“Our mission is to provide timely and honest financial services in a team-oriented environment
that clearly reflects our integrity and the devotion we have toward our clientele.”

Thank you for your interest in our professional services and welcome to Sanford Financial Services. Our financial advisors believe in the value of comprehensive financial planning as a vital component of achieving personal and financial goals.

We provide premier comprehensive financial planning services which enable our clients to expand today’s accomplishments into fulfilling personal life goals and extraordinary business careers. Firm decisions are driven by loyalty to clients and understanding that long-term success will be enhanced by always putting our clients’ interests first.

Sanford Financial Services was founded in 2000 by Todd Sanford. Our advisors strive to provide a team oriented environment that allows us to draw on the expertise of each member of our staff. Given the breadth of information needed by our clients each of us has areas of focus. Following is a brief description of our individual capabilities.

Financial Planners

Todd Sanford, CEO: Founder and CEO of Sanford Financial Services, Todd has been active in the field of financial planning since 1983. Todd became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1991 and has been recognized with Raymond James' top honor, Chairman's Council member based on production, client service, and professional growth for multiple years running. Additionally, Todd has the longest affiliation with Raymond James in Southwest Michigan and one of the largest producing offices in the nation.

Todd works with individuals, families, small businesses, and non-profit agencies. He has a developed specialty in retirement planning, extensive knowledge of the numerous local employee benefit plans, and over twenty years of experience working with TIAA-CREF plans for WMU Faculty.

Todd has an impressive financial planning track record in Kalamazoo. After receiving his BA in Finance from Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business, he started his career with IDS in 1983 (now American Express Financial). Here he had the distinction of being the youngest planner in their history. In 1985, he joined the prominent local employee benefit firm of Scott, Doerschler, Messner & Gauntlett (SDMG) to assist in the development of a financial services division for the organization with partner Tom Gauntlett. During Todd's fifteen year tenure at the firm, he became widely recognized for his investment expertise. Three years after the firm was sold to First of America Bank (now PNC), Todd founded Sanford Financial Services. Currently Todd manages the Sanford Financial Services team and provides wealth management and financial planning for our clientele.

Licenses and Designations held: CFP®, Series 6, 7, 24, 51, and 63, Life & Health Insurance

Email Todd: Todd.Sanford@RaymondJames.com

Scott Williams, Partner: Scott is a Partner and shareholder of SFS. He holds the financial and professional designation of Certified Financial Planner®, is a Registered Principal, and is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a B.S. in Finance. He has been with Sanford Financial Services since 2000 working as a financial planner.

Scott’s main areas of focus include: portfolio allocation strategies, financial analysis, investment research, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance evaluation. Scott primarily spends his time helping individuals manage wealth efficiently while managing investment selections for all clientele of SFS.

Additionally, Scott is quite involved in the community. He is currently a board member for the Portage Education Foundation and Kalamazoo YMCA where he serves also on the finance committee. Additionally, he spends much of his spare time coaching youth soccer and spending time with his wife, Tricia, and son, Matthew.

Licenses and Designations held: CFP®, Series 7, 9, 10, 63, Life & Health Insurance

Email Scott: Scott.Williams@Raymondjames.com

Brent Kerstetter, Partner: Brent is a Partner and shareholder of SFS. Brent holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation, the Series 7 & Series 63 securities licenses and the Michigan life & health insurance license. Brent received his MBA from Western Michigan University and his BBA in Finance from Eastern Michigan University.

Brent enjoys working with individuals and families, providing and implementing investment strategies, financial planning, and retirement planning. Additionally, Brent works with many small business owners helping them establish and maintain retirement plan benefit packages for their company and employees. Brent also has numerous years of experience in the banking industry, specifically in the areas of Commercial Lending and Trust.

