Our People & Culture

Who We Are — Dedicated to Fiduciary Integrity, Shared Flourishing & Proven Leadership

We believe that extraordinary financial outcomes stem from an extraordinary internal environment. By eliminating internal silos and putting fiduciary transparency first, Shepherd Financial empowers institutions and families across the United States.

Guiding Philosophy

Our Mission, Vision & Core Values

The foundational principles guiding every fiduciary committee meeting, participant workshop, and private advisory consultation.

Our Mission

"Helping People and Companies Thrive Through Empowered Financial Solutions."

Every recommendation, technology integration, and educational session is designed to deliver clarity, eliminate conflict of interest, and foster sustained economic well-being.

Our Vision

"To Grow in a Meaningful Way, Becoming a Nationally Recognized Name as a Trusted Financial Partner and Industry Leader."

Expansion rooted in genuine service, where scale serves to deepen institutional resources, technological innovation, and localized client care across all offices.

01. Integrity

Serving clients and colleagues with trusted, dedicated, and highly responsive care, upholding the highest standards of professional ethics.

02. Service

Generously sharing time, knowledge, and financial resources to positively impact our clients, communities, and peers.

03. Empathy

Valuing individuals, honoring diverse experiences, and creating inclusive, collaborative environments where every voice is heard.

04. Innovation

Maintaining engaged curiosity to develop creative, customized, and forward-thinking financial solutions in a changing market.

05. Quality

Delivering consistent, high-standard resources, thorough accountability, and fiduciary rigor in every client deliverable.

06. Growth

Intentionally pursuing educational, developmental, and organizational flourishing for our clients, our employees, and our firm.

A Decade of Growth

Our Story & Corporate Milestones (2015 – 2026)

From our spinout origin in Carmel, Indiana to becoming one of the nation's premier independent retirement and wealth consulting practices.

2015

Founding & Affiliation

Tom Mayer, Drew Denny, and Steve Wylam form Shepherd Financial in Carmel, Indiana, spinning out the 401(k) practice from Capital Analysts of the Midwest (CAMI). Formal partnership established with Shepherd Insurance. Named to the Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Advisors list.

2016 – 2017

Practice Expansion & Wealth Merger

Recognized on PLANADVISER Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers; Alex Sylvester named to NAPA Top Plan Advisors Under 40. In 2017, John Simmons merges his 45-year wealth management practice into Shepherd Financial and is named Partner.

2019

Strategic Advisory Merger

Firm merges with the practice of George Lauck and Alex Sylvester, broadening corporate fiduciary consulting capabilities and defined contribution asset scale. Achieves PLANADVISER Top 100 for the third consecutive year.

2020 – 2021

Executive Expansion & Regional Growth

Leah Sylvester (Retirement Plans), Michael Richardson (Wealth Management), and Alex Sylvester (Institutional Advising) named Executive Partners. Firm expands to Kentucky via strategic merger with Logan Lavelle Hunt (LLH) in Louisville.

2024

National Title & 10th Anniversary

Leah Sylvester wins the national RIA Intel Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year award and is named Captain on NAPA's Top Women of Excellence list. The firm celebrates a decade of corporate flourishing managing over $6.2B in advisement.

2025 – 2026

PLANADVISER Winner & Fiduciary Innovation

Shepherd Financial wins the national PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year (Plan Sponsor Service). Rollout of nationwide SECURE 2.0 catch-up compliance, Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) student loan consulting, and crossing $6.8 Billion in assets under advisement.

Our Professionals

Meet the Shepherd Financial Team

Over 35 credentialed specialists, fiduciary consultants, wealth managers, and client advocates dedicated to your success.

