A wealth of knowledge for a wealth of assets.
Legacy Trust’s management team has the financial expertise needed to prepare comprehensive wealth management plans that build successful long-term client relationships. This knowledge is backed by a commitment to deliver highly personalized customer service at a level that large institutions simply cannot match.
All decisions concerning your account are made right here in West Michigan—not in some distant corporate office. There is no unfamiliar voice at the end of an “800” line or complicated telephone answering system to contend with. Just real, friendly, accessible people who care about you to make sure your needs are promptly, courteously and efficiently met.
As shareholders of Legacy Trust, the leadership team takes the long view of the road and is deeply committed to the future of this business. You can count on Legacy Trust to be a stable and reliable team partner both now and in the future.
William A. Walker - Chief Executive Officer
Robert C. Prevette - President and Senior Administrative Officer
Christi J. Powers - Administrative Assistant
Melanie S. VanderHoff - Director of Operations
Brian D. Moore - Director of Client Services
Kerby A. Wallick - Senior Investment Manager
Maureen P. Hale - Client Services Specialist
Daniel A. Oumedian - Senior Relationship Manager
Brian L. Downs - Senior Relationship Manager
Nancy Iannelli Zacha -Senior Investment Manager
Barbara B. Paneral - Director of Sales & Marketing
Douglas A. Johnson - Relationship Management Associate
Laina M. Mills - Investment Associate
Randii R. Smith - Administrative & Marketing Associate
William A. Walker
Bill is one of the founders of Legacy Trust and serves as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. He directs all of the company’s investment management activities and new business initiatives. With over thirty years of investment management experience in the trust industry, Bill brings a proven, disciplined approach to managing client portfolios. Prior to founding Legacy Trust and its predecessor Legacy Financial Advisors LLC in 2002, Bill served as Senior Investment Manager with Grand Bank and Director of Portfolio Management for Old Kent Bank where he was responsible for supervising the bank’s Grand Rapids portfolio management team along with oversight of the organization's largest corporate and personal investment clients. Bill began his career as a portfolio manager and securities trader with Marine Bank in Illinois.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Eastern Illinois University. He volunteers his time as a board member with the Grand Rapids Symphony and serves as a citizen member of the Kent County Pension Board.
wwalker@legacygr.com
back to top
Robert C. Prevette, J.D.
Bob is one of the founders of Legacy Trust and serves as President, corporate secretary and board director. As Senior Client Administrator, Bob brings more than 35 years of experience in his work with clients and their advisors to provide high-quality wealth management services. He has spoken and written widely on the subjects of financial, estate and investment planning. He uses his experience, knowledge and sophisticated modeling tools to help his clients meet their life goals and financial planning objectives. Bob began his career in trust and estate administration and financial planning in 1974 with Bank of Naperville and then served as Trust Administrative and New Business Officer for Pacesetter Bank in Traverse City, Michigan. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, Bob co-founded the Private Client Group at Old Kent Bank and served as Vice President and Manager. He also served two years as an officer in the United States Army.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Central Michigan University and an MBA and law degree from Northern Illinois University. Additionally, he has completed the course of study in financial planning at the College of Financial Planning and has attended the National Trust School. Bob is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, West Michigan Estate Planning Council and Grand Rapids Downtown Rotary Club. He currently serves on the Central Michigan University Development Board (past Chair) and the Gilda's Club Board of Directors. He has volunteered with many non-profit organizations, including serving as the past Board Chairman of the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan and member of the Opera Grand Rapids Board of Directors.
rprevette@legacygr.com
back to top
Christi J. Powers
Christi serves as Administrative Assistant for all account relationships at Legacy Trust. Christi joined Legacy Financial Advisors in May, 2002, after thirty-three years with Old Kent Bank (Fifth Third Bank). She most recently served as senior administrative assistant within the bank’s Wealth Management / Private Client Group. Prior to coming to Grand Rapids in early 1990 from Northern Michigan, Christi spent twenty-one years in various capacities in the retail banking and trust divisions of Traverse City State Bank, Pacesetter Financial Corporation, and Old Kent Bank.
She has attended the Cannon Trust School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as well as various client servicing workshops and seminars.
cpowers@legacygr.com
back to top
Melanie S. VanderHoff
Melanie serves as Director of Operations for Legacy Trust. With more than 20 years in the Trust industry, Melanie has accumulated considerable experience with many of the industry’s leading trust operating systems. She began her career with Old Kent Bank in 1984 and quickly ascended to Assistant Vice President and Manager of Trust Securities, supervising a staff of thirty and overseeing the accounting and tracking of the Trust Department’s multi-billion dollar securities portfolio. In April, 2001, Melanie joined Grand Bank as the Head of Trust Operations, including responsibility for compliance over Grand Bank’s brokerage services. In January, 2002, she joined Fifth Third Bank as the manager of the Key Account Group, overseeing the largest retirement plans within the bank.
