Specialties
About Me
Work and Education Kevin has been guiding clients to plan for financial security since 2003.
Growing up in a small-town family-owned construction business, he learned early on the value of hard work and excellence. He established himself as a leader by cultivating relationships based upon integrity, knowledge, and a commitment to listening well. He learned that a well-crafted financial plan—just like a quality crafted home—begins with a blueprint and a solid foundation. He is a founding partner of Summit Financial Group along with Rob Hayworth and Randy Lehman. Kevin specializes in working with business owners, retirees and executives, with a focus on business planning and executive benefits. During his career in the financial services and wealth management industry, he has earned the professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), the Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP® ) and and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®). Examples of individual clients that have worked well with Kevin include the following: Successful Entrepreneurs that think ‘Big Picture’ Pre-Retirees needing a second opinion on their retirement distribution strategy Business owners that want to reward their employees and key management teams Business owners facing tax challenges due to high income restrictions on retirement savings ability Business owners getting ready to sell and anticipating a liquidity event High Net Worth families that have estate tax and liquidity issues Examples of business clients that have worked well with Kevin include the following: Businesses that are 2nd to 4th generation needing to create a solid benefit package for recruiting, retaining, and rewarding Businesses that have family and closely held ownership and are in need of a transition plan Businesses that have any layer of key person management Non-Profit Organizations and Churches that have creative employee benefit needs Personal Kevin and his wife Sherri are residents of DeKalb County and have five children. They enjoy serving at Central Ministries as Elders, catching lots of local school sports, promoting adoption, and supporting many other local nonprofit organizations. Kevin is based out of our Angola location.
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Interests & Hobbies
Ready to talk?
Always free for clients.
Credentials
CLU, ChFC, AEP, WMCP, CAP, CKA
Chartered Designations
What do these credentials mean?
See FINRA's official explanation →
Disclosures
Visit our CLIENT RELATIONSHIP SUMMARIES (Form CRS) which provide brief information about our firms that provide brokerage services and advisory services. Securities and Mutual Fund orders can only be placed by phone or in person. We will not process orders sent electronically, including but not limited to, communications sent via the Internet, mobile and cellular technologies, and electronic mail. Also, communications transmitted by you electronically represents your consent to two-way communication by electronic means. If you receive communications in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any electronic means on which it exists. © 2025 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4797 - (414) 271-1444. Depending on the products and/or services being recommended or considered, refer to the appropriate disclosure brochure for important information on the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, its services, fees and conflicts of interest before investing. To obtain a copy of one or more of these brochures, contact your representative. Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Mark R Boyd, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny, Anthony Michael Moore, Michael Ready, Justin L Bortner, Valerie A Litznerski and Luke McQuade use Summit Financial Group as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Summit Financial Group is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Mark R Boyd, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny, Anthony Michael Moore, Michael Ready, Justin L Bortner, Valerie A Litznerski and Luke McQuade provide investment advisory services as Advisors of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank. Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny and Anthony Michael Moore are Agents of Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (long-term care insurance) a subsidiary of NM. Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Mark R Boyd, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny, Anthony Michael Moore, Michael Ready, Justin L Bortner, Valerie A Litznerski and Luke McQuade provide investment brokerage services as Registered Representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), a subsidiary of NM, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer and member FINRA (finra.org) and SIPC (sipc.org). Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Mark R Boyd, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny, Anthony Michael Moore, Michael Ready, Justin L Bortner, Valerie A Litznerski and Luke McQuade are Insurance Agents of NM. Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group is a select group of Northwestern Mutual advisors and representatives. Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency, federal savings bank or other legal entity. The products and services referenced are offered and sold only by appropriately appointed and licensed entities and financial advisors and representatives. Financial advisors and representatives and their staff might not represent all entities shown or provide all the products or services discussed on this website. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services. Paul Baker, Kevin Joel Bontrager, Mark R Boyd, Thomas R Gearhart, Korey Grow, Rob Michael Hayworth, Jonathan Michael Lehman, Randall T Lehman, Allison J Marigny, Anthony Michael Moore, Michael Ready, Justin L Bortner, Valerie A Litznerski and Luke McQuade are primarily licensed in IN and may be licensed in other states. Kevin Joel Bontrager AR License: 7956820 CA License: 0H55547 NPN: 7956820 Thomas R Gearhart CA License: 0L70446 Rob Michael Hayworth AR License: 3314978 CA License: 0H53874 NPN: 3314978 Jonathan Michael Lehman AR License: 16927367 CA License: 0I92500 Randall T Lehman AR License: 1001219 CA License: 0H60304 NPN: 1001219 Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. The Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®) designation is conferred by The American College of Financial Services.