Who We Are

Jeffrey B. Kadavy . JD . CTFA

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Kadavy brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to Trail Ridge Wealth Management’s clients.  With nearly fifteen years in financial services, his professional expertise includes consulting with high-net-worth individuals regarding complex estate and financial planning needs and the administration of personal and charitable trusts.  He is proud to have created a new company that genuinely cares about its clients and provides a level of advice and service that is increasingly rare today.

• Experience:  Jeff served as a Senior Vice President for a mid-sized regional bank in Denver, which was formerly known as Steele Street Bank & Trust, and as Managing Director of Trust Services for the largest privately-held bank in the United States.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College and his law degree – with distinction – from the University of Nebraska College of Law.  He graduated with high honors from the American Bankers Association Graduate Trust School, holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, and completed the Institute for Career Advancement Needs (ICAN) Defining Leadership program.  Jeff is a member of the Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council, the Denver Estate Planning Council, the Estate Planning Council of Southeast Denver, and is a past vice president of the Northern Colorado Estate Planning Council.  In addition, he is a member of the Colorado Bar Association Trust & Estates Section and is active on its Uniform Trust Code subcommittee.  He is admitted to the practice of law in Colorado and Nebraska, and maintains his FINRA Series 65 securities license.
• Outside Interests: Jeff is a lifelong lover of music and a past president of the Opera Fort Collins board of directors.  He enjoys spending time with friends and hiking in the Rockies with his wife and children.
• Something You’d Never Guess:  Jeff is a classically trained tenor who enjoys performing in community and church musical events.

Chad Jones . MA . CFP®

Chief Planning Officer

Chad Jones, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), has gained deep experience in his eighteen years in the financial services industry.  He is a skilled relationship manager who takes great satisfaction in helping people reach their goals and gain confidence in their financial future.  Chad earned his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University and master’s degree from Colorado State University (CSU).  He maintains his CFP® certification through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

• Experience:  Most recently, Chad pioneered a financial education program for CSU Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students, the first of its kind in the nation for veterinary medicine.  He also created the financial planning offering for Wealth Management clients of First National Bank in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he managed its growth from an “add on” feature to occupying a central position in the bank’s wealth advisory process.  He is a sought after speaker for regional, state and national events.
• Outside Interests: Chad has been an active volunteer in the community, serving as President/Board Member of the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Treasurer/Board Member of the High Plains Foundation.  He is also an avid cyclist and enjoys skiing, hiking and camping with his wife and children.
• Something You’d Never Guess:  Chad is an experienced river guide and has taken parties on guided rafting trips throughout the western United States.

Mark K. Kerwood . CFA®

Chief Financial & Investment Officer

Mark Kerwood, as an accomplished and innovative financial professional, advises clients through the various stages in their lives by building investment portfolios to help them achieve the goals they set for themselves. Mark lives in Fort Collins with his wife, son, and Great Dane.

• Experience: Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Most recently, he served as a First National Bank Wealth Management Portfolio Manager where he managed over $180 million in fiduciary, institutional, and private client portfolios.  Mark has a demonstrated history of entrepreneurial success.  He founded a video production company that won numerous local, regional, and national accolades, as well as a consulting firm through which he has influenced the growth and strategic direction of many small and startup companies.  He applies his enterprising spirit and experience to achieve success for Trail Ridge Wealth Management and its clients. 
• Outside Interests: Mark is active with the Boy Scouts of America, volunteering over 350 hours of service to youth each year.  His roles include leadership from the local unit level up to the regional/national level.  Mark is an Eagle Scout and Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow.  
• Something You’d Never Guess: Mark started college as a theater light and design major and has won several creative lighting awards. 

Jacqueline C. Zipser . Esq.

Board Member

Jacqui Zipser brings twenty-five years of legal and fiduciary oversight experience to her role as a member of the board of Trail Ridge Wealth Management.  She is a partner in the Fort Collins law firm Peterson, Rosenberg PLLC, where she concentrates her practice in estate planning, fiduciary law, and the administration of trusts and estates.

• Experience:  Jacqui grew up in Boulder, Colorado.  She attended Princeton University, graduating with departmental honors in Politics.  She attended Northwestern University School of Law, graduating cum laude and Order of the Coif (top ten percent of the class).  Jacqui began her career as an associate attorney with the Chicago law firm of Schiff Hardin & Waite, now Schiff Hardin LLP.  She transitioned from drafting and planning to the implementation of estate plans as a Vice President and Trust Officer with Wells Fargo Bank in Salt Lake City and then in Fort Collins.  From 2001 to 2016, Jacqui managed the trust services team for First National Bank in Fort Collins. Her responsibilities expanded over time to include managing the delivery of trust services for all of First National’s Colorado Wealth Management locations and serving as trust counsel and chairperson of the bank’s trust committee.  She has co-authored articles for Trusts & Estates magazine and presented at local and national continuing legal education seminars on a variety of estate planning topics. Jacqui is a member of the Colorado and Larimer County Bar Associations.
• Outside Interests:  Past community involvement includes service on the Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation Planned Giving Committee and on the Boards of Directors of Rivendell School and OpenStage Theatre.  Currently, Jacqui serves on the Board of the Food Bank for Larimer County and is a charter member of WomenGive.
• Something You’d Never Guess:  Jacqui can keep stats for a baseball team, knit a sweater, make excellent small talk in German, and has been practicing yoga for over 20 years.

Paul D. Kadavy

Board Member

Paul Kadavy has over 30 years of experience in the trust and banking industry.  Most recently, he served as President/Chief Executive Officer and a director during the startup of a new bank chartered in 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

• Experience:  Paul has served in many roles during his long career with Wells Fargo/Norwest Banks, including President of Private Client Services (trust, investments, private banking and insurance) in the state of Nevada and President of Norwest Bank North Dakota.  As President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwest Bank Nebraska Lincoln, he developed the first newly chartered bank in Norwest’s history.  He held various other trust and commercial banking positions at Norwest Bank Nebraska, including managing officer of its $9 billion trust department.  His non-bank management experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of Maxicare/HealthAmerica Nebraska, where he managed all health maintenance organization operations in the state.  Paul held faculty positions at community colleges and other educational institutions and has authored numerous books and articles for national publication.  He received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He attended Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (trust major) at Southern Methodist University, Multi-Company Management School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Norwest College of Commercial Credit, and Norwest Managing Officers College.
• Outside Interests:  Paul has served as a board member for over twenty non-profit organizations and educational institutions, as well as a consultant to investment advisory and financial planning firms.  He resides in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
• Something You’d Never Guess:  During his college days, Paul was a singer and guitarist in a folk music group.  He still occasionally brings out his guitar for fun!