Chess Financial - Our Leadership Team, Experts in Comprehensive Wealth Management

Our Shareholders

F. Carl Walter, CPS, PFS F. Carl Walter, CPA, PFS - Chairman, Shareholder
Carl is Chairman of Chess Financial, having served as President for 25 years since founding the company in 1986. He remains active at Chess and spends his time on significant client planning issues, business development opportunities, and strategic planning matters. Prior to forming Chess, Carl spent five years with another start-up financial planning firm and, prior to that, eight years as an individual tax specialist at Price Waterhouse. Carl is a magna cum laude graduate of Kent State University and is active with various business, community and charitable organizations. Carl and his family reside in Pepper Pike.

Daniel F. Austin Daniel F. Austin - Vice Chairman, Shareholder
Dan became the firm's only outside Director in 2004 and at that time also became a shareholder of Chess. In his role, he advises Chess on strategic planning and client development matters. Prior to joining the Chess Board, Dan was Vice Chairman of McDonald Investments (acquired by KeyBank in 1998) serving 20 years until his retirement in 2004. Dan is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and The University of Michigan Graduate School of Business Administration. Dan and his family reside in Shaker Heights.

Bradley E. Turner Bradley E. Turner - President & Chief Investment Officer, Shareholder
Brad joined Chess as our Chief Investment Officer in April 2006 and was named President in January 2011. He is responsible for the management of our firm, our investment process and assisting the Managing Directors in servicing their assigned clients. Prior to joining Chess, Brad spent two years with the Crosby Group, a Boston-based family office, and twenty-one years with McDonald Investments and KeyCorp in a variety of investment management-related roles. Brad is a graduate of Denison University and the College of William & Mary’s Mason School of Business. He currently serves on the Board of the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

John Marino, CPA, CFP, CLU John Marino, CFP®, CPA, CLU - Managing Director, Shareholder
John is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. John began his association with Chess in 1993 after working in public accounting for four years. Subsequently he left Chess to pursue other avenues in financial planning and related services, but returned in 1997 as a Managing Director. John graduated from Ohio State University in 1989 with a degree in Accounting and earned his CFP in 2001. He is an active member of the French American Chamber of Commerce Board. John and his family reside in Avon.

Joseph “JAKE” K. Crocker, CFP, CIMA Joseph “JAKE” K. Crocker, CFP®, CIMA - Managing Director, Shareholder
Jake is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. Jake joined Chess Financial in January of 1996. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Ohio University School of Business Administration in 1995 and earned his CFP in 1999. Jake also received his Certified Investment Management Analyst credentials from the Wharton School of Business in 2004. Jake is a board member of various charitable organizations. Jake and his family reside in Avon.

Michael S. Dearden, ATP Michael S. Dearden, ATP - Managing Director, Shareholder
Mike is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. Mike sits on the firm's Investment Committee and Chairs the firms Business Development Committee. Mike began his association with Chess in 1995, subsequently leaving in 2000 to start his own firm. He returned in 2007 after merging his firm with Chess. Mike received his ATP designation from the College for Financial Planning in 1999 and his B.A. degree from Ohio University in 1994. Mike and his family reside in Silver Lake.

Angela M. Furmick, CPA Angela M. Furmick, CPA - Executive Vice President, Shareholder
Angela serves as one of our Executive Vice President’s. In her role, she manages the four key components of our comprehensive service: tax planning and compliance; investment management; financial consulting; and family office administration. Angela joined Chess in 2002 as the Manager of the Tax Department. Prior to joining Chess, she spent five years with Deloitte & Touche LLP as a member of their tax department. Angela graduated from The University of Notre Dame in 1997 with a degree in Accounting. Angela and her husband reside in Hudson.

David P. Miller
David P. Miller, CFP®, CPA - Director - Family Office Administration
Co-Director - Tax Planning and Compliance, Shareholder
David directs our "family office" services and co-directs our tax planning and compliance services for our clients. He coordinates the activities and associated tax matters for charitable trusts, family partnerships, private foundations, and other related activities such as bill paying. Prior to joining Chess in 2004, David spent fifteen years in public accounting, and with a securities brokerage firm. David graduated from Central Michigan University in 1988 with a degree in Accounting. David resides in Macedonia.

Steve F. Wolken Steve F. Wolken - Director - Investment Management, Shareholder
Steve leads our investment management team and is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the investment process. Steve spent six years with KeyCorp and Victory Capital with a primary focus on the investment management process and analytics. He earned a degree in Finance and Economics, and an MBA from John Carroll University. Steve and his family reside in University Heights.

James R. Pruce James R. Pruce, CFP®, CPA - Director - Financial Consulting
Co-Director - Tax Planning and Compliance, Shareholder
Jim directs our financial consulting team and co-directs our tax planning and compliance services. He is responsible for all aspects of gift and estate planning, retirement planning, general financial planning and related tax matters for our clients. Prior to joining Chess, Jim spent five years working in the audit departments of two major public accounting firms. He graduated from the College of Wooster in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics. Jim and his family reside in Willoughby.

