Our Caring Professionals
Building long term relationships through trust & expertise.
Shaun Chelf, MSFS, CFP®, RICP®, AEP®
Shaun Chelf, MSFS, CFP®, RICP®, AEP®
AT RELIANT
As a Founding Partner, Shaun oversees all comprehensive wealth planning analyses and creates portfolio templates and trading strategies from which client portfolios are constructed. He is also very active in setting the long-term vision and direction for Reliant Wealth.
Shaun has earned the Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS), concentration in Retirement Planning, degree and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP ®), RETIREMENT INCOME CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL® (RICP ®), and ACCREDITED ESTATE PLANNER ® (AEP®) designations.
BEFORE RELIANT
Prior to starting Reliant Wealth Planning with Laura, Shaun was a Financial Advisor at both national and regional wealth management firms. It was at Merrill Lynch that he and Laura Clark formed their first team in 2001 and have worked together ever since. Before joining the financial industry, Shaun served in the US Army as an Armor officer.
Shaun earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, graduating as a Distinguished Graduate and was awarded the Eisenhower Award for Excellence in the study of Behavioral Science and Leadership. Shaun also earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating with institutional honors – Graduate with High Distinction, and a Master of Science in Financial Services (concentration in Retirement Planning) from The American College.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Shaun is married to his high school sweetheart Eva, and they have three daughters. He is active at Southeast Christian Church where he volunteer teaches. Shaun is also a blackbelt Kenpo Karate practitioner and loves all things Halloween.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Laura Clark, CFP®, RICP®,ChFC®,ABFP℠, CRPC®, MBA
Laura Clark, CFP®, RICP®,ChFC®,ABFP℠, CRPC®, MBA
AT RELIANT
As a Founding Partner of Reliant Wealth Planning, Laura oversees client service with the goal of providing clients with a feeling of comfort regarding their planning and the management of their financial resources.
Laura has her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., her RETIREMENT INCOME CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL® (RICP®) and CHARTERED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT® (ChFC®) designations from the American College of Financial Services®, her ACCREDITED BEHAVIORAL FINANCE PROFESSIONAL℠ (ABFP℠) and her CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELORSM (CRPC®) designations from the College for Financial Planning®.
BEFORE RELIANT
Prior to starting Reliant Wealth Planning with Shaun, Laura worked in retail banking in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was born and raised, continuing in the banking industry upon her relocation to Louisville in 1997. Becoming a Financial Advisor in 2000, she served clients at both national and regional wealth management firms.
Laura earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an option in finance, from California State University, Hayward, and an MBA from the University of Louisville.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Laura has been married to Scott since 1993, and together they have hosted exchange students from Germany, Italy, and Japan that they now consider part of the family. They love to travel and have visited more than 40 countries, and 35 states. Laura is also an active member of PEO International, Chapter E, Louisville.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Shannon Brown
(Lexington Office)
Shannon Brown
AT RELIANT
As a Wealth Advisor, Shannon’s top priority is building long-term trusting relationships with her clients by spending time getting to know them and learning about their specific financial goals and needs. One of her areas of expertise is in helping current and former corporate executives navigate the complexities and nuances of their compensation and benefits plans. Shannon’s true passion for helping others shines through by providing clients with individualized, comprehensive personal wealth plans and then walking with them to execute those plans, which instills a sense of comfort and genuine care.
BEFORE RELIANT
Shannon has over 25 years of business and finance experience across several industries, including positions at UPS, Toyota Tsusho, and most recently Lexmark International. Her past roles include Finance Director, Corporate Strategy Manager, and Senior Executive Compensation Specialist. In addition to holding these leadership roles, Shannon also earned a Six Sigma Green Belt certification in 2008 and completed the prestigious INSEAD Blue Ocean Executive Strategy Program in 2012. She is a 1995 Cum Laude graduate of the Cardinal Section Honors program at Bellarmine University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration. Shannon and Reliant Founding Partner Shaun were high school classmates, where ironically, they were both named “Most Likely to Succeed.”
