Planning Team

David Shuley was born in Seattle, but spent the latter part of his childhood in Utah where he learned to love the great outdoors. Upon graduating high school, David served a two-year mission in San Antonio, TX where he could share his beliefs with others while learning the value of leadership that he applies to his life still today. After his mission, David returned to Utah to study History at Brigham Young University. Once he graduated in 1993, David moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and started his financial services practice at Northwestern Mutual. Early in his career, David earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional certification and his CLU® designation. Through his time with Northwestern Mutual, he has enjoyed helping his clients reach their goals and aspirations.

David and his wife, Tonya, currently live in Fort Thomas, KY. They have four children: Ethan, Blake, Brooke, and Grace. You will find David doing many different things outside of the office; but one thing is certain, whatever he is doing will fall in line with his values of family, faith and exercise.

Throughout David’s career, he has achieved Forum recognition for 13 of the past 14 years, which is Northwestern Mutual’s highest achievement for advisors. In 2022 David was named to Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for the state of Ohio.

"My goal is to have my family be a forever family. We are truly living and sharing in our faith together. Whether it be through our church, our passion for a healthy lifestyle or traveling the world; we are creating wonderful memories."

Brent Shaw is from Lebanon, Ohio, where most of his family still resides. Brent attended Sinclair Community College (where his father retired) before transferring to Ohio University and graduating with a B.B.A. in Finance. During college, Brent spent a semester at the University of Newcastle, Australia studying the Australian Stock Exchange, with an emphasis in commodity futures. Brent joined Northwestern Mutual in 2006, obtaining his insurance and securities licenses as a college intern. He converted to a full-time Financial Advisor after graduating in 2008, just before the financial crisis. Brent partnered with veteran advisor Randy Elam in 2009 and took over the day-to-day operations of the practice in 2015 when Randy began his transition to retirement. Brent co-founded Esteem Wealth Partners with David Shuley and Geoff Stevens in 2020. Throughout his career, Brent has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional certification, Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designations. In 2022, Forbes ranked Brent as the #6 Top Financial Security Professional in the state of Ohio and achieved Northwestern Mutual’s Forum recognition, the highest achievement for advisors.

Brent currently divides his time living in downtown Cincinnati, OH and Rosemary Beach, FL with his wife Kate, daughter Lila, and their dog Parker. His favorite hobbies include playing guitar, spending time at the beach, and canoeing the Little Miami River. During college, Brent was a singer/songwriter performing at restaurants and pubs in the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Athens area. He still occasionally performs acoustic cover shows.

“My purpose in life is to support the people that dedicate their talents to helping others.”

Geoff Stevens grew up in Centerville, Ohio. Upon high school graduation, he spent 2 years in Sao Paolo, Brazil on a mission trip before going to college. When Geoff returned, he got to work on obtaining a degree from Wright State University where he also earned his MBA. Geoff joined Northwestern Mutual with a great start; early in his career he became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional to be able to provide the best advice for his clients to get where they want to be.

Family and mission seem to be themes in Geoff’s life. When he is not diving into a financial plan and advocating for his clients, he is likely spending time with his wife, Casey and their children: Taden, Madelyn, and Nolan.

"I love hanging out with my wife and kids. I could literally spend every minute with them and be as far from boredom as possible. They might get sick of me, but it would be my dream come true."

Outside of his family time, Geoff is an avid and talented golfer. With a past collegiate and professional career, one of Geoff’s dreams is to drive his game back to its peak and play in a PGA tour event.

Sean Murphy joined Esteem Wealth Partners in 2016. As the Director of Financial Planning and partner in the firm, Sean oversees the development and implementation of comprehensive financial plans for our clients.  He regularly meets with clients to ensure the plan matches their evolving goals and aspirations.  He has his Life and Health License, his Series 7 and 66, and is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®), and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®).

Sean grew up in Cold Spring, Kentucky. He went to Northern Kentucky University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Sean had his first experience with investment services when he was selected as an undergrad to help manage the Northern Kentucky University Haile Student Investment Fund.  He currently resides in Newport, Kentucky.  Outside of the office, he enjoys golfing, travelling, exercise, and spending time with family.

Karen grew up in Beavercreek, Ohio before completing her college program in New York. Karen has spent the past nine years helping her husband begin and grow their church. While working with their church, she also spent the past three years as an Executive Assistant at an online pharmacy. 

