In December of 2000, I joined Thrivent, and I still feel as excited and energized to guide my clients as I did on my first day! Every day, I’m grateful for the opportunity to build lasting relationships with clients and help them make the financial choices that bring financial confidence and purpose. I believe planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about giving people a framework to move forward, as they aspire to a work-optional lifestyle. The end result in a sense of clarity and contentment. I purposefully walk side-by-side with my clients on their financial journey that is grounded in values and purpose.

Outside of my career, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Shawnae, our daughters, Emma and Madi, and our crazy, energetic, yellow lab, Daisy. When I’m not working or volunteering, I love traveling and being outdoors—fly fishing, hiking, camping, or simply relaxing on a warm beach. These are the moments that remind me of what really matters: family, community, and living a life of generosity.

When I was young, I started to learn the value and aim of education. Sunday School was the space where I was taught universal truths, but also a space where I could question and debate with the aim that these truths became my own. This is my aim. I want my clients to own the “why” behind their financial decisions.

A dime my father handed me when I was young was more valuable than 10 cents. The giving of that dime tapped into a paradox of being alive, a paradox Jesus taught and lived. To die to self is to live. When I released that dime into the offering box, it tangibly taught my selfish soul how giving creates the joy of living. My prayer is that my clients experience the joy of that paradox.

That simple snapshot of a five-year-old has shaped whatever God has called me to ever since, first as a pastor of over 25 years, as a fundraiser and head of school of two classical Christian schools and now working with Thrivent clients. It is what forms me as a father of four and a grandfather of four. It is whom I am with Tamra, my wife of 37 years. It informs what I do when I’m not in my office such as on a hiking trail, in a coffee shop, with a good book or playing with trains.