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Chris@CollaborativeFP.com​
​614.799.2900 Main
614.336.4251 Direct
Christopher Johnson Form ADV Part 2B

​Christopher Johnson, CRPC®, AAMS®, CLTC, AWMA®, CEP®

Accredited Wealth Management Advisor SM

Chief Executive Officer / ​Managing Partner

• Chris has been a financial advisor since 2002, he became a platinum financial advisor in 2010, and a Private Wealth Advisor in 2014.   He believes in holistic financial planning and he focuses on your goals, investments, insurance strategies, wealth preservation strategies, and estate planning strategies.  He graduated with a BBA from Ohio University in 2000.  He holds the CRPC® Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor sm,  AAMS® Accredited Asset Management Specialist, and AWMA® Accredited Wealth Management Advisor designations from the College for Financial Planning.  He is also “Certified in Long-Term Care.”  The CLTC is a designation granted by the Corporation for Long-Term Care Certification. Graduates have completed a rigorous multidisciplinary course that focuses on the profession of long-term care.  Lastly, Chris is also a Certified Estate Planner™.  The CEP® is a financial, legal, or tax professional who has earned a distinctive educational certification through the National Institute of Certified Estate Planners (NICEP).

• Chris is the Founder of Collaborative Financial Partners LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory, practice that provides personalized client service and is dedicated to meeting the complex and unique financial needs of their clients.

• Chris has been recognized as Forty under 40 in Columbus, Ohio by Business First.  Chris wrote the white paper “The Missing Link in Estate Planning.”  He was also recognized by the Ralph and Luci Schey Sales Centre as the 1st Annual Young Alumnus of the Year in 2012. 

 

• Chris served on the board for Junior Achievement from 20012 through 2020. Chris continues to serve on the Board as well as the Development Committee.  From 2012 to 2019 he was on the Executive Board and Co-Chair of the Development Committee.  He started volunteering in the classroom in 2010 and continues to volunteer in the classroom and at BizTown.  Additionally, Chris is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Central Ohio and was previously on the Philanthropy Committee.

 

• Chris has been involved with Ohio University since 2004 when he became a member of the Professional Sales Advisory Board and was a Co-Founder of the Sales Centre Alumni Society. Served on on the Executive Board for the College of Business Marketing Advisory Board and serves as the Past-Chair on the Board for the College of Business at Ohio University.

 

• Chris has a son, Colin, born in 2007, a daughter, Kendall, who was born in 2010 (they were both born on the 2nd of September), and a daughter, Elliott, born in 2015.

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CLightfoot@CollaborativeFP.com​​614.799.2900 Main
614.799.2498 Direct
Chris Lightfoot Form ADV Part 2B

CHRIS LIGHTFOOT, MBA, CKA®, AAMS®

Accredited Asset Management Specialist SM

Financial Advisor / Charitable Giving Specialist

• ​Chris has been in financial services as an advisor and educator since 2008. He has a passion to see clients steward their money well, increase their capacity for generosity, and give of their time, talents, and treasure toward the people and purposes for which they care most.

• Chris serves in the community in various capacities:  The Ohio Director for the National Christian Foundation; Generosity Coach at Good News Church in Powell, Ohio; and Board Member for Design Outreach in New Albany, Ohio.  Chris was formerly on the steering committee for the Philip Heit Center for Health New Albany and on the board for both the Cornerstone Academy and Columbus Humanities Arts and Technology Academy.

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• ​He is a graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College and earned his MBA from the University of Colorado. Chris and his wife, Meghann, met while teaching high school together in Colorado Springs, CO in 2009. They have two boys, Elias and Bennett, and all four love spending time with friends and extended family, playing, traveling, and outdoors enjoying God’s creation.

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Melanie@CollaborativeFP.com
​614.799.2900 Main
614.766.5690 Direct

Melanie McGraw

Operations Manager

• Melanie joined the team in 2014 as an Operations Specialist.  Melanie works closely with Chris J. and Chris L. to ensure we are continually working to provide excellent solutions and processes to achieve our clients’ goals.  Additionally, Melanie works with Meghan to handle all of the day to day operations.


• Melanie also regularly volunteers with Junior Achievement of Central Ohio within both the classroom and BizTown.  Additionally, she volunteers with Dress for Success of Columbus.