	F. Carl Walter, CPA, PFS - Chairman, Shareholder Carl is Chairman of Chess Financial, having served as President for 25 years since founding the company in 1986. He remains active at Chess and spends his time on significant client planning issues, business development opportunities, and strategic planning matters. Prior to forming Chess, Carl spent five years with another start-up financial planning firm and, prior to that, eight years as an individual tax specialist at Price Waterhouse. Carl is a magna cum laude graduate of Kent State University and is active with various business, community and charitable organizations. Carl and his family reside in Pepper Pike.
	Daniel F. Austin - Vice Chairman, Shareholder Dan became the firm's only outside Director in 2004 and at that time also became a shareholder of Chess. In his role, he advises Chess on strategic planning and client development matters. Prior to joining the Chess Board, Dan was Vice Chairman of McDonald Investments (acquired by KeyBank in 1998) serving 20 years until his retirement in 2004. Dan is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and The University of Michigan Graduate School of Business Administration. Dan and his family reside in Shaker Heights.
	Bradley E. Turner - President & Chief Investment Officer, Shareholder Brad joined Chess as our Chief Investment Officer in April 2006 and was named President in January 2011. He is responsible for the management of our firm, our investment process and assisting the Managing Directors in servicing their assigned clients. Prior to joining Chess, Brad spent two years with the Crosby Group, a Boston-based family office, and twenty-one years with McDonald Investments and KeyCorp in a variety of investment management-related roles. Brad is a graduate of Denison University and the College of William & Mary’s Mason School of Business. He currently serves on the Board of the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
	John Marino, CFP®, CPA, CLU - Managing Director, Shareholder John is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. John began his association with Chess in 1993 after working in public accounting for four years. Subsequently he left Chess to pursue other avenues in financial planning and related services, but returned in 1997 as a Managing Director. John graduated from Ohio State University in 1989 with a degree in Accounting and earned his CFP in 2001. He is an active member of the French American Chamber of Commerce Board. John and his family reside in Avon.
	Joseph “JAKE” K. Crocker, CFP®, CIMA - Managing Director, Shareholder Jake is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. Jake joined Chess Financial in January of 1996. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Ohio University School of Business Administration in 1995 and earned his CFP in 1999. Jake also received his Certified Investment Management Analyst credentials from the Wharton School of Business in 2004. Jake is a board member of various charitable organizations. Jake and his family reside in Avon.
	Michael S. Dearden, ATP - Managing Director, Shareholder Mike is one of our three Managing Directors. He is responsible for the ongoing communication and coordination of all aspects of our services to his assigned clients. Mike sits on the firm's Investment Committee and Chairs the firms Business Development Committee. Mike began his association with Chess in 1995, subsequently leaving in 2000 to start his own firm. He returned in 2007 after merging his firm with Chess. Mike received his ATP designation from the College for Financial Planning in 1999 and his B.A. degree from Ohio University in 1994. Mike and his family reside in Silver Lake.
	Angela M. Furmick, CPA - Executive Vice President, Shareholder Angela serves as one of our Executive Vice President’s. In her role, she manages the four key components of our comprehensive service: tax planning and compliance; investment management; financial consulting; and family office administration. Angela joined Chess in 2002 as the Manager of the Tax Department. Prior to joining Chess, she spent five years with Deloitte & Touche LLP as a member of their tax department. Angela graduated from The University of Notre Dame in 1997 with a degree in Accounting. Angela and her husband reside in Hudson.
	David P. Miller, CFP®, CPA - Director - Family Office Administration Co-Director - Tax Planning and Compliance, Shareholder David directs our "family office" services and co-directs our tax planning and compliance services for our clients. He coordinates the activities and associated tax matters for charitable trusts, family partnerships, private foundations, and other related activities such as bill paying. Prior to joining Chess in 2004, David spent fifteen years in public accounting, and with a securities brokerage firm. David graduated from Central Michigan University in 1988 with a degree in Accounting. David resides in Macedonia.
	Steve F. Wolken - Director - Investment Management, Shareholder Steve leads our investment management team and is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the investment process. Steve spent six years with KeyCorp and Victory Capital with a primary focus on the investment management process and analytics. He earned a degree in Finance and Economics, and an MBA from John Carroll University. Steve and his family reside in University Heights.
	James R. Pruce, CFP®, CPA - Director - Financial Consulting Co-Director - Tax Planning and Compliance, Shareholder Jim directs our financial consulting team and co-directs our tax planning and compliance services. He is responsible for all aspects of gift and estate planning, retirement planning, general financial planning and related tax matters for our clients. Prior to joining Chess, Jim spent five years working in the audit departments of two major public accounting firms. He graduated from the College of Wooster in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics. Jim and his family reside in Willoughby.