At Esteem Wealth Partners, Karen will be working with our clients to schedule meetings, manage the office functions, and assist our clients with any requests. Whether greeting clients at the office with a smile or helping to schedule a meeting, Karen will be your point of contact to ensure whatever you need is handled.

Karen currently lives in Delhi, Ohio with her husband Kirk and their four children: Kerigan, Kolbie, Kingston and Klaire. In her free time Karen enjoys being outdoors, riding bikes, and going to the Reds game.

Michael Aschbrenner was born and raised in Sterling, Illinois. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Illinois State University. Michael joins Esteem Wealth Partners with 16 years of operations experience, in as many as 10 different states throughout the Midwest, New England, and New York City.

Our primary goal at Esteem Wealth Partners is to over deliver on our clients’ expectations. Michael’s responsibility is to assist the team with developing the best processes for our clients’ needs and expectations, while assisting the partners with formulating the best business practices. We are utilizing Michael’s wealth of knowledge to become a world class firm for our clients.

Michael moved back to Cincinnati in 2019. He currently lives in South Lebanon with his wife, Erin; their two daughters, Olivia and Ava; and their dog, Brutus. Whether it’s hiking, boating, camping, family walks in the park, or just yard work, you will always find Michael spending his free time outdoors. Fun fact: Michael is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt!

Cat spent most of her life in the suburbs of Chicago, but moved to northern Kentucky in 2015. She graduated cum laude from Northern Kentucky University with degrees in both Economics and Statistics. Cat started her career at Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Representative in the Cincinnati office, before joining Esteem Wealth Partners. Cat has earned her Life and Health Insurance License and her Series 6, 7, and 63 securities licenses.

In her Investment Operations role, Cat enjoys helping clients through the first steps toward their goals. She prepares the investment paperwork and facilitates account openings. She is always happy to assist with questions or requests throughout the process.

When she's not busy opening new accounts and assisting clients, Cat loves spending time with her dogs, cooking and baking, and hot yoga. She currently lives in Newport, KY with her dogs, Harley and Puma.

Patrick grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He attended Thomas More University where he played collegiate soccer and graduated with honors in Business with a concentration in Finance. After graduation, he spent three years with one of the largest private financial firms in the world. During a college co-op and these three years of experience, Patrick has attained Life and Health Insurance Licenses, Series 7, 63, 66, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

At Esteem Wealth Partners, Patrick uses his knowledge and experience to foster relationships with individuals and help them attain their financial goals. Patrick will utilize a client’s financial plan to keep them on the right path toward their goals. He will regularly meet with clients to review their plan to help keep them updated on their progress.

In his free time, Patrick enjoys spending time with family and friends. Some of his favorite activities include playing/watching sports, working out, reading, watching movies, attending local trivia nights, and relaxing on the beach.

Joanna Adams grew up in Sunny California before attending Brigham Young University in Utah. There she met her husband, graduated with a degree in Human Resource Management and eventually moved to the Cincinnati area. She put her degree to good use in managing four children. She became a certified pharmacy technician before beginning to work for David Shuley in 2013. She has obtained her Life and Health licenses, Series 7 and 66, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and has her Retirement Income Certified Professional designation.

With Esteem Wealth Partners, she manages the Client Service and Administration processes. Joanna assists with retirement asset rollovers, account movement, and service. Her attention to detail has proven her success at managing and executing the Investment process for each individual client.

With her husband, Khan, she is mom to Theron, Karissa, Kegan and William and resides in Covington, KY. Three of her kids are married and she has two granddaughters and one grandson. Outside of the office, Joanna enjoys working with the Women’s Organization through her church and spending time with her family.

Bridget grew up in the Cincinnati area. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Finance. Bridget has six years of experience in banking, insurance, and investments before joining Northwestern Mutual in 2015. Bridget has her Life and Health Licenses, Series 6, 7 & 63 investment licenses, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional certification.

At Esteem Wealth Partners, Bridget uses her experience and knowledge to create comprehensive financial plans for clients. She helps to facilitate all aspects of the plan to ensure clients’ goals are the focus. Bridget regularly meets with clients to review their plan and track their progress toward reaching their goals.

When she’s not at work, Bridget is usually spending time with her husband, Sonny; son, SJ; and step-daughter, Adyson. Bridget also loves volunteering for her church, as well as annually for the National Spelling Bee. You may even see her on TV escorting participants on or off stage during the event!