• Melanie took some time off from her career to raise her children before joining our team.  Previously, she was with Cardinal Health for 15 years where she spent 10 years as a Pricing and Contracts Supervisor. Melanie is married and has two sons.  She is originally from Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Hilliard Davidson.

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Joi@CollaborativeFP.com​
​614.799.2900​ Main
614.799.2451 Direct

​Joi Armstrong,  MHRM

Director of Client Services & Human Resources

• Joi joined the team in 2015 as a Client Service Coordinator.  Joi does all of the scheduling, marketing, and client appreciation, in conjunction with keeping Chris J., and Chris L. focused on helping clients. Previously Joi held a variety of roles at the Gap, including Trainer, Supervisor, and Customer Service Representative.


• Joi also regularly volunteers with Junior Achievement of Central Ohio within both the classroom and BizTown.  Additionally, she volunteers with Dress for Success of Columbus.


• Joi is married and has two adult children. Joi is originally from Columbus and is a proud graduate of Brookhaven High School.  In 2016 Joi completed her Associates Degree in Human Resources, in 2018 she received her Bachelor of Business Administration, and in 2019 she received her Masters Degree in Human Resources.  

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JGardner@collaborativefp.com​​614.799.2900 Main
262.439.8587 Direct

JEREMY GARDNER

Financial Planning and Investments

• Jeremy conducts financial analysis and recommends client investment portfolios according to individual financial goals with both Vantage and Collaborative Financial Partners. Jeremy works to prepare and execute financial transactions and planning strategies. Jeremy and his wife, Connie, have a blended family with 4 kids: Dean (16), Allie (15), Jake (14) and Erika (12). Life is busy with four active teenagers!

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• ​Alma Mater: University of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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CHansen@CollaborativeFP.com
​​614.799.2900 Main
262.439.8587 Direct

Cade hansen

Paraplanner

• Cade joined the Vantage team as an intern in 2019.   He recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison where he majored in Finance, Investment, and Banking as well as Real Estate & Urban Land Economics. He works full time as a paraplanner with Collaborative Financial Partners and Vantage Financial. He is also a third-generation financial planner. Cade’s goal is to grow meaningful relationships with clients to assist them in developing financial clarity. In college, Cade was a part of the club triathlon and club lacrosse teams. He was also an executive board member for Badger Consulting, a student-run consulting group that provides pro-bono consulting for Wisconsin small businesses. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, playing pickup basketball, and spending time with his family.​

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• ​Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin 

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​​614.799.2900 Main
262.439.8587 Direct

MATT NIEDERBAUMER, CfP®

Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor

• Matt is a Senior Wealth Advisor and Partner of Vantage Financial. He earned his Certified Financial Planner™ designation in January of 2008. With over 18 years of experience, Matt is committed to providing holistic financial planning to clients to meet their goals and needs. Matt and Chris work together to share ideas, implement effective and best in class client systems and processes between the two practices.  He and his wife Cindy, daughter Belle(11) and sons Jonah(9) and Mauer(5) reside in Huron, South Dakota. During his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his children’s many activities. The family is actively involved at Mt. Olivet Church in Huron.


• Alma Mater: South Dakota State University, South Dakota

Designation Definitions and Requirements Disclosures
 
Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM or (“AAMS®”):
Individuals who hold the AAMS® designation have completed a course of study encompassing investments, insurance, tax, retirement, and estate planning issues. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations. All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct and are subject to a disciplinary process. Designees renew their designation every two-years by completing 16 hours of continuing education, reaffirming adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct and complying with self-disclosure requirements.

Accredited Wealth Management AdvisorSM (“AWMA®”):
Individuals who hold the AWMA® designation have completed a course of study across eight modules to provide financial advice to high net worth clients, pass the final examination and complete the designation application. Continued use of the designation is subject to ongoing renewal requirements. Every two years individuals must renew their right to continue using the designation by:

• Completing 16 hours of continuing education;
• Reaffirming to abide by the Standards of Professional Conduct, Terms and Conditions, and self-disclose any criminal, civil, self-regulatory organization, or governmental agency inquiry, investigation, or proceeding relating to their professional or business conduct; and
• Paying a biennial renewal AWMA® and Accredited Wealth Management AdvisorSM are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning

 
Certified Estate Planner (“CEP® ”):
This designation is issued by the National Institute of Certified Estate Planners and is granted to individuals who have completed classroom or online coursework, and then pass two examinations before obtaining this designation. Eight hours of continued education must be completed every two years. The designation means that the holder has a basic knowledge of estate planning.

