Chris Pinkston

Vining Sparks

Vining Sparks is nationally and globally recognized as a leading broker/dealer in serving the investment needs of institutional investors. The firm was originally founded by Jim Vining to serve the investment and asset/liability needs of community banks. From an initial staff of 17 people, Vining Sparks has significantly expanded its national footprint. It now employs more than 350 people in 14 offices across the country. The firm's diverse customer base totals approximately 4,500 institutional investors and includes banks, savings and loans, credit unions, municipalities, money managers, trust departments, insurance companies, pension funds, and investment advisors. Vining Sparks has nearly $100 million in capital and an annual trading volume exceeding $250 billion with customers located in all 50 states and many foreign countries.