Meet the Advisors

James Barker,  ChFC^®, CLU^®

• Owner and Founder
• Chartered Financial Consultant
• Chartered Life Underwriter

Jim has worked in the financial planning industry for over 20 years.  After 10 years of working through insurance companies and broker dealers, he started Barker Financial Group, Inc. with the express purpose of not selling products to clients.  His designations include Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter.  The Chartered Financial Consultant is very similar to, and more established, than the CERTIFIED
FINANCIAL PLANNER™ mark .  It is a planning designation requiring at least 3 years of experience and successful completion of an exam covering planning, investing, taxes, insurance, and estates, as well as trust administration.  Jim has degrees from the University of Maine in Business Management and Resource Economics.

 

Hollis Carlisle

• Former Bank Trust and Investment Officer

Hollis has been managing investment portfolios since 1987 and joined Barker Financial Group, Inc. in 2000.  Clients benefit from her knowledge of asset allocation strategies and diversification methods, as well as her administration experience.  She splits her time between our Burlington, MA office and our Brattleboro, VT office.

 

Paul L. Chern, ASA, EA, MAAA

• Owner of PCA Benefits Group, Inc.
• 35 Years of Pension and Employee Benefits Experience
• Actuary in Employee Benefits
• Enrolled Actuary in Pensions

Paul has worked in the pension industry for over 35 years as an actuary and administrator. In his capacity as an Enrolled Actuary he has advised clients on funding and investment strategy of his client’s pension plans.  Paul’s clients range from 1 participant to over 1,000 participants and include both for profit and non profit companies. After 30 years working for large and mid size actuarial consulting companies, he started PCA Benefits Group, Inc. in 2002.  Prior to starting his own firm he was president of Pentad, which was a mid sized actuarial consulting firm. Paul has degrees from University of Oregon (MS in Mathematics) and Northeastern University (MS in Actuarial Science). For pleasure, Paul enjoys traveling, hiking and tennis.

 

Chris Sadkowski, CFP^®, MPA

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional

Chris founded and managed Christopher Financial Advisors for 10 years before joining Barker Financial Group, Inc. in 2006.  He is a true devotee of the fee-only, client-oriented approach to financial and investment planning.  Chris has the
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ or CFP^® certification which is the highest professional mark for comprehensive financial planning and he is an investment diversification specialist.  He has helped numerous families and individuals restructure investment portfolios (and retirement plans) after clients lost ground due to inattentive, non-client oriented bank and/or brokerage advice.  Chris has degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (BA Economics 1973), Syracuse University Maxwell School (Master of Public Administration 1974), as well as 28 years of experience counseling organizations and individuals.  When Chris is not working, he and his wife are enjoying their daughters, who are raising families in Nahant.  Or, he may be playing competitive tennis, working out, listening to music or reading.

 

Bonnie TenPas, Ph.D.

• Owner of a Sales and Marketing Business for 22 years
• Instructor and Program Administrator in Education

Bonnie met the requirements to join Barker Financial Group, Inc. in 2007 after owning and operating a sales agency representing a group of manufacturers.  Bonnie’s formal education includes a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, an M.A. from the University of Washington, and a B.S. from Oregon State University.  In addition to her business development endeavors at Barker Financial Group, Inc., Bonnie enjoys activities with her children and grandchildren who also live in Massachusetts.