Santa Barbara, CA Office

Valmark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base that includes individual and high‑net‑worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional entities such as banks, trust companies and investment companies. It delivers these services through a network of investment advisory representatives (IARs) using proprietary and third‑party platforms, including the ACCESS and ACCESS Direct programs, sub‑advisory relationships, wrap fee programs, and consulting engagements.

The firm’s investment approach centers on diversified, goal‑based model portfolios and asset allocation, with implementation largely via mutual funds, ETFs and separate‑account managers; client accounts are monitored and typically rebalanced by IARs with oversight from Valmark’s investment committee. Valmark also integrates third‑party manager programs and Schwab‑custodied strategist portfolios into client solutions, and provides quarterly performance reporting and periodic reviews as part of ongoing advisory relationships.

What is distinctive about Valmark is its involvement with investment‑company products and index licensing: Valmark serves as adviser to the TOPS® ETF Portfolios within the Northern Lights Variable Trust and is the index sponsor for the TOPS® Global Equity Target Range™ Index (licensed to WisdomTree), arrangements that generate licensing and ancillary compensation and for which the firm documents fee‑offsets and disclosures. The firm also offers a range of annuity‑linked advisory options (linked fee‑based annuities, fee‑based variable annuities and fee‑based variable life), operates an Annuity Service Center for servicing unaffiliated RIAs, and discloses its affiliated broker‑dealer and insurance agency relationships and revenue‑sharing practices in its Form ADV.