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Shannon is married to Todd, and they have 3 children, Emily, Will, and Drew. They reside in Georgetown, Kentucky where they are actively involved at Southland Christian Church and various other charities. Shannon has also been a Junior Achievement volunteer since 2000, teaching the importance of financial literacy to elementary school students. In her free time, Shannon loves to cook, entertain, and travel. She has visited places such as France, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, China, Singapore, and Australia. Shannon is also an avid movie, music, and sports fan.
Gabriel Beeler, CEP®
Gabriel Beeler, CEP®
AT RELIANT
As a Wealth Advisor, Gabriel helps clients to identify their goals and guides them in evaluating where they are relative to those goals. He is dedicated to building personalized plans that help clients pursue their goals, foster their wealth, and take care of the people & causes that matter most to them.
Gabriel holds the Certified Estate PlannerTM (CEP ®) designation.
BEFORE RELIANT
Before joining Reliant Wealth Planning, Gabriel worked in the Insurance industry. Prior to his work in insurance, he worked as a chef in his home state of Tennessee upon finishing his studies at the Culinary Institute at the University of Tennessee.
After deciding to make a career change, he went back to school, earning a degree in Finance from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam School of Business.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Gabriel enjoys traveling & adventuring outdoors with his wife, Kelsey. He is an avid bibliophile and baseball fan (GO BRAVES!).
Trish Fleege Ettin
Trish Fleege Ettin
AT RELIANT
As the Operations and Compliance Manager, Trish is responsible for ensuring that the firm is compliant with laws, rules and regulations, and company policies. She also provides guidance and support for all operational functions at the firm. In addition, she heads up human resources and internal financial functions.
BEFORE RELIANT
Prior to joining Reliant Wealth Planning in 2017, Trish worked at multiple brokerage firms in the upper Midwest and Louisville, in various operations and business analyst roles. She moved to Louisville in 2008.
Trish earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College with a major in Classical Civilization.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Trish and her husband Doug like to cook and travel. She also volunteers with the Friends of the University of Louisville School of Music.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Mimi Strohmeier
Mimi Strohmeier
AT RELIANT
Mimi’s role as a Client Service Associate with Reliant Wealth Planning is to provide a level of administrative and operational support to our clients that exceeds expectations.
BEFORE RELIANT
Mimi has been in the Financial Services industry since 1980, first in banking and then with regional and national investment firms. Mimi graduated from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Bloomington Campus.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Mimi is married to Tom, lives in Northfield, and has raised two adult children. As University of Kentucky Fellows, Tom and Mimi are active sports enthusiasts and are avid followers and supporters of the UK Wildcats. Mimi enjoys needlework, cooking, baking, flower arranging and especially time spent with her two grandchildren.
Tracy Liston
Tracy Liston
AT RELIANT
From opening day Tracy has been tasked with client service and the client experience. This includes everything from processing paperwork to planning client events. She prides herself on heading up the Ministry of Fun at the office by planning various staff activities or team building experiences.
BEFORE RELIANT
Tracy has worked in the financial services industry since 2004, beginning with a regional firm. She was a fully licensed customer service assistant providing administrative support to a team of financial advisors. Prior to that, she worked for a small CPA firm as a project manager.
Tracy hails from Virginia and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from James Madison University. She was a collegiate athlete participating in track and field.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Tracy is an avid runner and shares this passion as a coach for a local middle school cross country team. She is a member of Southeast Christian Church and active in the LifeBridge ministry. She enjoys reading and her guilty pleasure is the Hallmark Channel.
Steve Cline
Steve Cline
AT RELIANT
As the Information Systems Manager, Steve is responsible for the security and integrity of all company and client data. He also ensures daily reliable access to that data by the dedicated professionals at Reliant.
Steve holds the both Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) designations for desktops and servers.
BEFORE RELIANT
Steve has been providing information services support to myriad industries for over 15 years, including hospitality, government, financial services and agribusiness. Steve graduated in 1995 from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served five years as a cavalry scout, including a year as a peacekeeper in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Steve enjoys studying and implementing new technologies. He also plays the drums (badly) and has a private pilot’s license.
