Services
Hermann Financial offers the following services:
Investment Planning
Wealth Management
Estate Planning
Retirement Planning
Life and Group Health Insurance
Disability Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Commitment
We have always adhered to the following:
In all my professional relationships, I pledge myself to the following rule of ethical conduct: I shall, in light of all conditions surrounding those I serve, which I shall make every conscientious effort to ascertain and understand, render that service which, in the same circumstances, I would apply to myself.
Bill
Bill graduated from the University of Oregon in 1966 and began his financial services career on March 1, 1967, in Eugene, Oregon. On October 7th of the same year, Bill and his wife, Jodi, were married in Eugene and re-located to La Grande where the business has expanded over the years into a professional financial services firm. From those early years, Bill has always been an “independent” producer, not restricted to the insurance or investment products offered by any one company.
In 1969, Bill secured his series 7 securities license thus adding equity products to the life and health insurance and annuity business. The ability to employ all financial products to a client’s financial plan, and not be restricted as a captive company producer, has been invaluable.
In 1972 Bill first qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table and has been a member every year since.
In 1980 Bill obtained his Chartered Life Underwriter designation with the American College. In 1982 he added the American College’s Chartered Financial Consultant credential.
In 1986 he was awarded the National Association of Insurance and Financial Professional’s “Senior Agent of the Year” for the state of Oregon.
Bill has been very involved over the years in the community as President of the Eastern Oregon University Foundation, Chairman of the Grande Ronde Hospital board of trustees, Grande Ronde Child Center board, President of the La Grande Country Club, President of the La Grande Industrial Development Corporation and many other community endeavors.
Bill has received the Eastern Oregon University’s “Distinguished Service” and“ Alumnus of the Year” awards. In 1989 he was named Union County Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year.”
As his clients are now located in various parts of the country…..and with the advent of modern technology….Bill and his wife, Jodi, spend a great deal of time now at their home on the Oregon Coast where he can still actively stay connected with clients but add a new dimension in lifestyle. He makes it clear, however, that he has not retired!
Kimberly
Kimberly Hilton is Bill’s daughter. She began working in the firm’s office while in high school
until moving away to attend college at Western Oregon University. She returned to La Grande
and became licensed with the Oregon Department of Insurance for Life and Health in 1993, and
licensed for Variable Life and Variable Annuities in 1994. Kim also holds a life and health
insurance consultant license. Her securities designations include series 6, 63 & 65 and is
affiliated with KMS Financial Services, Inc. She has managed the firm’s group and individual
health insurance division for the past 14 years.
Kim’s specialties are in employee benefits, structuring fully insured and self-funded group health
plans, group LTD and Life. She is also experienced in group retirement plans such as Davis
Bacon Pension, 401(k), 403(b), etc. In addition Kim enjoys creating an individual retirement
plan for those still saving – and those ready to retire.
Kim was invited to sit on the Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Group Agent Advisory Council for a 3 year term from 2006-2009, and again for a current term beginning in 2017. She did the same for Advantage Dental in 2004. And is currently serving on the Agent Advisory Board for Moda as well.
Kim is a past member of the local Soroptimist Chapter. She spent a few years as co-chair for the
local “Friends of the NRA” annual fundraising banquet. She is a past board member of the Blue
Mountain Humane Association and co-chaired an annual fundraiser for their low income
assistance fund for 9 years.
John
John Leithner has been a financial advisor since 2000 and joined the firm in October of 2008. John received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration, Economics, and Accounting from Eastern Oregon State College in 1995. Before he became a financial advisor he worked in the travel trailer and wood products industry as a production manager. He started his career in the financial services industry with Edward Jones Investments in 2000 and opened a new branch office in Kuna, Idaho. He then took over a book of business with AIG VALIC in 2004 which allowed him to move his family home to Eastern Oregon. During the financial crises of 2008/09 John made the decision to become an independent advisor to better serve his clients with holistic financial planning. He joined Hermann Financial and KMS Financial Services, Inc. to pursue that dream and has never looked back.
John holds the 07, 63 and 66 securities designations as well as life and health insurance licenses. John specializes in creating and maintaining personalized financial plans for families which includes budgeting, retirement, life insurance, long term care, and estate planning. Some of John’s most treasured moments are when he can sit down with his clients and show them how they can achieve their hopes and dreams.
Over the years John has volunteered with the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show as the co-chair of the 4H and FFA Junior Livestock Auction and been a member of the Union County Fair Board. John and his wife April live outside of LaGrande on a small farm. John and April have a daughter, Brittany, who just graduated from Texas Tech and will be working in Agri-Business and a son, Trevor, who is going to school at Blinn College.
Shelly
In 2005, Bill Hermann and Kim Hilton had independently observed an exceptionally over-qualified person behind the teller window while doing some routine local banking. After some time we had occasion to tell this person if she ever wanted to seek a position elsewhere that we should talk.
That pleasant and efficient person was Shelly Rogers. Shelly joined our firm in 2005 and has been invaluable to our team ever since.
Shelly has always lived in Eastern Oregon. She moved to La Grande after High School to attend Eastern Oregon University. Shelly joined Hermann Financial in 2005 where she has worked as the firm’s Office Manager, ensuring the daily operations run smoothly.
Shelly and her husband, Jared, have two children…. J.C. who attends Blue Mt Community College and Nolan who happily arrived in 2008 keeping them busy with grade school activities.
Shelly and Jared are avid archery buffs, competing in tournaments as far away as northern California.
She recently completed requirements for her Oregon Life and Health Insurance license. With her many years of experience with Hermann Financial, Shelly will now be able to expand her service to our clients.
Additional background information is available at FINRA's BrokerCheck .
Securities and advisory services offered, in states where licensed, exclusively through representatives of KMS Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA /SIPC and an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.
This site is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or investment advisory services which may be referenced herein. We may only offer services in states in which we have been properly registered or are exempt from registration. Therefore some of the services mentioned may not be available in your state, and if not, the information is not intended for you.
