Planning Team
Our team has over 180 combined years of experience with helping clients achieve their financial goals. We pride ourselves in our approach to planning as well as our ability to help determine and implement the most appropriate solutions for our clients. We have a sincere passion for the work we do and are grateful for the ongoing relationships we continue to grow.
- Ashland University – Ashland, OH MBA summa cum laude
- Ashland University – Ashland, OH BBA magna cum laude
- Midwest Trust School, Bowling Green University – Bowling Green, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7
Leading with integrity, enthusiasm, and care.
Background & Expertise:
Early in his career, Shawn found his motivation rooted in the financial services industry. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ashland University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Political Science, and later received his MBA concentrated in personal Finance from Ashland, finishing Summa Cum Laude. He then obtained his Trust and Estate Planning degree at Bowling Green University, where he was later an instructor.
In 1997, he started offering banking assistance to families and small businesses in his Licking County community. He managed a local Trust Department in Zanesville for 13 years before joining Northwestern Mutual in 2010. Since 2011, Shawn's received the distinguished Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) award and is repeatedly recognized for his leadership in central Ohio.
Professional Approach:
Shawn continues to grow his personal planning practice while also serving as the Growth and Development Director for Northwestern Mutual-Columbus, recruiting, developing and coaching new advisors and representatives toward success as they embark on their careers with Northwestern Mutual. He believes in establishing trust, planning for adversity and working with ambition.
One of his planning team’s primary goals is to collaborate with clients throughout the continuum of their lives. Each team member seeks to understand every client’s goals, asks thoughtful questions and listens intently to outline a clear path through all of their changing needs and circumstances, ensuring that their financial roadmap always reflects what is most important to them.
Personal Fulfillment:
The Phelps family lives in Licking County on multiple acres and raises beef cattle. Shawn’s wife, Leigh Anne, an enthusiastic Earth Science teacher, admittedly, leaves this activity to the boys, Seth and Alex, which they manage between their devotion to academics and athletics. The family loves filling their passports, traveling both in and outside the country as much as possible. Shawn believes in working and playing hard!
Brandee S Wyzlic B.S., RICP®
Co-founder and Private Wealth Advisor
- University of Toledo – Toledo, Ohio
- Franklin University – Columbus, Ohio
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7 & 66
Delivering technical expertise, experienced advice, and genuine attention.
Background & Expertise:
Brandee’s professional background includes over two decades of experience in financial services, including several years of public and private sector accounting. Her deep knowledge of financial considerations for both individuals and businesses – including retirement planning and investment tax consequence – allows Brandee to help clients manage the varying facets of their financial position.
Professional Approach:
Well-versed in the investment and risk management environments, Brandee concentrates on providing appropriate and relevant solutions in order to deliver comprehensive financial planning advice.
Personal Fulfillment:
Brandee and her husband, Marty, live in Upper Arlington where they’re raising their boys who range from middle school to college. In addition to actively supporting their community and their church, they enjoy traveling with family as much as possible. Seeing how fast the kids grow has made this an even greater priority!
Matthew E Beeghley CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLU®, CAP®
Partner and Private Wealth Advisor
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH MBA
- The Catholic University of America
- CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLU®, CAP®
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6, 7, 63
Planning successful outcomes through trusting relationships.
Background & Expertise:
Matt started his practice at Northwestern Mutual in 2010 after working in banking and bookkeeping for six years and completing his MBA. Building upon this experience – first working for large banks, then starting a bookkeeping practice serving small businesses – he continued to expand as a firm that primarily serves business owners, corporate managers, and medical professionals.
Professional Approach:
Matt’s practice is founded on building trusting relationships, comprehensive planning, and continuous improvement. Through designations and experience, he believes lifelong learning allows him to bring fresh perspectives to his clients’ planning needs. As a servant-leader, Matt puts his clients’ best interests first while helping them understand and act upon the plans we’ve formed collaboratively.
Personal Fulfillment:
Matt lives with his wife, Julie, in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, OH. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and watching Australian football and soccer. He is a decade-plus member and past Treasurer of Columbus Australian Rules Football Club. Julie and Matt also enjoy hiking, working on their yard and garden, and attempting to keep up with their Greyhound rescue, Minnie.
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Kayla C Hinds CFP®, CLU®
Partner and Private Wealth Advisor
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
- CFP®, CLU®
- Life / Health Insurance License
- FINRA Series 7, 6 & 63
Leading with authenticity, honesty, and fun.
Background & Expertise:
In 2012, while attending The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, Kayla discovered the financial planning internship Northwestern Mutual offered and thought it would be fun to try for a summer. After that summer and seeing the impact she could make in the community, and the enjoyment she could have while doing it, she made the decision to build her practice full time after graduating in 2013. Since then, she has pursued higher education and designations to make sure she can make as much impact for her clients as humanly possible.
Professional Approach:
One of her primary goals is to help her clients build a life they designed. Everyone can achieve their goals if they work hard, know where they are headed, have a plan to get there, and she wants to help them do just that. In addition, she likes to educate her clients on what they are doing and why they are doing it, so they feel confident in their plan and their path forward.
