Our Financial Professionals
Our Mission is to continuously provide excellent customer service while protecting and preserving our client’s wealth.
Our Focus is to increase cash flow and net worth while minimizing taxes for our clients.
John B. Balcerzak CFP®
Founder, Managing Member, Author, Investment Advisor Representative
With 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, John Balcerzak has dedicated his business career to helping families and small businesses accomplish their financial goals by focusing on their core values which involve balance and clarity of all four asset classes. (Financial, Intellectual, Social and Human).
With all the turmoil in the markets and conflicts of interest with advisors, John believes clients can be best served when advisors act as fiduciaries for their clients. John also believes that “if you always take care of the clients’ best interest first the clients will take care of you and you can build real trustworthy lifelong client relationships.” John has been a multi-year winner of the Five Star Professional award¹, he is a regular contributor to WCNC’s Charlotte Today show, he hosts a radio show called “Creating Lifestyles Building Legacies” and is a published author. John has also been featured in Forbes and Fortune magazine and has the following licenses: Series 65, Life & Health, Long-Term Care, and Property and Casualty. To further his education and ethics, John attained the Certified Financial Planner ™ certification.
John resides in Lake Norman with his wife Anya, and their two sons John and Aiden. John and Anya attend Elevation Church. John is also a member of the National Ethics Bureau and the Financial Planning Association. One of John’s true passions is giving back so both A4 Wealth Advisors, LLC and John are actively involved in the Gradient Gives Back program and also helps support the following charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Toys for Tots, and the Knights of Columbus. John enjoys boating, skiing, golf, traveling, reading and attending Carolina Panthers football games. John is committed to truly make a positive difference for all the people in his life.
Strategic Alliances
MICHAEL BINGER, CFA®
President of Gradient Investments, LLC
JEREMY BRYAN, CFA®
Portfolio Manager of Gradient Investments, LLC
TYLER ELLEGARD
Investment Anaylst, Gradient Investments, LLC
Chuck Maness
CPA
KEITH GANGL, CFA®
Portfolio Manager, Gradient Investments, LLC
Andrew F. Sabourin
Attorney at Law
Dr. George Gately,
Founder of Succeed Where It Counts
David Love
CPA
Kristy Duncan, LPC, M.Ed
Licensed Professional Counselor
*This endorsement of Gradient Investments, LLC is provided by an investment advisor who refers clients to Gradient Investments, LLC. A conflict of interest exists because this investment advisor receives a portion of the annual management fee charged by Gradient Investments, LLC, based on the assets under management of this investment advisor’s clients. This endorsement could assist in the investment advisor increasing the assets placed with Gradient Investments, LLC, and therefore their compensation. These investment advisors are not affiliated with or supervised by Gradient Investments, LLC.
¹ Five Star Wealth Manager Program
The Five Star program is the largest and most widely published financial services award program in North America. Award candidates are evaluated against 10 objective criteria to determine the Five Star Wealth Managers in more than 40 major markets. The Five Star Wealth Manager award process includes:
Nominations by peers and firms:
Wealth managers, including SEC- and state-registered investment advisory representatives and registered investment advisors, are nominated by their firm or a peer to be considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Objective selection process:
Award candidates are evaluated against 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria: 1) Credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR) or a registered investment advisor; 2) Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years; 3) Favorable regulatory and complaint history review; 4) Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards; 5) Accepting new clients; 6) One-year client retention rate; 7) Five-year client retention rate; 8) Non-institutionalized discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9) Number of client households served; 10) Educational and professional designations.
Regulatory and consumer complaint process:
Feedback from consumer surveys will augment a regulatory history review.
Firm review:
Firms will have the option to provide input on award candidates from their firm, regardless of the nomination source.
Click here for detailed information on the Five Star Wealth Manager research methodology.
To learn more about Five Star Professional visit fivestarprofessional.com.