Our Team

F. Curtis Shepard, CFP®

President and Principal

Curtis Shepard is founder and president of Shepard & Associates, Inc. He serves as the firms Principal and Chief Compliance Officer. Curtis began his career over 30 years ago specializing in the retirement planning field. Curtis is a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP) professional and specializes in the educational marketplace. After spending 18 years with a national insurance company designing and implementing retirement plans within the 403(b) field, he started his own company to bring independent services to his clients. Curtis incorporated Shepard & Associates in 1993 and filed as a Registered Investment Advisory firm. His vision of putting together a firm of experienced advisors providing independent advice continues today. Shepard & Associates, Inc. consists of a team of advisors that provides fee-based money management advice to clients in over 20 states.

Curtis and his wife Debbie have been married for 30 years and have two sons. They have resided in the Kansas City metro area since 1974. Curtis is an avid outdoorsman enjoying both hunting and fishing.

Amy L. Highfill

Executive Assistant/Operations Manager

Amy has been with Shepard & Associates, Inc. since 1996. She is a registered representative and holds a Series 6 license. Her focus in the practice is to provide extraordinary customer service and accurate quarterly review reports to all clients.

In her role, she is responsible for overall firm operations and compliance. She creates and analyzes internal and external reporting of client accounts to the firm’s representatives and clients. Her work includes internal review and audit, and preparation for external audit by regulatory agencies. Additionally she handles scheduling for the firm’s President and maintains the firm’s web site. Amy works closely with clients on a daily basis to ensure proper account management, account changes, and investment understanding.

Prior to joining Shepard and Associates, Amy served as a Marketing Manager for a national bank holding company. She attended Wichita State University and is a 1995 graduate of the School of Bank Marketing at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Amy has been married to Jay since 1978 and they have two children. Megan teaches music at Nieman Elementary School in Shawnee Mission and Tavis is a Film Studies/Writing major at The University of Kansas. Amy is active in her church, Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ and in her free time she enjoys the theatre, movies, classical music and traveling.

Gregory C. Shepard, CFS

Co-principal

Greg Shepard, co – principal of Shepard and Associates, Inc., is a Certified Fund Specialist. Greg specializes in retirement planning and investment management for employees of higher education. He has worked in the investment industry since graduating from Kansas State in 1999. He was previously employed by Charles Schwab & Co. as a Registered Senior Broker.

Greg currently is a adjunct lecturer at Johnson County Community College, speaking on various financial related topics.

Greg resides in the historic community of Union Hill in Kansas City. Greg is an avid golfer and enjoys going to the lake whenever possible.

Ronald P. Schwantes, CFP®

Ronald P. Schwantes is an Investment Strategist and Financial Advisor focusing on asset management and pre- and post-retirement never losing sight of the client’s overall situation and life stage.

Ron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Economics and is a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP) practitioner. Ron began his career in financial planning and asset management in 1995 after a 25- year career in management.

Ron is an active member of the Financial Planning Association, (FPA) and past president of the Blue Springs Rotary Club. Ron is an active member of All Saints Lutheran Church. He is currently serving as a church council member and support ministry leader, focusing on stewardship education and planned giving. Ron participates in the church choir and has a special interest in gospel music. Ron has contributed to The Kansas City Star for their Money Wise section.

Ron and his wife Linda are long-time residents of Blue Springs, Missouri. They have two children, Nathan and Adam. His oldest son, Nathan, owns his own entertainment business. His youngest son, Adam, is attending Longview Community College while preparing for a career in restaurant management.

Ron has a particular interest in golf. He enjoys playing with family, friends and clients on a regular basis. Ron believes that portfolio management and the game of golf are similar in that they both require a plan and a strategy. Implementation of the plan along with skill and discipline while avoiding the many hazards along the way will insure that one reaches their primary goal. Some of the world’s most successful golfers rely on advice to hit the green and so do some of the world’s most successful investors.

David L. Niehaus

David L. Niehaus has been with the firm since 1992. Dave specializes in fee-based asset management using no load mutual funds and insurance related products including life insurance, long-term care and annuities. Dave’s focus is providing personalized service through quarterly reviews of asset holdings.

Dave attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and graduated with a business degree in 1972. He was a student agent his senior year in college and continued to work for a major national insurance company for the next 21 years.

Dave has been involved in the Optimist Club for many years and held several offices including President of the Downtown Optimist Club of Kansas City. He was also involved in the charter of the Southside Optimist Club. He volunteered for his children’s school as a basketball and soccer coach.

Dave and his wife Carol have been married for 28 years and have four children. Brock, a sergeant in the U.S. Army is married and is stationed in Germany. Brandon resides and works in Kansas City. Teresa is married with a two-year old son. Jennifer lives in Springfield, Missouri and attends Southwest Missouri State University. As “empty-nesters”, Dave and Carol keep busy with two kittens.

Craig S. Richards | Retirement Plan Specialist

Craig S. Richards recently joined Shepard and Associates in January 2009. Craig has over 20 years experience working with Qualified Retirement Plans and investments. He can help you create and maintain a retirement plan that is best suited for your business needs. Craig also helps individuals with personal investments and insurance needs.

Craig is a 1988 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He was active in the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and the University Programs Performing Arts Committee.

Craig and his wife, Tracy, are very involved with the Starlight Theatre Ambassadors volunteer program. They spend many nights during the summer at Starlight. Craig and Tracy also volunteer at the Folly Theater and the Kansas City Symphony

Craig and Tracy have been married for 20 years. They met at the University of Arkansas. Tracy is director of the Child Prodigy North daycare center in Lee’s Summit. They have a teenage daughter, Summer, who attends Lee’s Summit High School and is active in dance.