Brent is an active member in the community he serves. He is a former President of the Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity. He also served as a board member for the Southwest Michigan Professional Network. Brent is a former member of the Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary and loan panel member for the Kalamazoo College Small Business Development Center. Brent is married to his wife Adrianne. They have two children: Kelsey and Luke

Licenses and Designations held: CFP®, Series 7 & 63, Life and Health Insurance

Email Brent: Brent.Kerstetter@RaymondJames.com

Nick Bond, Registered Representative: Nick joined Sanford Financial Services in 2011 after completing his MBA in Finance at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business. Nick has developed particular expertise in retirement planning and financial analysis. Previously, he spent five years in debt resolution at National City/PNC Bank while completing his BBA in Finance, also at WMU. Nick also spent two years in the education field as a teaching assistant while working concurrently on his Master’s Degree at Western. A Kalamazoo native, he respects the dynamics of the local community and understands the significance of the global financial environment in working with clients.

Licenses held: Series 7, 65, Life and Health Insurance

Email Nick: Nick.Bond@RaymondJames.com

Client Services

Tami Leffingwell, Client Services Manager: Tami has been with Sanford Financial Services since 2000. She is a highly experienced industry veteran and handles all aspects of branch operations as a primary contact for all account administration components. As a registered representative, Tami focuses on strengthening client relationships and has developed an expertise in estate and trust administration. Her career began in the Commercial Loan Division of First of America Bank, N.A. where, after five years, she transferred to First of America Brokerage and then to Parkstone Mutual Funds. She spent five years in the Dealer Services and Wholesaling group as an Internal Wholesaler for the tri-state area.

Licenses held: Series 7 & 63

Email Tami: Tami.Leffingwell@RaymondJames.com

Lori Bumgart, Client Services Manager: Lori started her career with SDMG in1989. She then transitioned into Sanford Financial Services in 2009. She maintains some of the most highly respected credentials in the industry for her position in addition to a degree in Business Management from Davenport College. Her longstanding history and experience in financial planning allows her to handle all aspects of client relationship management. She is a primary contact for all administrative components of maintaining client accounts.

Licenses and Designations held: CFP®, Registered Paraplanner, Series 7, 24, and 63

Email Lori: Lori.Bumgart@RaymondJames.com

Kelly Mutual, Operations Manager: Kelly joined Sanford Financial Services in 2005 after working for seven years in the banking industry as a Commercial Loan Documentation Specialist at Portage Commerce Bank. She is a Registered Paraplanner and holds a B.B.A. from Northwood University. Kelly assists in all areas of client account establishment and maintenance and provides support for the financial planning team.

Designation held: Registered Paraplanner

Email Kelly: Kelly.Mutual@RaymondJames.com

Jane Brady-Ertz, Retirement Plan Professional: Jane attended both Western Michigan University and Davenport College where she earned an Associates Degree in Accounting. She is a Series 7 Registered Representative with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC and holds the designation of Tax-Exempt and Governmental Plan Consultant. Her area of specialization is employer sponsored retirement plans. She works with participants to review their financial goals, assist with investment planning, and make the most out of their retirement plan.

Licenses and Designation held: TGPC, Series 7, 63, and 65

Email Jane: Jane.Brady-Ertz@RaymondJames.com

Julie Ahlberg, Client Services Associate: Julie started her finance career in 1991 with First of America/National City where she worked in the Mutual Fund Department, Income Area, and Money Market Desk. In 2003 she joined NatCity Investment as a Client Service Associate. Thereafter, she joined Sledrunner Financial Services to provide administrative support for retirement plans and individual clients. Julie currently administers client accounts providing ongoing support in all aspects of account maintenance.

Email Julie: Julie.Ahlberg@RaymondJames.com

Bethany Smeader, Client Services Associate: Bethany attended college at Wake Tech in North Carolina before moving to Michigan. Her entire career has been spent working in customer service. She is dedicated to providing a positive experience for SFS customers. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband, family and puppy Banjo. She also volunteers at her church and loves the outdoors.

Email Bethany: Bethany.Smeader@RaymondJames.com

Amy Sanford, CFO: Amy is the CFO of Sanford Financial Services. She manages the firm's accounting, human resources, payroll, and financing activities. Prior to Sanford Financial Services, Amy spent 9 years in the Graphic Packaging Industry working as a Production Manager for Southern Graphic Systems supervising numerous relationships with Fortune 500 companies.

Amy received her Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Printing Marketing and Management.