Melanie attended Davenport College, Cannon Trust Operations School, as well as numerous workshops and seminars. Melanie received the Outstanding Performance Award each year it was presented at Old Kent Bank.
mvanderhoff@legacygr.com
back to top
Brian D. Moore, CFP
As Legacy’s Director of Client Services, Brian focuses primarily on relationship management and delivering comprehensive wealth planning services for executive and high net worth clients. He brings significant expertise in sophisticated wealth management strategies focused on creating tax efficiency for the accumulation, preservation and transition of family financial resources. Brian often uses intricate financial models to demonstrate the potential long term effectiveness of recommended strategies to enable informed decision making. After several years in commercial lending and wealth planning and account administration for executives and high-net-worth families at Old Kent Bank, later Fifth Third Bank, Brian joined Legacy Trust in 2003. Brian also serves as Compliance Officer and the Secretary of Legacy’s Trust Committee, which supervises the fiduciary activities of the bank.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Michigan State University and an MBA from Western Michigan University. He is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor. Brian is active in the community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan and President of the Kentwood Aquatics Club. He is also an active volunteer with his church.
bmoore@legacygr.com
back to top
Kerby A. Wallick, CFA
Kerby joined Legacy Trust in 2006 as a Senior Investment Manager, where he manages the Legacy Core Equity portfolios and directs individual portfolio management and investment research. Kerby authors the Legacy Trust Perspectives, monthly market summary and is a regular columnist with the Business Review writing on a variety of investment and wealth management topics. Kerby has been managing personal and institutional client investment assets for more than twenty years. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, he was responsible for the management of more than $1 billion in client assets and co-managed the Kent Growth and Income Fund for Fifth Third Bank.
In addition to graduating with honors from the University of Akron, Kerby earned the CFA designation from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts and is currently a member of the West Michigan Investment Analysts Society. He volunteers his time as chairman of the Daniel J. Donnelly / St. Paul the Apostle Education Foundation, Board Treasurer of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council and member of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation Investment Review Committee. Kerby is active in the community as a coach of several youth athletic teams.
kwallick@legacygr.com
back to top
Maureen P. Hale
As Client Services Specialist for Legacy Trust, Maureen is responsible for our Family Foundation services, client account administration, portfolio management and investment performance reporting. Maureen has more than 24 years of wealth management and trust experience including portfolio, management, operations, custody management and trust administration. She began her career with Elmhurst National Bank in Illinois, which was acquired by Old Kent in 1987. During her tenure with Old Kent Bank, Maureen served as the Director of Institutional Investments where she was responsible for more than $2 billion in client assets including foundations and retirement plans. In her role with foundations, she worked closely with numerous family, community and private foundations providing investment advice, managing funds and providing related strategic consulting services.
Maureen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ball State University in Indiana and a certificate from the Foundation Management School. She remains actively involved with family and community foundations in West Michigan. Maureen volunteers her time on the David D Hunting YMCA Board of Directors (past Chair) and coaches high school girls’ varsity volleyball.
mhale@legacygr.com
back to top
Dan serves as Senior Administrative Officer of Legacy Trust, delivering comprehensive wealth management, financial and trust services to clients. With more than three decades of experience in administration and trust management, Dan works closely with clients and their professional advisors in the lifelong process of accumulating, preserving and eventually transitioning their assets. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, Dan served as Vice President and Senior Trust Officer with Old Kent Bank, which was later acquired by Fifth Third Bank. Additionally, Dan serves as the Secretary of the Investment and Trust Administrative Committee at Legacy Trust which is responsible for the continual oversight of investment and administrative compliance standards.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science in finance from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Dan holds an MBA from Grand Valley State University, Seidman School of Business. He is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor and Chartered Financial Consultant. Active professionally and in the community, he is a member of the West Michigan Estate Planning Council, the Porter Hills Planned Giving Committee and has actively volunteered with the United Way, American Cancer Society and Kids’ Food Basket.
