It’s nice
to meet you.
When you work with JVL Wealth Strategies, you work with our entire team. Our relationships are built on a foundation of consistently positive experiences that create confidence and comfort. We remain committed to providing you with timely, open, and honest communication at the pace that works for you. The team at JVL Wealth Strategies has knowledge and insight that comes from decades of proven experience in helping people achieve results. Our industry-leading designations are confirmation of a commitment to continuous learning, education, and training. You can enjoy life knowing that your financial future is in good hands.
Jerry VanderLugt
CPA, CFP®, CVA
Founder and Managing Partner
jvl@jvlwealth.com | 616-580-1676
Jerry has been involved with family businesses since his childhood. He began working on a family farm at age 11 and continued working for other family-owned enterprises through college. Jerry began his professional career in public accounting, working with successful family-owned businesses in the areas of audit, accounting, and taxes. He developed a passion for helping business owners integrate their personal finances with their business interests.
Jerry founded JVL in 1994 to concentrate his efforts on helping families understand the many strategies available to them to meet their family’s financial goals. He works closely with clients to strategically manage their assets to achieve their financial objectives and walk them through various estate planning strategies that meet the financial goals of future generations. Jerry has assisted clients in the implementation of Family Investment Companies and a wide range of strategic arrangements involving trusts. Jerry has been helping clients implement customized wealth strategies for over 40 years.
Jerry graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in Accounting. He holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designations.
Matt Kunnen
CFA, CFP®
Partner
matt@jvlwealth.com. | 616-345-5965
Matt grew up playing games and loves any game involving strategy. One of his favorites is the age-old classic, Monopoly. Matt was the kid who actually calculated tax and interest. This pastime grew into a love of math, statistics, and charts. Believe it or not, he also has a sense of humor. Matt took these passions and began his professional career working as an investment consultant for a national brokerage firm.
With a desire to focus more on client relationships, Matt joined the JVL team in 2013. He enjoys the complexities of strategizing with clients on the interactions of their investments, taxes, and estate plans. Matt cares most about people. He believes he was fortunate to find a profession where he can continue to have a significant impact on people’s lives.
Matt graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornerstone University with degrees in Finance and Business Management. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations. Matt previously served on the board and as Treasurer of the CFA® Society of West Michigan.
Matt and his wife, Amber, have three young boys who are full of energy. He is actively involved in his church and enjoys athletics, previously coaching soccer at the high school level.
Chad Soukup
CPA, CFP®
Partner
chad@jvlwealth.com | 616-378-8806
From a young age, Chad has shared a love for music and the arts with a love for mathematics and science. He was curious about the connections between the disciplines and has been able to carry this curiosity and creativity into his professional life. Chad has a passion for helping families simplify complex decisions while developing creative strategies to achieve their financial goals in ways that they can fully understand. For the first 13 years of his career, Chad served as a trusted advisor to privately held business owners, executives, professionals, and retirees with a national Registered Investment Advisor.
In 2019, Chad joined the JVL team of professionals who share his vision for developing a practice that truly puts the client’s interest first and has the technical ability to deliver results. He has experience helping clients strategically manage their assets to achieve their financial goals and maximize the impact their wealth has on future generations and the causes that are important to them, all while minimizing taxes along the way.
Chad graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in accounting and an MBA. He holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations.
Chad and his wife, Sara, live in Jenison with their son, daughter, and an over-active Boston Terrier.
Nate Lowe
CFP®, CPWA®
Wealth Manager
Nate@jvlwealth.com | 616.537.6897
Nate grew up playing sports – basically all of them. From middle school through high school, there wasn’t a single semester where he wasn’t in season. Nate loves the competition, camaraderie, and strategy involved with sports as well as the correlation between preparation and success. He’s taken those passions and lessons into his professional career, working with clients and other professionals to define and accomplish a shared goal.
Nate joined JVL in 2022, bringing his experience to a team of experts that enjoys serving others. For the first 8 years of his career, Nate served high net worth individuals at a large national Registered Investment Advisor. He has experience helping business owners, professionals, and executives develop and execute complex strategies related to succession planning, estate and tax planning, and charitable planning. He truly enjoys bringing value to others and understands that “value” means something different to everyone.
Nate graduated Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Economics and holds the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation and the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation.
Nate is a life-long resident of Grand Rapids and loves to road trip through Northern Michigan – most often to Pentwater and Glen Arbor - with his wife, Molly, daughter, Layla, and their golden retriever, Hootie.
Ben Schon
Associate
Ben@jvlwealth.com
Raised in Dewitt, Michigan, Ben grew up witnessing the hard work and dedication required of a family-owned business. This helped instill his sense of diligence toward his grades, extracurricular activities, and service to others. A lifelong soccer player and a high school marching band member, Ben often found himself running off the soccer field, grabbing his trumpet or mellophone, and heading to evening band practice. These interests created opportunities to travel to Europe twice, sparking a passion for travel. Ben enjoys staying active with soccer and golf, playing board games that require skill and strategy, watching sports (MSU in particular), and keeping in contact with his friends.
Ben joined JVL Wealth Strategies following his graduation from Grand Valley State University in May 2022. As he begins his professional career, Ben looks forward to gaining experience, broadening his knowledge base, and delivering the exceptional service clients expect from JVL.
Ben graduated from The Frederik Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University with degrees in finance and marketing. He currently lives in Grand Rapids but often visits Dewitt on the weekends to see his family, friends, and Australian Shepherd, Luna.