Each Member Office invited to join ValMark receives a customized letter as part of their contract which sets out exactly what you can expect of us. This Clear Expectations Letter™ gives you the confidence of knowing that all major issues discussed have been committed to writing. By clarifying up front the issues that are important to you, ValMark maintains an exceptionally high retention of Member Firms. The Clear Expectations Letter™ also becomes the starting point from which our New Member Development team develops a week-by-week Affiliation Implementation Plan™. This plan provides a customized practice development track and serves as a tool to help monitor and manage your firm’s progress and growth.

While many broker dealers may offer a wide range of life products, their idea of “value added” often means giving you a list of “800 numbers” for contacting the carrier. At ValMark, you receive a dedicated team of internal professionals who provide integrated support for both your insurance and investment business through a central source. With one phone call, your internal team can coordinate all aspects of your case or inquiry – including technical and marketing support, case design, provider questions, software and online support, underwriting, compliance, client service and more.

Because of ValMark’s unique position as an independent broker dealer, advisory firm and insurance agency, not only do sales of registered products move you to higher levels of compensation, but so do sales of non-registered insurance products. For example, by receiving credit for your sales of term insurance, long term care, universal life, variable life, whole life, annuity and advisory accounts, life settlements, and long term care through one relationship — you are able to achieve higher overall compensation on all products. All of these products also count toward our national and international recognition trips.

While ValMark has one of the widest best-in-class product offerings, our true differentiation is our toolbox of consultative approaches built around each product line, a structure that allows advisors to always do what is best for clients. ValMark regularly collaborates with Member Firms to create these Unique Processes™ to aid in delivering customized client advice in multiple product areas. Members often charge a fee for this advice and private label it through their own brands. (See The ValMark Resource Universe™ for an overview of the tools that allow our firms to differentiate their services in an increasingly commoditized market.)

ValMark has been pairing national CPA firms, banks and property and casualty brokers with successful financial service professionals since 1984 under the firm’s Professional Partnerships Program™. Recognized as the most successful strategic alliance program in the industry, this comprehensive, customizable program has allowed nearly one-third of ValMark firms to form successful strategic partnerships that permit revenue sharing in a manner that is compliant with the regulatory bodies of the insurance, securities, accounting and banking professions.

ValMark recognizes that most principals of our Member Firms are entrepreneurs who want to build value in the independently branded firms they have created. Of central importance is their ability to secure revenue streams that may have taken a lifetime to create from insurance, advisory and broker-dealer products. ValMark stands apart from all other broker dealers (even independents) in the unique way we address these issues by offering customized contracts that allow for true vesting and transferability of all income streams.This ability to transfer the full value created in your firm greatly enhances your ability to:

• Transfer ownership among partners in your firm
• Attract a new partner
• Transfer the value of the firm to family members
• Sell the firm to outside buyers.

PORTABILITY – We recognize that our Member Offices are our ultimate clients. It is always your decision to remain with ValMark, but in the event that you elect to transfer, you are guaranteed, in writing, of our assistance to transfer accounts to your new broker dealer. This guarantee impacts our efforts to continue to earn your business every day.

In an era of increasingly complex and restrictive regulatory requirements, many advisors are frustrated with what seems to be arbitrary and capricious edicts by compliance departments mandating a single solution for thousands of registered reps. By contrast, ValMark is able to offer a highly-customized approach geared to the entrepreneurial needs and professionalism of its Member Firms. We accomplish this by staffing each business line with FINRA Registered Principals who continuously listen to Member concerns and proactively seek solutions to keep them in compliance. This personalized, proactive and integrated approach has resulted in an excellent record of low rates of client complaints and arbitration.

The ValMark culture is one of collaboration…between Member Offices and our internal team…and between Member Offices and each other. To support this, ValMark maintains a highly active Member Advisory Board which influences product sets, technology, Unique Processes™, and even the implementation of written supervisory procedures. This producer- led, best-practice orientation has kept us far ahead of the curve in responding to changes in regulation, technology and product sets, and has led to exponential growth among Member Offices. Our Firms become part of a close-knit community of peers who share with and learn from each other on their journey to build and grow highly productive, profitable and professional firms that are the best in their local markets.