Our Team

Many years ago when I decided to go into business for myself one of the reasons was so that I could control the environment and “atmosphere” that I worked in. Today I’m still glad for that decision. In updating this information about our staff and who they are “in real life” we are updating the most popular “newsletter” we’ve ever done. One important thing is there is no difference between what you see at work and what you’d see somewhere else. Maybe that’s why we get along so well and have so much fun at work. Well, except for when Cecille takes off her high heels, she’s not as tall as you see her at the office. Darlene too for that matter. Just kidding!

If you’ve ever been to our office and met any of them you walk away being a friend and new member of our family. They are some of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever met and I’m privileged to work with them every day. I pinch myself often that they have all chosen to stay at RFS for so long.

Having an atmosphere like this is important to us because so much of the business world today is about corporate image or “hitting your goals” and feels very impersonal. Our goal though is to provide personalized, expert advice, collaborating with other professionals when necessary, all of which enhances your financial well being. If we do that one thing everything else will follow. One of our favorite quotes is from Zig Ziglar: "You can get everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want". Great words for life as well as for business.

 

 

Dave Shepherd | President, ChFC, CFP®

David W. Shepherd, founder of Retirement Financial Services, Inc., in Tucson, Arizona, is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®). He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Kearney State College, Kearney, Nebraska in 1981. In 1986, Dave started his own firm so he could work for his clients and not for any “company’s interests”. Full bio...

 

 

 

David W. Shepherd Jr., CFP® | Financial Advisor

David began working as an administrative assistant at Retirement Financial Services in 2000. In 2003, combining his desire for travel and his desire to gain additional knowledge and experience, he decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia for a semester. He was hired by two distinct LPL Financial firms in Atlanta as their administrative support person. Full bio...

 

 

 

Sherry Miller | Executive Client Service Assistant

Sherry was born in Duncan Oklahoma and has lived in Tucson since the ripe old age of 6 months. She grew up on the East side of town attending Henry Elementary School, Griddle Middle School and Saguaro High School.

After high school she took part-time courses at Pima Community College while working full-time at various jobs. Full bio...

 

 

 

Darlene Keegan | Director of Communications

In Chicago….a number of years ago….on December 26 a little Polish princess was born (at least that’s what her parents thought and of course they were delighted with their tiny Christmas present).

Darlene grew up in the windy city of Chicago and in 1963 started working at the Northern Trust Bank in Chicago balancing security transactions. She married the love of her life and best friend “Bernie” in January of 1969 and moved to his home in Tucson. Five months later she went to work for the Southern Arizona Bank (later renamed First Interstate Bank). Full bio...

 

 

Cecille Muller | Senior Client Service Assistant

Cecille grew up in the Philippines where family ties are very strong. Her parents had 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls) who are all extremely close. She graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the Philippines, “Saint Louis University” with a Bachelors Degree in Education. She taught English, Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines), PE & Music to high school students in the Philippines for nine years before meeting her American sweetheart “Jerry”. In 1993 Cecille took the biggest and most memorable step in her life...she moved from her home and her family to the United States to be with Jerry. The move was not easy for Cecille or her family in the Philippines, however, her husband’s family embraced her as their own and through their love and support the homesickness was easier to deal with. Then to their delight came the birth of their children two and a half years apart. Cecille and Jerry didn’t think things could get any better so you can imagine their further delight when their petition to have Cecille’s widowed mom move to the U.S. to be with them was approved….and yes, her mom is just as sweet as Cecille! Cecille talks regularly to her family in the Philippines by phone and visits them as often as possible. Full bio...

 

 

Cricket Thompson | Office Manager

Cricket and husband Tom, a retired Regional Chief Ranger with the National Park Service, moved from Omaha Nebraska to Tucson in 1998. Prior to the move Cricket, after 18 years of employment, retired from her position as AVP/Director of HR with one of the largest privately owned direct home improvement sales & installation companies in the U.S. at that time. The company employed over 2,500 employees and sub-contractors nationwide. Cricket and her staff handled all the HR & Benefits related responsibilities & duties associated with a large company with a manufacturing plant and over sixty offices nationwide including the corporate offices in Omaha. They were able to keep the cost down by administering the company’s self insured group health & life plans, group AD&D and disability plans, 401(k), and all the other company retirement plans in-house. Full bio...