doumedian@legacygr.com
back to top
Brian L. Downs
As a Senior Relationship Manager, Brian is responsible for the delivery of Legacy Trust’s comprehensive wealth management, financial planning and trust services to clients. With more than 30 years of experience, Brian is a recognized leader within the trust industry in Michigan. He delivers a high level of individualized service to high net worth clients and key professionals throughout the state. Brian began his career in the early 1970’s in Detroit with the National Bank of Detroit in personal trust administration and later moved to Grand Rapids ascending to Senior Vice President of personal trust services with Old Kent Bank. He subsequently joined Michigan National Bank and most recently held the position of Senior Vice President & Manager of the Grand Rapids trust office for Grand Bank which was later acquired by Macatawa Bank. Additionally, Brian served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy completing three tours of duty in Vietnam.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Southern Illinois University and an MBA in finance from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the National Trust School at Northwestern University. Brian is active as a member of the Rotary Club, Economic Club of Grand Rapids and is an Advisory Board member to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation Heritage Club. He previously served as the Chairman of the Trust Executive Council of the Michigan Bankers Association, is the current Finance Chair to the Board of the Gerald R. Ford Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a Board Member to the Covenant Great Lakes Retirement Village.
bdowns@legacygr.com
back to top
Nancy Iannelli Zacha
Nancy serves Legacy Trust as a Senior Investment Manager responsible for key client investment accounts. She works closely with the portfolio management team in developing investment strategies, including recommendations as to tactical asset allocation of the Company’s approved security purchase list and third-party advisor engagements. Prior to joining Legacy Trust, Nancy held the position of Portfolio Manager for Macatawa Bank, where she worked closely with personal trusts, employee benefits and individual retirement accounts. She brings more than 20 years of brokerage and banking experience in portfolio management to the team.
Nancy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College and attended the University of Bonn in Germany. She has completed select graduate classes at Western Michigan University in business administration. Nancy is active in the community where she volunteers her time with Junior Achievement, Forest Hills School District, American Youth Soccer, and Forest Hills Lacrosse.
niannelli@legacygr.com
back to top
Barbara B. Paneral
Barbara joined Legacy Trust in May 2009. With more than 25 years of sales, marketing, and management experience in banking and brokerage, Barbara leads the sales and marketing activities of Legacy Trust. Prior to joining Legacy, she held several positions in marketing with financial organizations. Most recently, Barbara was a group administrator and marketing coordinator for a high net worth group at Smith Barney. Her previous experience with financial institutions includes works with Northern Trust, Comerica Bank, Bank of America, Sovereign Bank and several community banks. She began her career in 1984 as an equity research analyst and municipal bond portfolio manager with Blunt Ellis & Loewi, a subsidiary of Kemper Financial Services and was later promoted to Vice President with Invest Financial Corporation, a subsidiary firm. She was responsible for the sales and marketing efforts of bank platform brokerage programs at several banks throughout the Midwest.
Active in the community, Barbara serves as a special events volunteer with the Gerald R. Ford Museum and is the senior community events coordinator for the Forest Hills Eastern High School Theatre Boosters. She is the former Executive Assistant to the United States Tennis Association Middle States Board of Directors. Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University and studied business & Spanish at the University of Madrid.
bpaneral@legacygr.com
back to top
Douglas A. Johnson
Doug serves as a Relationship Management Associate at Legacy Trust assisting in account administration, investment research, and portfolio management. He began his career as a Portfolio Associate at Legg Mason Investment Counsel in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining Legacy, Doug worked as a Trust Associate in the Wealth Management Group at Fifth Third Bank.
A graduate of Northern Kentucky University, Doug earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Business Administration. He is an avid golfer who resides in East Grand Rapids with his wife Lori and their son Carter.
djohnson@legacygr.com
back to top
Laina M. Mills
As an Investment Associate with Legacy Trust, Laina supports the portfolio management team. She coordinates trading activities, client communications and performance reporting. Additionally, Laina monitors the due diligence process and provides research support to the senior investment managers. Laina began her career during college with Private Capital Management in Naples, Florida. She later joined UBS in Grand Rapids as a Registered Client Service Associate and most recently was an Associate with Summit Investment Guidance Partners in Grand Rapids. She brings a deep knowledge of systems and analytics to the team.
Laina graduated from Rollins College in Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree and has completed the coursework for a Certified Financial Planning designation. She volunteers her time on the Finance Council at St. Roberts in Ada, where she is also active in the music program as a choir member and soloist.
lmills@legacygr.com
Randii R. Smith
Randii is the newest addition to the team and brings many years of experience in investment operations to Legacy Trust in her role as Administrative & Marketing Associate. She is responsible for client administrative and marketing support. Randii began her career with Merrill Lynch in Lansing assisting the commodities sales force after completing coursework in business administration at Michigan State University. After transferring to Grand Rapids, she joined Old Kent Bank as a manager overseeing operations and supervising the sales support team before joining the trust department as an estate settlement administrator. Randii was responsible for the onboarding and training of new investment advisors.
Randii has completed numerous workshops in compliance and human resources. She volunteers in the community through Habitat for Humanity and was a key volunteer for the annual Riverbank Run.
rsmith@legacygr.com
back to top