Why We Choose To Serve Veterans

By Daniel Korleski, MBA

Just as you wouldn’t want a plumber wiring the electricity in your new home, you don’t want just anybody guiding you in your financial life. With something as important as your finances, you want to experience the peace of mind that comes from entrusting your money to someone who has knowledge and experience that relates to your unique situation.

That’s why, rather than provide as many services as possible to as many people as we can reach, we prefer to serve specific groups of clients and tailor our services to fit their needs. This allows us to dedicate more time to each client so we can build strong, trusted relationships. One such group we serve is veterans. Here’s why.

A PERSONAL LINK TO VETERANS

When I started my firm, I didn’t just Google “best niche to serve” or close my eyes and pick a random audience to cater my services to. My choice to focus my attention on veterans was deeply personal. How personal?

• My father served in the Air Force for 27 years and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant.
• My brother, Gene, is an Air Force veteran who served for 16 years.
• My wife, Montse, served for 22 years, retired as a Lt. Colonel, and was awarded the Bronze Star while deployed in Afghanistan.
• Many of my closest friends are veterans.

Other than enlisting in the military myself, you can’t get much more intimate with the ins and outs of military life than that!

The time, energy, and sacrifice our veterans give to serve our country cannot be put into words. I want to serve them with my skills and dedication as they have served me with theirs, providing them with financial advice and guidance so that they can experience financial security and a future they can dream about.

OUR CLIENTS’ NEEDS

Military life is hard to describe to those not in it. As a military spouse and child, I have a unique perspective on what military families go through, their experiences, and concerns. Many of my veteran friends and clients have the following kinds of questions running through their head, questions they either can’t answer on their own or don’t have the time and expertise to navigate thoroughly:

• What options are available to me through the Thrift Savings Plan, and how can I maximize my benefits to make sure I have enough money for a successful retirement?
• How do I optimize my GI Bill education benefits for my family?
• What do I need to know about my military pension, and how do I supplement it with personal savings?
• What type of health, life, long-term care, and disability insurance is available to me as a veteran?
• If I pass away, does my spouse still receive my retirement benefits?
• What happens if I get a service-related disability?
• Is the Survivor Benefits Plan something I should think about?

Because of your different challenges and opportunities, lifestyle, values, and decisions, you need the specialized touch of someone who understands you and can innately grasp what you face, both practically and financially.

YOUR SERVICE DESERVES A PERSONAL TOUCH

As someone who knows and has experienced the ups and downs of military and veteran life, I’ve walked many of the same roads you have. I have had the opportunity to live abroad and see the world from a different perspective. I’ve seen military families struggle with the question of staying in the military world or entering the civilian economy so their kids can stay in their current school and be with their friends. I’ve had the privilege of being part of the diverse military community, learning about different cultures, and having my eyes opened to a unique community in America.

ABOUT DAN

Daniel Korleski is the President & CEO for Cobalt Private Wealth, where he helps his clients grow, manage, and protect their wealth so they can work toward a stronger financial future. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Dan has served as the managing director for Investment Trust Company, chief investment officer for the Wealth Management Group at American National Bank in Denver, and regional investment manager for the Greater Colorado Region of the Private Bank at Wells Fargo, where he oversaw the management of over $2 billion. In 2008, he was appointed by the mayor of Colorado Springs to the City’s Investment Advisory Committee. Dan holds an MBA in investment management from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida State University, and is a member of both the CFA Society Colorado and The Financial Planning Association.

Dan loves to give of his time to his community and has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, President of the Broadmoor Rotary Club and Vice President of the Board for the Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Dan was born and raised in Spain and is fluent in Spanish. When he’s not working, you can find him traveling around the world with his wife of 23 years, Montse, fly fishing, golfing, and hiking with his golden retriever, Curro. To learn more about Dan, connect with him on LinkedIn.