Certified Kingdom Advisor (“CKA®”):
Kingdom Advisors is a non-profit training organization for financial professionals who specialize in the planning differentiators that exist when you apply a Christian worldview to financial decision-making.

The prerequisites for the designation/certification are that the advisor must hold one of the approved industry designations (CFP®, ChFC®, CPA, CPA/PFS, EA, CFA, CIMA®, AAMS®, CLU®, JD) or 10 years of experience in the discipline in which applying for the CKA® designation. The disciplines include financial planning, investments, accounting, estate planning law, and insurance. The education prerequisites for the designation/certification is a 21.5-hour online course and a 200-question open-book exam with a minimum score of 80%. In January 2017, the educational prerequisite will move to a 3-credit hour equivalent certificate course offered by the two largest Christian universities in the US. The new university-based course will be offered in cohorts consisting of approximately 50 hours of student work over 8 weeks and a new proctored exam administered once a student completes the university-based CKA® Educational Program. All candidates must sign a "Statement of Faith," obtain a letter of reference from pastor or member of pastoral staff, pass a regulatory review, complete a signed statement of personal stewardship and submit two client references.
 
The continuing education requirement to maintain the designation is 10 hours annually. Kingdom Advisors (“KA”) also requires all CKA® designees to remain in substantial compliance with a set of ethical principles, rules, and standards in order to use or to continue to use the CKA® designation. In order to oversee such compliance, KA has established procedures for reporting ethical violation, as well as a set of disciplinary procedures to oversee the investigation of potential violations of such principles.
 
Certified Long-Term Care (“CLTC® ”) The CLTC:
Certified in Long-Term Care designation is a long-term care planning designation granted by the Corporation for Long-term Care Certification to individuals who satisfy educational, work experience and ethics requirements. Recipients of the CLTC have completed a rigorous multidisciplinary course and examination, that focuses on long-term care. To maintain this designation, the CLTC must satisfy continuing education requirements and adhere to the CLTC Code of Professional Responsibility.

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (“CRPC® ”):
Individuals who hold the CRPC® designation have completed a course of study encompassing pre-and postretirement needs, asset management, estate planning and the entire retirement planning process using models and techniques from real client situations. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations. All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct and are subject to a disciplinary process. Designees renew their designation every two-years by completing 16 hours of continuing education, reaffirming adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct and complying with self-disclosure requirements.

Master of Business Administration (“MBA”):
A Master of Business Administration is a graduate degree that provides theoretical and practical training for business or investment management. An MBA is designed to help graduates gain a better understanding of general business management functions
 
An MBA from Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado prepares you with the knowledge, experience, mentorship and network.  The Leeds Full-Time MBA is an innovative and entrepreneurial business environment where our acclaimed faculty and innovative programming will build your business expertise and the confidence to support your long-term career goals.  Pursuit of your degree focuses on core business functional areas including accounting, finance, marketing, management and strategy. Leeds MBA students acquire targeted skills, knowledge and professional connections in these high-interest industries.

Master’s in Human Resource Management (“MHRM”):
The Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program is designed to prepare students to be strategic and tactical HR management professionals within their organizations. Coursework, taught from the practitioner’s perspective, focuses on applying HR competencies to real-world challenges and opportunities. The MHRM program requires successful completion of 39 semester credit hours.
Keller’s Master of Human Resource Management program has achieved voluntary accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, demonstrating that it has met the standards of business education that promote teaching excellence.  The Society for Human Resource Management has acknowledged that the Master of Human Resource Management program fully aligns with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.
 
The Master of Science Degree in Personal Financial Planning (“MSFP®”)
The Master of Science Degree in Personal Financial Planning (“MSFP®”) is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing the CFP® Certification while also earning a graduate degree.  This one-of-a-kind program utilizes industry-leading study materials but in an entirely new way. Rather than exam preparation, the MS degree curriculum focuses on practical application.  MS students learn via group discussions, writing assignments, and case study projects. This hands-on approach provides students with a deeper understanding of the subject matter and unique real-world insights.

The program begins with the core disciplines of financial planning before exploring advanced topic areas that delve deeper into these topics and more. Upon completion of the five core courses and a case study course, students are eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. Upon completion of five more courses you can earn a fully accredited Master of Science Degree in Personal Financial Planning, the highest level of financial education possible.