuable resource that is always eager to help or answer questions.  He checks in regularly and makes sure that the solution he recommended last year is still working and meeting the needs of an ever-evolving business.  I recommend Erik often and with zero hesitation.  I want my clients to get the level of care and service that I would provide myself and Erik exceeds my expectations every time.

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- Julie

★★★★★

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As a CPA and a small business owner, I appreciate the depth of Erik’s knowledge of ERISA law. He improves the employee experience by designing employee benefit packages that are rich in features, yet cost effective for employers.

 

- Randy

★★★★★

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Erik and CK Financial Resources provide a high level of integrity and business acumen to the financial services industry. He is able to turn complex subjects like retirement building, perpetual income distribution, life insurance policies and legacy planning into easily understood subjects. Demystifying and myth busting are his specialties. If you are a business owner, Erik is capable of lowering your employee expenses and tax exposure using employee benefits, employee related insurances, payroll and executive benefits. Highly recommended!

 

- Adrian

★★★★★

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Erik's process encourages you to think beyond the traditional approach to providing benefits and incorporates layers of value that reflect what is important to employees.

 

- Tom

★★★★★

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Erik Kolomaznik is a highly dedicated professional.  He is driven to help Vermont employers understand and choose effective benefit plans that attract and retain talented employees.  For a competitive analysis of your current benefit plan or for installing a new strategy, a consult with Erik is time well spent.  When I had a conversation with Erik about my business, he took the time to get to know me and my business and came up with some truly thoughtful insights.  He is kind, compassionate, and authentic.

 

- Bernadette

★★★★★

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Navigating the medical insurance maze is tough. Erik’s guidance made selecting the right choice seem simple. He walked us through every detail, made recommendations, and continues to support us going forward. If you are offering employee benefits in Vermont, contact Erik Kolomaznik from CK Financial Resources

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- Jeremy

★★★★★

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I have been working with Erik since 2017 for both our personal and business financial consulting and planning. I trust Erik with every ounce of my self to help in making unbiased decisions and empowering us to question everything, peeling back the confusing world of financing, insurance and wealth management.

 

- Mike

★★★★★

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Erik was one of three is financial advisors I met with, and I immediately realized we were having a different type of conversation. He encourages and supports curiosity and learning, financial IQ, and transparency. He was beyond accessible and gave his full attention and as much time as needed to our meetings. I felt encouraged to ask questions and take initiative, which I am finding is not the norm for the field. Erik is knowledgeable, articulate, professional, and warm. I would highly recommend an initial conversation (at the least) with Erik to anyone in my circle who wants kind and expert guidance to "look under the hood" of their financial situation and realize confidence and security in a strategy forward.

 

- Maya

★★★★★

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When I began working with CK Financial Resources about 14 years ago, I was already a relatively successful saver and investor, and, in fact, teaching community financial education classes as part of my work. But I knew there was much I didn’t know, and I was searching not just for particular products, but for a larger, more coherent point of view. Kerry and Kirk’s Personal Financial Engineering approach introduced a big picture, holistic framework that made sense. I came to realize that although I strived to achieve diversification, and, by most standards, was diversified, my idea of diversification confined me to only part of the field, to bond and stock markets. In fact, I wasn’t diversified at all.

 

Using a market-based portfolio, I was so preoccupied with embracing risk to grow assets that I completely missed the importance of securing long-term income by seeing all of the available pieces and how they fit together. Of course, the aging process encourages one to make this leap (best made while you are still fairly young), but only if accompanied by the desire and opportunity to obtain more education, and, especially, from people who are thinking outside the traditional boxes. Kerry and Kirk served that role for me. They offered the patience (I am a slow learner), passion, knowledge, and research that allowed me to expand my financial horizons and find a much more effective balance between risk and stability.

 

In short, conversations with Kerry and Kirk changed my financial direction in a significant way. Experience over time has validated their counsel and recommendations. When questions arise, they are always right there. While I don’t always embrace their suggestions, I always think carefully about any suggestions they make, knowing they have my best interests at heart. I very highly recommend their services.
 

- Jim

★★★★★

 

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“Thank you so much for the financial assistance and the broad financial education that you have given me…What had been a confusing dilemma for me has become much more understandable and manageable….You were able to interpret the language and concepts of the financial world for me and relay those in a clear manner that I understood. I so appreciate how very patient and generous you have been with your time and knowledge…”

 

- Lynn

★★★★★

 

 

 

“Kirk is laser-focused on helping his clients protect their assets, save for the future, and build long-term wealth. Spend an hour with Kirk to learn about his strategies-- you won't regret it!”

 

- Dave

★★★★★

 

 

 

“…he applies his practical expertise to common problems and can break it down in a way that I understand…he educates and empowers the consumer…. My only complaint is I wish I had known him a few decades earlier...”

 

- Mark

★★★★★

 

 

 

“The essence of knowledge, integrity, professionalism and competence…”

 

- Gary and Maddy

★★★★★

 

 

 

“I would highly recommend a meeting with Kirk to anyone interested in their financial future. Not only is Kirk easy to understand, he will educate you with his incredible knowledge and experience. Kirk has helped shape the future for my family and I strongly suggest you let him help shape yours.”

 

- Jim

★★★★★

 

 

 

“There is no one more knowledgeable and informed than Kirk Shamberger when it comes to financial matters. He has a passion for information that he gladly shares with whoever is willing to receive it...I recommend him highly to anyone who would like to be exposed to a methodical approach of taking responsibility for your financial equation.”

 

- Corey

★★★★★

 

 

 

“Kirk is the ultimate professional. He is trustworthy, knowledgeable and CREATIVE. Kirk takes a problem-solving approach and teaches lifelong lessons rather than selling products. He always puts the best interest of his clients first. Thanks Kirk!”

 

- Mike

★★★★★

 

 

 

“Kirk’s primary focus is not about making money, but about protecting and increasing the wealth of his clients. He does this through education, as he believes that you cannot make sound financial decisions without all of the information.”

 

- Brian

★★★★★

 

 

“Kirk is the most knowledgeable and straight-talking financial person I know. He is informed far beyond the headlines and sexy schemes of the moment. It is amazing how many trends he pointed to years ago that we are seeing in the headlines today...”

 

- Markey

★★★★★

 

 

 

“…I had a very fragmented approach to investing and little overall financial security… By taking a step back to look at our finances on more global scale, we have come up with an overall plan where retirement, college funding, insurance, etc. are all inter-related and secure. I always look forward to our meetings with Kirk as they are always thought provoking and educational….”

 

- Oliver

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

 

"I am honored to write a letter of recommendation to help differentiate you from mainstream financial professionals. When we first started talking, I was very skeptical. I grew up in a fiscally-conservative household, and I thought I had a solid, though basic, understanding of what it meant to save for retirement. I had learned a lot from my small-business-owning father, learned a great deal from talking to various professionals, and thought I just needed to get more disciplined at doing what mainstream financial advisors and planners always say we should do.

 

You asked that I give you an opportunity to show me and my husband how your work could benefit us. There was no pressure to buy into the latest and greatest investment funds. You emphasized education, facts, and resources. Your approach helped us feel more comfortable talking and learning about retirement, money management, and long-term financial planning (or as you might say “financial engineering”). We completely understood every move that we elected to make with you, and we look forward to meeting with you in years to come as we update our long-term plan. We are so grateful that we found you and took the time to meet with and learn from you."

 

- Lara

★★★★★