Brian Gainer, CFA® CIPM®
Brian Gainer, CFA® CIPM®
AT RELIANT
In his role as Analytics Manager, Brian is primarily engaged in the development and application of the processes and tools used to transform data into usable information to support the wealth planning, investment management, and business needs of Reliant Wealth’s clients and stakeholders. Additionally, he carries out various investment research, trading, and account maintenance activities.
Brian is a CFA® charterholder and a CIPM® certificant.
BEFORE RELIANT
Brian’s financial services career began in 1993, with the first decade spent working in various banking and investment roles for leading regional banks in WV and OH. In 2003, he moved to Louisville, KY to continue his career growth at national and global firms in the insurance, brokerage, and asset management sectors. Brian got to know Shaun and Laura in 2005 while employed at Merrill Lynch, and stayed connected until their career paths merged again 10 years later at Hilliard Lyons.
From 1988-1996, he served in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve and was deployed overseas for Gulf War operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for his service during the Gulf War.
Brian earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from West Virginia University in 1993.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Brian married his wife Jane in 1993, and together they have a daughter, Grace. They share their home in Louisville, KY with two energetic Shih Tzu, Benny & Lola. Brian enjoys giving back and fostering high professional standards within the investment profession as an active volunteer for the CFA Institute CFA Program. Outside of work and volunteering, Brian is a passionate soccer fan, a music festival/concert enthusiast, and a bit of a foodie.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Nicholas Alcorn
Nicholas Alcorn
AT RELIANT
As an Associate Analyst, Nicholas’ responsibilities combine that of a traditional paraplanner, portfolio management/analytics, and operations/compliance. He is dedicated to serving clients, growing as a professional and making the most of his talents.
BEFORE RELIANT
Prior to employment with Reliant, Nicholas recently graduated Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics and a concentration in Actuarial Science. Nicholas also obtained a Graduate Certificate in Economic Data Analytics which prepared him for advanced quantitative disciplines as well as forecasting and data management.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Nicholas is an avid soccer fan and a seasoned runner. His other passions include music and food.
Jessica Bourassa, CEP®
Jessica Bourassa, CEP®
AT RELIANT
As an Associate Planner, Jessica works behind the scenes on financial plans to ensure everything is updated and any needed adjustments are noted. Jessica also acts as a liaison between clients and various outside insurance professionals when comprehensive planning calls for Risk Management issues to be addressed.
Jessica holds the Certified Estate Planner™ (CEP ®) designation.
BEFORE RELIANT
Jessica graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance with a concentration in Personal Financial Planning.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Jessica lives with her two senior dogs, Merry Mac and Tootsie. Her porch is slowly being taken over by a wide variety of plants with no signs of stopping. While not pushing the boundaries of her green thumb, she’s playing Dungeons and Dragons or geeking out over other sci-fi/fantasy favorites.
Caitlin Gatewood
Caitlin Gatewood
AT RELIANT
As a Client Action and Planning Specialist (CAPS), Caitlin focuses on client needs and goals through the execution of action steps established in clients’ financial plans. In doing so, she is ensuring that clients are getting the most out of their relationship with Reliant.
BEFORE RELIANT
Caitlin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics with a Finance minor as well as a Master of Arts in Applied Economics. While in school she had several finance and data analytics internships in the insurance and healthcare industries.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Caitlin loves to do jigsaw puzzles (especially Disney ones), read thriller books, and do yoga. She has a dog that is half Golden Retriever half Husky named Sebastian and loves having her family get together for dinner and game nights.
Olivia Lantz
Olivia Lantz
AT RELIANT
Olivia’s main duties as an Operations & IS Associate involve assisting in various operational functions and internal system processes. She works directly with the Operations & Compliance and Information Systems managers to help organize and ensure things perform as they should. With her background in the Fine Arts, she also lends a hand with any graphic design challenges.
BEFORE RELIANT
Olivia earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Louisville while briefly interning for Reliant. Now she’s a full-fledged part of the team, balancing her love for organizing and her passion for the arts.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Olivia is a gamer and foodie who is currently trying to perfect her own cooking skills. She is also highly involved in the art community and is a big fan of glass blowing as it was her specialty in college.
