Finance

LEADERS IN LEXINGTON • LEADERS IN LEXINGTON LEADERS IN LEXINGTON • LEADERS IN LEXINGTON • LEADERS IN LEXINGTON • LEADERS IN LEXINGTON • LEADERS IN LEXINGTON

COMMUNITY TRUST AND INVESTMENT COMPANY

leader in : Private Wealth Services

Community Trust And Investment Company’s Wealth and Trust Management team offers complete client relationship and service expertise, giving clients fi nancial peace of mind and helping to strengthen their future legacies. As a central part of this team, Senior Vice President of Private Wealth Services Jason Lee helps to differentiate its offerings from the pack. “We distinguish ourselves in our servicing and investment philosophy with a local, dedicated staff that is available to meet with and service our clients’ accounts daily,” Lee said. “I have learned that the most important part of doing business with our clients is to listen. Listen to their needs, their concerns, what their end goal is and then create tailored solutions to deliver the best comprehensive wealth plan possible.” Ultimately, Lee and the broader team at Community Trust and Investment Company are driven by a desire to lend their fi nancial expertise to clients to strengthen their fi nancial portfolios and guide them to reach their short and long-term goals. “I am motivated by sharing my expertise and experience with clients in my community with whom I have developed life-long relationships,” Lee said. “I really enjoy being on their journey with them and assisting them through various stages of their lives.”

CITIZENS COMMERCE BANK

leader in : Commercial Lending

As a full-service, locally owned bank offering a range of account options, loan services and banking tools, Citizens Commerce Bank has been a trusted community partner since 1996, known for its strength in relationship banking. “Decision making is done locally by people who live in the community of your business and understand the needs of the community,” said Mark Yates, Citizens Commerce Bank’s Lexington market president. “We know our clients and offer highly personalized service.” “The banking industry is embracing new technologies to better serve its clients.” Yates said. “The future of banking is digital.” Even with continued changes on the horizon for the entire industry, Yates is committed to strengthening this community partnership. No matter how the industry may change, Yates remains confi dent that his knowledge and leadership style will help Citizens Commerce Bank as well as its clients endure and grow along with it. “My objective as a leader is to make a difference, whether mentoring an employee or guiding a business through its day-to-day banking needs.” he concluded.

ALPHA FINANCIAL PARTNERS

leader in : Corporate Retirement plans

“We often get the question of why we chose the wolf as our company logo,” stated the co-founders of Alpha Financial Partners, Marc Cobane, Aaron Ammerman and Greg Turcotte. “We were inspired by how just a few wolves forever changed and improved the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park. In the same way, we can be a force for change in a client’s retirement plan offering.” Alpha Financial Partners is a fi duciarybased fi nancial planning and investment advisory fi rm with deep expertise and experience in both ERISA and non-ERISA retirement plans, with differentiated independence and transparency that allows the co-founders’ combined 60 years of experience to yield tangible outcomes for institutions and individuals throughout Kentucky. “We strongly believe the retirement plan industry will be predominantly served by independent, local retirement consulting specialists who are willing to be fi duciaries for the services they provide,” the co-founders said. “AFP is keenly focused on minimizing risk to retirement plan sponsors and maximizing retirement readiness for their employees. Our fi rm is well recognized by most all national recordkeepers and have partnered with many to deliver large fi rm capabilities with local service. From our fi rst meeting, you will know that you are working with industry experts.”

PEOPLES EXCHANGE BANK

leader in : Business Loans

Offering a full scope of banking services for businesses and individuals, Peoples Exchange Bank is committed to meeting their customer’s needs. For decades they have helped Kentuckians build their businesses through smarter lending, including short term and long-term borrowing options. With local decision-makers and quick turnarounds they are simplifying the lending process. Having a banking partner who understands the nuance of your business and community is essential in today’s environment. Leading the Lexington team is Market President Matthew White, who has over 25 years of experience lending to families, businesses, and real estate operators. White, describes their bank as “locallyowned, hard-working and committed to Lexington.” When describing the success that Peoples Exchange has had, White, describes their bank as “locally-owned, hard-working and committed to Lexington. Banking local means that your money stays close to home and is invested locally to support our community,” he said, “For us, doing the right thing isn’t just about banking smarter, it means supporting our neighbors when they need some extra help.”

FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE

leader in : Stress-Free Mortgages

At Fairway Independent Mortgage, every employee is guided by Fairway’s core value of ensuring that the trust they are given is backed by accurate, timely processing, which is delivered with the best technology available. As branch manager, Dana Back-Pack is committed to exceeding customer expectations, guaranteeing satisfaction and earning her client’s trust. Back-Pack says, “My goal is to act as your trusted advisor by providing highly personalized service and guiding you through every step of the loan process. My experience and integrity will guide you through the most important fi nancial purchase you will make.”

Having been in the mortgage industry since 2001, Back-Pack says she has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the best in the business. According to Back-Pack, “I have learned to always listen and have the clients best interest at heart. I appreciate their trust and make myself available when they need me, seven days a week.” At Fairway Independent Mortgage, where “customer service is a way of life,” you cannot only expect great rates, but some of the fastest turn times in the industry. Back-Pack closes with, “Fairway’s core values have allowed me to be recognized as the mortgage leader of choice in central Kentucky.”

COMMUNITY TRUST BANK

leader in : Community Banking

As a vice president, branch manager and lender with Community Trust Bank, Shirely Riley works with clients to realize a vast array of fi nancial goals, from buying a home or car, to consultations on how to reach savings milestones. “I like to think that what sets me apart is that I always try to make the customer request become reality, especially my mortgage loan customers,” Riley said. “It’s a thrill to me to make a fi rst-time home buyer’s dream come true. I value the relationship.” Riley highlights her employees and Community Trust’s emphasis on customer service as the reasons for its success, noting that fulfi lled employees will always take care of their clients. And as she looks toward the future for her industry, she feels optimistic about the changes on the horizon.

“The banking industry is forever changing,” she explained. “We have grown from face-to-face contact to doing things online, with technology shaping the future. Our future is digital, with mobile banking becoming the go-to method and clients managing their fi nances from their phones, laptops and other devices.”

ANNIE-MAC HOME MORTGAGE

leader in : Mortgage Lending

Having personally closed over $100 million new home loans for 2020 and serving an unbelievable 435 families, AnnieMac’s Branch Manager extraordinaire, Brian Lykins, is easily among the Top 1% of performers in the mortgage industry today. Just a sampling of his recent accolades - “Top 100 Purchase Loan Offi cer in the U.S.”, “Top 1% Originator in the U.S.”, “Top 1% KY 2019”, “2020 50 Under 50!” and 2021 AnnieMac Presidents Club winner. Brian is a genuine national player, and the industry has taken notice.

His secret? Just like AnnieMac, Brian’s approach with his clients is always hands-on. “My mission is simple: to deliver an honest, well-communicated, knowledge-based lending experience to all my clients and realtors,” Lykins shared. “Helping families achieve their dream of homeownership is something that I take great pride and true joy in doing.”

ALLIANCE FINANCIAL PLANNING

leader in : Investment Management

“We assist clients in building a fi nancial plan that is tailored to their needs and goals and independently provide strategies to help them reach those goals,” explained Diane Verhalen, a Certifi ed Financial Planner™ Practitioner with Alliance Financial Planning. “We lead with education and work with our clients to help them understand where their money is going and how it fi ts their risk tolerance.”

As an independent fi rm focused on the Lexington community specifi cally, Alliance Financial Planning is free to search the market and fi nd the best options to fi t client needs. With so many now reaching retirement age and preparing to pass their wealth on to the next generation, professionals like Verhalen are going to be central to countless fi nancial futures. Those who work with Alliance Financial Planning can feel secure in the knowledge that their goals are aligned. “If you continue to listen to what the client is searching for or is wanting specifi cally from their investments, you can help them fi nd a strategy for their goals,” Verhalen explained. “Helping people and making a positive impact for their futures is the motivating factor for me.”

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/ SIPC