ABOUT
A Career Dedicated to Guiding Families Through Life's Pivotal Moments
My professional journey began in financial services as a licensed personal banker at a national bank. There, I assisted clients in managing deposit accounts, home mortgages, lines of credit, and investment strategies. This experience provided me with a solid foundation in everyday financial tools and an understanding of the habits that foster financial security.
From Financial Services to Post Acute Care
Transitioning into healthcare, I spent over a decade in post-acute care, aiding patients as they moved from hospitals to their homes or into assisted living facilities. Collaborating with physicians, social workers, and senior service organizations, I helped coordinate care for aging adults. This role illuminated the profound impact of preparedness or the lack thereof.
I witnessed families in crisis, unprepared to make critical decisions due to absent legal authority or financial guidance. Seniors faced challenges affording safe aging-in-place solutions. The absence of prior conversations and essential documents often led to emotional and financial turmoil.
Personal Insights: Planning with My Own Family
These professional insights became personal when I navigated the planning process with my own parents. We established their trust, engaged in open discussions about their wishes, and created a family bank to preserve and grow generational wealth. Their financial security now serves as a foundation for strategic legacy planning, exemplifying the benefits of proactive preparation.
The Genesis of Conscious Retirement
These experiences underscored that retirement transcends mere numbers; it's about clarity, communication, and intentional planning. This realization led to the founding of Peace of Mind Financial and the development of the Conscious Retirement approach. Our holistic planning process addresses financial strategies, estate planning, health, purpose, and overall peace of mind.
This endeavor is more than a career, it's a calling. Let's collaborate to craft a retirement plan rooted in intention, empowering you to embrace your next chapter with confidence, health, and meaning.
OUR TEAM
Meet our team members, the heart and soul of our organization. Each individual brings unique talents and perspectives that contribute to our success.
Brett Shepard
Agent + Owner Peace of Mind Financial
Brett Shepard is the founder of Peace of Mind Financial, dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses take control of their financial futures through a conscious approach. With a background in both finance and healthcare, Brett developed the Conscious Retirement framework to guide clients in eliminating debt, protecting their legacy, and building tax-efficient wealth. He and his team specialize in financial services and estate planning, assisting clients in retiring with purpose and peace of mind.
Stephanie Maloney
Estate Planner
Stephanie met Mike Maloney 35 years ago in West Des Moines, Iowa. Upon graduation from Iowa State, they moved to Arizona. She began the early part of her career as the office administator for Mike's financial practice and was quickly drawn to the Estate Planning side of the table. She enjoys building client relationships and maintaining them. It is never my goal to complete a job for a client and say “your on your own now”. I expect that when the client needs assistance on an existing issue or something new arises, they will never hesitate to call. I want to help clients and associates work through the challenges that currently face them….no need to do it alone, when you have a team.
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Brandon Kitchings
Agent
Brandon Kitchings is a dedicated professional with a strong presence in the financial industry. With 20+ years of experience, he has established himself as a knowledgeable and influential figure in the Financial Industry. Originally from Wagener, South Carolina and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona for the last seventeen years after graduating from South Carolina State University with his BS in Family and Consumer Sciences Business/Child Development. Motivating and helping others has always been a passion for Brandon. In his current role in the financial industry, he finds fulfillment in inspiring both clients and agents to make transformative changes in their financial lives by educating them and putting them in a position to make educated decisions.