Retirement planning and wealth management aren’t just about portfolios and assets, they’re about people and aspirations.
We are intent listeners, thoughtful collaborators, experienced planners, and proactive guides. Nothing gives us more pleasure professionally than to help you thrive.
President
CFP®, RLP, CKA, MBA, MDiv
As an experienced wealth manager and a humanitarian with years of service experience, Spencer has held onto his passion for helping his clients “live and give” in each season of life. Spencer’s focus, warm personality, and analytical skills are the cornerstones of his ability to serve as a trusted financial advisor. For Spencer, fulfillment comes from family time—whether it’s date night tapas with his wife Emily or kickball in the backyard with his kids. He also finds meaning in being part of the fabric of the community—playing early morning basketball, ensuring the area’s economic future, protecting the region’s open lands, and serving as a local church leader.
What I love most about this work is being able to help my clients enjoy life. When people’s resources are aligned with their core values, they are free to engage in the activities that they enjoy with the people they love most.
Lead Financial Planner
After working in the non-profit sector with college-aged students for a decade, Austin joined RPS as an operations specialist in 2021, and became an associate advisor in 2022. His broad experiences of mentoring college students, leading functional fitness classes, and working as a data analyst help him think critically about how to care for clients. Austin loves spending time with his wife Kayla and their three children, Malacai, William, and Sofia. They enjoy camping, traveling, reading with a good cup of coffee, and serving at their church.
Helping clients feel confident by making complex ideas easier to understand is something that I enjoy. I want people to feel a sense of rest that empowers them to live generously with those around them.
Director of Client Services
Beth embodies one of our firm’s key assets—the skill of being fully attentive to every client with warmth, compassion, and exemplary service. As the overseer of our firm’s administrative details, she ensures the smooth functioning of all operations, thus enabling our financial advisors to optimally serve our clients. After achieving a BS degree in Education with a major in Human Services, Beth joined RPS as Director of Client Services in 1999, bringing with her a wealth of wisdom and experience. Her greatest joys are traveling and adventuring with her husband, Michael, and her 2 children, Jordan & Carson. She also enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and serving in her community.
I enjoy helping clients transform any uncertainties they may have about their financial future into confidence so they can make the most of their retirement years.
Registered Client Services Manager
Having spent the majority of her professional life in the financial services industry, Melissa joined RPS in April 2014. Her in-depth experience in the areas of compliance and regulatory requirements combined with her exceptional customer care has made her a key player on the RPS team. As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, she began a mortgage lending career followed by 4 years in the operations department of a broker/dealer, and over a decade as a registered principal for a small independent firm. Melissa, her husband, Brian of 25 years and their two children love going to movies and spending time on Norris Lake.
It’s a great day when I can ease a client’s financial concerns while providing the services that will help establish a new course for their lives.
Client Services and Marketing Specialist
Vicki is our queen of client communications. Daily, she is focused on providing warm hospitality to our clients, scheduling appointments and meetings, planning and overseeing events as well as initiating follow up. Vicki began her career with a B.S. in Computer Science and worked in the areas of software engineering and operations. She later recognized her interests and talents were more people-oriented, especially when organizing and leading events. A committed humanitarian volunteer, Vicki and her husband, Brian are empty nesters after raising three wonderful children. You can find them on the pickleball court or in the theatre, but their favorite moments are spent grandparenting.
My continual goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere. I enjoy connecting with our clients, hearing about their lives and being a helpful resource.
Founder, Retired
Steve worked as an advisor for over forty years before retiring in 2020. He garnered numerous industry accolades, served on many community and non-profit boards, and promoted financial literacy by teaching adult financial education classes at several non-profit institutions. Steve founded Retirement Planning Services in 1985, with the goal of bringing confidence and rest to his clients so that they can focus on the people, causes, and activities that bring them energy and life. These days you might find him on an early morning bike ride at Cades Cove or bump into him at future RPS Client Appreciation events.
I enjoy the people who I’ve had the privilege of serving for many years, hearing their life stories, and knowing that I may have played—even a small part—in their financial security.