Richard Perry grew up near Ann Arbor, MI and Chicago, IL.  After obtaining an Economics degree as an honors graduate at Thomas More University, Richard attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.  After law school, he began his career in institutional investment consulting with Fund Evaluation Group.  Richard has extensive experience in the investment management industry, including experience with Legg Mason Institutional Funds, Fort Washington Investment Partners, and leading a regional investment team with PNC Institutional Investments.  Richard’s clients have included several Fortune 500 companies, as well as national endowments, foundations, family offices, high net worth individuals, law firms, and national sports leagues. 

At Esteem Wealth Partners, Richard utilizes his many years of experience to assist clients with their investment portfolios. If you have any questions regarding investments or funds, he’s the guy to call. Richard’s primary focus is to work with clients to understand their goals and risk tolerance and make appropriate recommendations and help find the best investment options for each client or account.

Richard now resides near Milford, OH with his wife and four children.  He enjoys hiking, reading and analysis on demographic trends, and spending time with his family.

Aaron Nickolette grew up in Lorain, Ohio. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He spent the next two decades working in manufacturing making everything from pharmaceuticals to baby diapers. During this time, he obtained his MBA from the University of South Carolina. After many years of do-it-yourself financial planning, Aaron decided to become a financial advisor. He has his Series 7 and 66, is Life and Health Insurance licensed, and is a Certified Financial Planner ™ (CFP®) certificant.

At Esteem Wealth Partners, Aaron has a hand in preparing retirement and investment analyses, as well as helping clients with the creation of a comprehensive financial plan. He enjoys using his time having “walked a mile” in client’s shoes to bring practical and relatable experience to each plan he creates.

Aaron Lives in Batavia, Ohio with his wife, Kimberly. Aaron and Kim have one son, Ryan, who is currently in college. Kim is a high school English teacher. Aaron enjoys staying physically fit and, when he has time, woodworking. He is also active in the local Boy Scouts troop and is a member of the local Rotary charitable service organization.

Chrissy grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She began working with David Shuley and Northwestern Mutual in 2008. While working with David, she was able to obtain her Life and Health Licenses.

Chrissy is the Director of Marketing and Communications with Esteem Wealth Partners. Chrissy’s primary responsibilities include planning client events, creating our monthly client newsletter, and marketing. Whether she is working to plan a fun event or designing newsletters, Chrissy will be happy to ensure whatever you need handled is taken care of.

Chrissy currently lives in Alexandria, Kentucky with her husband Chip, their two kids: Berkley and Tripp, and their dog Stanley. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, baking, or cooking.

Chrissy grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She began working with David Shuley and Northwestern Mutual in 2008. While working with David, she was able to obtain her Life and Health Licenses.

Chrissy is the Director of Marketing and Communications with Esteem Wealth Partners. Chrissy’s primary responsibilities include planning client events, creating our monthly client newsletter, and marketing. Whether she is working to plan a fun event or designing newsletters, Chrissy will be happy to ensure whatever you need handled is taken care of.

Chrissy currently lives in Alexandria, Kentucky with her husband Chip, their two kids: Berkley and Tripp, and their dog Stanley. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, baking, or cooking.

Robyn was born in Rhode Island, before moving to the Cincinnati area in 1984. She started working at Northwestern Mutual in 1993 and has her Life and Health Licenses. We are very excited to have Robyn bring her knowledge and expertise to Esteem Wealth Partners.

Robyn will be the main point of contact for existing clients who need help with their existing insurance policies. She will also be guiding clients through the underwriting process. Robyn’s goal is to make sure new policies are approved quickly and efficiently. She is happy to answer questions and give updates to ensure an easy process for our clients.

Robyn has two daughters, Miranda and Sydney; two dogs, and one cat. She currently lives in Oxford, OH with her fiancé, Mark. In her free time, Robyn enjoys antiquing and spending time with her family and friends. She loves outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking. Her favorite places to visit are National Parks or a beach.

Jaymee was born in Pennsylvania, before moving to Michigan, and eventually residing in the Cincinnati area. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Now with Esteem Wealth Partners as an Operations Associate, Jaymee guides clients through their first steps toward their goals. Jaymee helps build lasting relationships with our clients as she works with them through the insurance application process.

Jaymee and her son, Wyatt, live in the Northside neighborhood in Cincinnati. She and her son spend their free time going to car shows and races together. Jaymee also enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking in the woods or in her flower garden.