Tom Mayer

AIF®

Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer

Carmel HQ • Since 2015

Drew Denny

CFP®

Founding Partner & Chief Growth Officer

Carmel HQ • Since 2015

Steve Wylam

Founding Partner

Founding Partner & Chief Operating Officer

Carmel HQ • Since 2015

Leah Sylvester

QKA®, QPA, CPC

Executive Partner & President — Retirement Plans

2024 RIA Intel Winner

Michael Richardson

CFP®

Executive Partner & President — Wealth Management

Carmel HQ

Alex Sylvester

AIF®

Executive Partner & President — Institutional Advising

4x NAPA Top 40 Under 40

John Simmons

Partner

Partner & Senior Wealth Advisor (45+ Years Experience)

Carmel HQ

David Bauer

CFA, CAIA

Partner & Director — Investment Management

Portfolio Due Diligence

Garrett Smith

Partner

Partner & Senior Wealth Advisor

Louisville / New Albany

Matt Tendler

Partner

Partner & Retirement Plan Advisor

Plan Design & Fiduciary

Brittany Vollmar

Partner

Partner & Retirement Plan Consultant

Participant Engagement

Kim Astin

CPA/PFS, CFP®

Director — Wealth Management & Senior Advisor

Ex-PwC Senior Manager

Erin Goodrich

Director

Director — Wealth Management & Senior Advisor

Private Client Planning

Ashley Burchard

Director

Director — Marketing & Communications

Participant Engagement

Dena Thompson

M.S. Ed

Director — Training & Talent

Organizational Flourishing

Nick Wylam

Director

Director — Innovation & Client Experience

Digital Architecture

Leslie Ballantine

Advisor

Retirement Plan Advisor

Plan Consulting

Jon Knies

Compliance Manager

Accounting & Compliance Manager

Governance & Fiduciary

Community & Impact

Corporate Social Responsibility: Flourishing Together

We believe our team has a clear responsibility to positively impact local, national, and worldwide communities through hands-on service and dedicated philanthropic giving.

Quarterly Service Days

Every quarter, our entire firm pauses business operations to serve side-by-side at regional food pantries, shelters, and housing builds.

Paid Volunteer Days (VTO)

Each Shepherd Financial employee receives two full paid days off annually to contribute directly to 501(c)(3) causes of personal passion.

1:1

Matching Gift Program

Dollar-for-dollar corporate financial matching for non-profit charitable gifts made by team members to multiply community impact.

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

Sorting and distributing fresh produce and groceries serving over 300 food-insecure families per shift across central Indiana.

St. Mary's Early Childhood Center

Supporting high-quality preschool education for at-risk children through classroom preparations and the annual Night of Miracles.

Shepherd Financial Team at The Love Pet Project

The Love Pet Project & Animal Welfare

Facility rehabilitation, animal shelter maintenance, and pet adoption assistance to advance humane animal care.

National 401(k) / 403(b) Day Charity Grant Recipients

Each September on National 401(k) Day, Shepherd Financial honors our clients by awarding grant funds to employee-nominated non-profits, including:

The HallieStrong Foundation • The Jacob Pickett Response Organization • Giant Paw Prints • Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children • Zionsville Education Foundation • Brooke’s Place • Fair Haven Foundation • Prevail, Inc. • Camp Kesem / Champ Camp • Second Helpings • Girls Inc.

Industry Honors

Awards & Recognition Criteria & Methodology

Shepherd Financial team members have been repeatedly identified by objective industry publications for fiduciary rigor and client advocacy.

Award Title	Issuing Organization	Years Honored	Independent Criteria & Methodology
Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year (Plan Sponsor Service)	PLANADVISER	Winner 2025 Finalist 2023, 2024	Evaluates excellence in participant outcomes, plan sponsor fiduciary education, innovation, and client retention.
RIA Intel Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year	RIA Intel / Institutional Investor	Winner 2024 (Leah Sylvester)	National honor based on fiduciary advocacy, institutional leadership, committee empowerment, and industry peer vetting.
Top DC Advisor Teams	National Assoc. of Plan Advisors (NAPA)	2017 – 2024	Highlights premier advisory teams overseeing more than $100 Million in defined contribution plan assets.
Top Plan Advisors Under 40	NAPA	2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026	Peer-nominated and committee-vetted ranking of top 100 rising plan advisors in the United States.
Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers	PLANADVISER	2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021	Quantitative ranking based on defined contribution assets under advisement and dedicated team credentials.
Top 401 Retirement Advisors	Financial Times (FT 401)	2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020	Evaluates DC plan assets, asset growth, industry credentials, compliance records, and employee participation metrics.

Statutory Compliance Disclosure: Awards and rankings are not indicative of future investment performance. Working with an award-winning advisor does not guarantee future financial success. Shepherd Financial paid no application fees or promotional remuneration to be considered for these third-party industry rankings.