Your Insurance
Advocates
Colton Groome Insurance Advisors has specialized in insurance for more than 70 years. Since 1950, CGIA has helped individuals, families, and businesses with risk mitigation strategies to protect what matters most.
CGIA believes in offering clients local accountability with global resources. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, CGIA provides you with a fully comprehensive insurance team, including local, friendly faces and a fully supportive, remote back-office (through Valmark Financial Group).
G. Tate Groome
CFP®, CLU®, AEP®, President of Insurance Strategy
Tate joined Colton Groome Insurance Advisors in 2003. He is now Co-CEO and Director of Insurance Strategies: A Certified Financial Planner™, Chartered Life Underwriter®, and Advanced Estate Planning designee, Tate has more than fifteen years' experience providing trusted life, disability and long-term care insurance solutions to individuals, trustees, and advisors.
Tate earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and Spanish from UNC Chapel Hill in 2001. Prior to joining Colton Groome, Tate taught elementary education for at-risk youth. Since then, he authored his first book: The Best Policy: Managing Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts; and was nominated by LifeHealthPro as one of the “Top 20 Most Creative People in Insurance."
Since 2014 he has actively consulted for National Trust departments across the U.S. regarding ILIT Policies.
George M. Groome
Emeritus
George joined Colton Groome in 1974, and served as President and CEO for over 30 years. He brings more than 40 years of insurance service experience, technical expertise, and management to the firm.
As an Asheville native, George graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant® and a Chartered Life Underwriter®, and holds a Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College.
During his career, George has been an active supporter of many community organizations including United Way, UNC Asheville, YMCA of Western North Carolina, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as President of the Asheville Association of Life Underwriters and Western North Carolina Society of Chartered Financial Consultants and Chartered Life Underwriters. He co-founded the Land of the Sky Estate Planning Council as well as the UNC Asheville Family Business Forum.
As an Asheville native, George graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant® and a Chartered Life Underwriter®, and holds a Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College.
During his career, George has been an active supporter of many community organizations including United Way, UNC Asheville, YMCA of Western North Carolina, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as President of the Asheville Association of Life Underwriters and Western North Carolina Society of Chartered Financial Consultants and Chartered Life Underwriters. He co-founded the Land of the Sky Estate Planning Council as well as the UNC Asheville Family Business Forum.
Tom Love
CLU®, FLMI, Director of Insurance
As Director of Insurance, Tom is responsible for advanced life insurance case design including carrier and product analysis as well as development of analytical and educational tools and resources. He brings 30 years of extensive experience in the life insurance industry with experience in a carrier home office, broker dealer, independent agency environment and personal sales. His writings have been published in industry journals such as Worth Magazine, the Journal of Financial Services Professionals, and the Journal of Practical Estate Planning (even earning an Editor’s Choice Award). He’s been quoted in Best’s Review, Investment News and CNBC articles. He has authored numerous white papers and blog posts over the years.
Tom is also a national presenter on multiple topics including the risks of premium financing, trust best practices for managing life insurance, life insurance due diligence, the importance of contract language, and reviewing and evaluating family life insurance holdings.
In addition to earning a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia, Tom is a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI). He holds Series 6 and 63 registrations as well as various state Life and Variable Life licenses.
Amy Gillen
Manager of Insurance Services
Amy joined the Colton Groome team in September of 2019. She brings over 27 years of underwriting and insurance-specific experience to the firm. Amy graduated from North Carolina State University in 1992 and holds her life, health and long-term care licenses, as well as her Series 6 license. She works directly with Tate Groome, overseeing all new policy matters and processes.
Taylor Bell
CFP®, CCO & COO
Taylor joined Colton Groome in 2016 and is a longtime Asheville-native. She graduated from UNC Asheville with a Bachelor of Science in Management, with a concentration in Business Administration. She has 10 years of experience in co-owning a family business—bringing a comprehensive skillset in strategic planning, project management, and client administration. She also holds her life, health, and long-term care licenses.
Felicia Pierce
Policy Management Specialist
Felicia Pierce joined Colton Groome in July as a Policy Management Specialist on our Insurance Team. She has an impressive track record of over three decades in the insurance industry. For the last 18 years, Felicia served as a Senior Vice President for a Corporate Trustee managing life insurance policies held within trust accounts.
In her personal life, Felicia finds joy in exploring the world with her husband, making cherished memories through their travels together. Additionally, she actively contributes to her community through her service at her church. Most of all, she loves family gatherings spent with her children and grandchildren.
Your Back-Office
Strategists
Chris Bottaro
MBA, Vice President of Insurance Services, Valmark Financial Group
Chris Bottaro is the Senior Vice President of Insurance for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. He is responsible for the vision, strategy and execution of life insurance marketing, underwriting, new business, and inforce insurance solutions. In this role, he prides himself in partnering with advisors and insurance carriers to help make the life insurance process simpler and more efficient. He has a technical risk assessment background and spent the first 12 years of his career in various underwriting production and leadership positions at Lincoln Financial Group in Hartford before relocating to the Twin Cities to join Valmark in February of 2015. He has an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, a BA in Economics from Boston College, and holds Series 6 and 26 licenses.
Eric Johnson
Vice President of Underwriting, Valmark Financial Group
Eric Johnson is Vice President of Underwriting for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. He is responsible for risk assessment appraisal, consultation and negotiation on behalf of Valmark Financial Group Member Offices and clients. Mr. Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience in impaired risk and jumbo case underwriting, reinsurance, sales and brokerage operations. He is a presenter at numerous industry seminars and workshops speaking on topics such as Challenging Underwriting Impairments, Jumbo Business and Brokerage Underwriting. Mr. Johnson earned his BA from Luther College and holds Minnesota Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses. He is a member of the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) and the Twin Cities Association of Home Office Life Underwriters (TCAHOLU).
Lauren Ballantine,
FALU, Director of Underwriting, Valmark Financial Group
As the Director of Underwriting for our partner, Valmark Financial Group, Lauren Ballantine is responsible for the technical assessment and negotiation of underwriting offers and serves as a contact for all new life business and underwriting. She is an advocate and escalation contact through every stage of the underwriting process, working to anticipate potential issues, identify the most appropriate carrier and negotiate the best possible underwriting outcome. She earned a BA in Biology and Art from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, where she received the President’s Scholarship and made the Dean’s List. Mrs. Ballantine is a Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU), a board member of Twin Cities Association of Home Office Underwriters (TCAHOU), and holds Minnesota Life and Health Licenses.
Mindy Shaffer
Team Lead of Concierge Services, Valmark Financial Group
As the Team Lead of Concierge Services for our back-office partner, Valmark Financial Group, Mindy serves at the subject matter expert on all things related to process and procedures for Concierge Services and also serves as the escalation point for any complex items. In addition, Mindy works with our clients to provide excellent customer service and ensures that all life insurance cases get submitted, issued and placed in a timely and efficient manner.
Keith Miller
MBA, CLU®, ChFC®, Vice President of Insurance Planning, Valmark Financial Group
Keith Miller is the Vice President of Insurance Planning for our partner, Valmark Financial Group. Keith works with the insurance planning team to provide advanced case design and sales expertise. His core areas of focus include customized wealth transfer solutions, product analysis and holistic life insurance design. Mr. Miller is a national presenter at the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) annual conference. He received his BA from Samford University and his MBA in Finance from the University of Alabama. Mr. Miller is also a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and holds the Alabama Life and Health licenses.
