The Short Version
Steve Caldara founded Caldara, Wunder and Associates in 1996; and has over 26 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He named the company after deceased family friend Charlie Wunder. Steve is passionate about helping other people with the financial resources they need to achieve their goals. In addition to his professional duties, Steve enjoys skiing, camping, and advising young people.
The Long Version
Steve was born in the Northeast and lived there until he was 13 years old. His family family then moved to Colorado, where he has resided ever since. He barely finished high school. Not sure what to do next, he went to work on the production line of a local factory - from11:30 pm to 7:00 am.
Realizing that this was not the future he wanted, he determined furthering his education might not be a bad idea. Steve enrolled in a certificate program at the local community college. He attended class during the day and spent his nights and weekends as a custodian at a local shopping mall. Within a year he completed the college certificate program, and decided to stay in school to pursue his Associate’s degree. Following his Associate’s degree, Steve enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he spent the next three years completing his Bachelor’s degree. During his time in Boulder, Steve spent his nights working as an attendant in an alcohol rehabilitation center, while attending classes during the day.
Steve’s professional career began as a sales representative for a Fortune 15 company, where he sold large copiers and duplicators. He was responsible for maintaining a big “territory and customer base” while growing his company’s presence in the marketplace. After three years, and under corporate pressure to relocate from Colorado, Steve left this large employer and entered the field of commercial industrial real estate. Following four difficult economic years in Denver’s real estate market, and refusing to return to the large corporate world, (and wanting not to have his income and opportunities limited), Steve “crawled” out of commercial real estate to sell life and disability insurance.
What was he thinking?
For the next six years, Steve worked for a nationally known life insurance company, building a large clientele, and achieving numerous industry awards and professional recognition. He was ever passionate, though, to build his own business. Eventually, he started Caldara, Wunder and Associates. Building on his background in insurance, Steve expanded his focus into investing and financial advising.
Throughout his career, Steve has succeeded in serving his clients, profession, community and our country. He holds three professional designations. He is a member of his broker/dealer’s President’s Club and a long-time member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors® (where he served on the Denver board of directors for seventeen years - three of them as the association president.)
Education
- Associates Program
- Arapahoe Community College Littleton, Co
- Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
- University of Colorado Boulder, CO.
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
- American College of Financial Services Bryn Mawr, PA
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
- American College of Financial Services Bryn Mawr, PA.
- Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)
Professional
- Copy Products Sales Representative Eastman Kodak Company Commercial
- Real Estate Broker Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado
- Special Agent Northwestern Mutual Life Owner
- President Caldara, Wunder and Associates