Boreman’s life is a ‘balancing act’ [Daily Record, The (Wooster, OH)]

WOOSTER -- Chad Boreman's life is all a balancing act.

In his day job as a financial advisor, Boreman balances risks and rewards for his clients and their portfolios. But he also balances his work in the Wooster community with his family life.

And when it comes to keeping his balance, it's about doing what's right -- for his family, clients, and the community he calls home.

"When you are young in this industry, everyone asks if you have what it takes to survive," he explained from his North Street office. "But when you are older everyone asks if you are out of touch with the times. It's all about integrity, reputation, and doing the right thing."

Boreman was born and raised in Wayne County, graduating from Northwestern in 1991. He attended the University of Toledo and earned his finance degree in 1996.

But he never knew where he would end up.

"I met my wife, Sarah, at college and she is from the Toledo area ... I never thought I knew where I'd end up," Boreman said. "I figured we'd settle in lower Michigan somewhere."

Out of college though, he struggled at a Toledo-area financial services firm because he knew no one in the community. Boreman was eating with his mother at The Parlor in downtown when he learned Dick Yoder was retiring.

Yoder was in the insurance business for 35 years before Boreman purchased his business.

"It's a funny story actually, I went back to Toledo that weekend and told Sarah I bought a business in Wooster and you can come if you want," Boreman said.

"We just got engaged ... and he made the announcement at a huge family dinner my family does," Sarah said. "It was a shocker because I always imagined myself in a big city. But once I moved here I loved it."

Sarah said she remembered asking Boreman "Really, are you sure?" about the move from Toledo to Wooster.

Twelve years later, it's the best decision they made.

But he knew it was the right move as his family has a long history of entreprenuers in the Wayne County area. His grandfather, for one, owned the D.D. Becker horse-trading business.

After establishing himself in the business community, Boreman also merged his business with Roger Cook's roughly five years ago.

"We did something unusual ... when he moved into office space I had even though we were competitors," Cook said. This action required special permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission, since they were competitors. "We first knew each other as competitors in peewee youth football ... he coached Northwestern and I coached Wooster."

But Cook said he felt comfortable with Boreman buying out his business after spending time working closely to each other.

"He worked like I did and had the same perspective on focusing on financial planning, and more than just the sale of a product," Cook said.

Today, besides being the owner of Boreman-Cook Financial Services, he is involved with Wooster Rotary and Elks Clubs and sits on boards of Wayne County American Red Cross (chairman), Main Street Wooster, Wooster Hospitality Transit, Apple Creek Bank, and used to sit on the Northwestern Board of Education (although he is adamant about not having political ambitions anymore).

Between Yoder and Cook, Boreman said he had some "great mentors in his lifetime."

"I hope to do the same when the time comes," Boreman said.

He spends his free time with his family (Emma and Carter are involved in tennis and ballet) woodworking, fishing, and trap shooting.

"Fishing is just really relaxing," Boreman said. And recently he has enticed his daughters to fish and shoot with him.

"They love watching American Pickers with me," Boreman laughed, adding someday it may be fun to own his own pawn shop.

"He is the best dad of two girls," Sarah said. "We were both out of our element as he was into football and me with gymnastics, but he really enjoys it."

"(Chad's) a good man," Cook said. "Otherwise I wouldn't associate with him."

Reporter Steve Huszai can be reached at 330-287-1645 or shuszai@the-daily-record.com. He is @GeneralSmithie on Twitter.