About CK FINANCIAL
Who We Are & Where we stand
We are independent financial contractors who have come together to share experience, product knowledge, and philosophy to help people create higher levels of economic value.
The process uses time-tested analytical techniques to develop solid solutions, which could redefine financial planning and provide new levels of security and peace of mind.
As financial professionals, we don't deceive, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do. This shared philosophy is what brings us together as independent financial advisors seeking the same common goal.
meet
OUR TEAM
Kerry McManus
Independent Financial Professional
Charles Kerry McManus is a General Agent with access to some of the most top-rated financial service companies in the industry. He has provided financial services for over 50 years and, as such, is highly respected by his clients and has become a trusted resource to his professional network.
Kerry is a graduate of William Penn University, majoring in social science with a concentration in history, philosophy and economics. He served as a representative to the President of the United States, a founding director of United Educators, a special agent for Prudential, a Metropolitan Life Insurance Consultant, a General Agent and licensed securities representative for Minnesota
Mutual and MIMLIC before becoming an independent financial contractor.
He introduces his clients to a Descartian scientific method of personal financial analysis. “The truth is easily grasped when four rules are applied to even the most complex inquiry.” The method was created by Rene Descartes in 1637 but is, and has been used, by the foremost scientists in the world. Einstein and Stephen Hawking are among those who have followed his reasoning. The simple rules are as follows: 1. Accept nothing as true, which is not presented to the mind so clearly and distinctly that there is no reason to doubt it. 2. Break problems down to as many smaller problems as possible. 3. Begin with what is most simple and easily understood, and build on this by degrees to larger and more complex matters. 4. Review the entire chain of thinking to ensure nothing is omitted. These rules can be easily applied to one’s personal finances and should be used in an age of epidemic false information.
Kerry has lived in Vermont since 1979. He has served as president of the Essex Town Little League, Head Varsity football coach for Colchester High School, served as director of recreation in the town of Charlotte and is a rated chess player.
Kirk Shamberger
Independent Financial Professional
Kirk Shamberger has always been a teacher at heart and he loves to share his knowledge. With over 35 years of experience in sales, technology and training, Kirk has worked in a consultative role with a vast group of clients. He has built a large client base and vast networks as a result of establishing himself as a trusted independent financial contractor.
In addition to being a business owner, Kirk has held a variety of positions with multi-national corporations, government agencies and small businesses. He was previously the Director of New Business Development and Sales with Hill Associates, a high-tech training company with clients at Fortune 500 companies. He is keenly aware of how customer satisfaction and experience is a key differentiator and the impact it has on driving revenue, margin, and profit share.
In the late 1990s, Kirk found the CK Financial Resources network. While working in the telecom industry during the DOTCOM era, Kirk saw many intelligent, hardworking people lose a majority of their life savings—mostly because they didn’t understand the ins-and-outs of the financial products they owned. At that point, Kirk made it his mission to help educate people about money, economics and the financial world. The need for education, or ‘financial literacy’, as Kirk says, has never been more critical. “When an individual or business owner understands how to manage their finances they begin to question why they are doing what they are doing. The mystery of money begins to unravel. How money works is not complicated, nor does it require unnecessary risk.”
Kirk was born in Ipswitch, England and grew up in Maryland, where he also attended college. He earned degrees in environmental chemistry and business. Kirk is a member of the Colchester-Milton Rotary. In his spare time, Kirk enjoys playing tennis and skiing.
Erik Kolomaznik
Independent Financial Professional
Erik Kolomaznik is a financial strategist and author of Retiring with Peace of Mind & Confidence, a guide to uncovering 10 critical blind spots that can impact your retirement income. This book is written with retirees within the Nursing Community in mind, although everyone in that phase of life might find the concepts useful. With 26 years of experience spanning finance, management, business operations, and technology, Erik is known for his integrity, transparent communication, and ability to simplify complicated financial concepts.
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Drawing from his entrepreneurial background—managing everything from boutique eateries to multi-million-dollar retail operations—Erik brings a unique perspective to financial planning. Starting as a client of CK Financial Resources, he was inspired by their commitment to strategy over salesmanship, which now drives his mission to empower clients with financial 'self-defense.' Knowing that common financial thinking and mainstream planning today leaves people fragile and experiencing uncertainty in their financial future, Erik Safe Money Certification ensures that his clients are fortified and prepared for both good times and bad.
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Erik specializes in using time-tested strategies to eliminate the risk of financial ruin, lower taxes, protect assets, create longevity, and ensure a secure retirement that cannot be outlived. Clients often describe his approach as making the complex feel obvious. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Erik serves individuals, families, and business owners across the country, helping them elevate their financial game with clarity and confidence.