Personal Fulfillment:
Kayla and her corgi, Rory, reside in Columbus. Most weekends though, you can find her somewhere outside of Columbus working with cattle. Kayla was raised on a purebred Angus seedstock farm in eastern Ohio. She still owns, shows, and sells cattle, and helps family and friends with maintenance, shows, and sales across the state and country. In addition, she loves to attend concerts, dabble in photography, and tell anyone who will listen, how perfect Rory the Corgi is.
Justin P Fickes M.Ed.
Partner and Wealth Management Advisor
- Mount Vernon Nazarene University – Mt. Vernon, OH M. Ed.
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH B.A.
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6, 7 & 63
Leading with innovation, education, and integrity.
Background & Expertise:
Justin joined Northwestern Mutual in 2016, after serving 11 years in education. As an advisor, he takes an educational approach in developing and implementing strategic financial planning for new and existing clients.
Professional Approach:
Justin takes great pride in learning about his clients' financial goals and aspirations. From there, he develops a unique, flexible strategy to fit their situation. He keeps his clients on track for success by guiding them through life events and realigning their planning portfolio as needed. One of Justin's primary goals is to make sure that every client grasps exactly why they are implementing certain tactics in their financial plan. His philosophy? To follow your plan, you must first truly understand the pieces that construct it.
Personal Fulfillment:
Justin and his wife, Brittnay, reside in Granville, Ohio and have two daughters Lilah and Olivia. In his spare time Justin enjoys watching his kids' sporting events, going on hikes, reading, and relaxing with friends and family.
- Miami University – Oxford, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 63 & 7 Licensed
There’s no substitute for consistency.
Background & Expertise:
Jackson graduated with a finance degree and is a level II CFA candidate. He services the firm’s existing clients, advises his own personal clients, and performs investment and portfolio analysis.
Professional Approach:
Jackson is highly accountable; he applies his precision and thoughtfulness to all aspects of the work he provides. In addition, he strives to make the client experience a clear-cut, comfortable process.
Personal Fulfillment:
Jackson resides in Dublin, OH. When he is not in the office you can find Jackson on a golf course, watching sports or traveling with friends.
- Ohio Christian University - Circleville, OH; MBA
- Ohio Christian University - Circleville, OH; BA
- Life / Health and Long-Term Care Licensed
- FINRA Series 6 & 63
Delivering exceptional client experiences and planning.
Background & Expertise:
Kyle has a decade of diverse experience in the financial and insurance planning industries servicing charitably inclined and affluent business owners, families, and retirees. He strives to help bring client’s dreams to life. He takes responsibility to ensure clients experience a seamless transition from planning to implementation and cultivate organic relationships.
Professional Approach:
Kyle takes great pride in helping clients paint their future financial picture and bringing their detailed masterpiece to life. He focuses on keeping their plan operating smoothly and efficiently while communicating the latest economic and market updates and realigning their plan as needed.
Personal Fulfillment:
Kyle and his wife have three children. In his free time, he enjoys boating, riding jet skis, and good company be it over dinner or a game of cards.
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- Franklin University – Columbus, OH – magna cum laude
- FINRA Series 7, 63 & 66
Optimizing solutions to deliver results.
Background & Expertise:
Tammy has over two decades of experience serving individuals and businesses in the financial services industry. Her background provides her with the advanced skillset to service clients within the areas of investing, banking, and risk management. She joined Northwestern Mutual in 2022 to better utilize her knowledge and add value to clients and the firm.
Professional Approach:
Tammy enjoys building strong relationships with clients and colleagues. Her positive attitude and partnering approach allow her to meet the expectations of others both personally and professionally. She relies on listening skills to provide excellent service and identify meaningful solutions.
Personal Fulfillment:
Tammy and her husband are empty nesters. They love family time spent with their adult children and grandchildren. Tammy spends a lot of her time riding her horse, Wilbur, locally and across the states with friends.
Eric S Politz CAP®, CFP®, CLU®, RICP®, ChSNC®
Operations Manager
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH M.A. & B.S.
- CAP®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6, 7 & 63
Coordinating comprehensive financial plans.
Background & Expertise:
Eric started at Northwestern Mutual in 2017 in a client services role. Since then, he’s developed extensive knowledge in financial planning, insurance, and investments. In 2022, he completed the RICP®; in 2021, the CAP®; and in 2020, the CFP®, ChFC®, and CLU® designations.
Professional Approach:
Eric exhibits great attention to detail and organization in his work. He makes sure that the financial plan we customize for you is implemented promptly and seamlessly and that all ongoing service and communications are done professionally and timely.
Personal Fulfillment:
Eric resides in the Short North of Columbus, OH. He spends most of his free time outdoors, either backpacking or playing Australian rules football.
- Quantic School of Business & Technology – Executive MBA Candidate
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
Creating authentic and meaningful connections.
Background & Expertise:
Rebecca joined Northwestern Mutual in February 2020. Prior to, she spent 12 years in the greater New York City area collaborating with finance leaders in diverse industries. In her role, she leads marketing and communication strategies, champions team culture, and engages with the community.
Professional Approach:
Rebecca loves building relationships. She believes every person deserves the freedom that an empowering financial plan can provide. Her attentive listening and problem-solving abilities go hand in hand with her creativity to deliver a personalized experience across every channel.
Personal Fulfillment:
Rebecca's a massive wellness enthusiast who also enjoys fiddling and traveling as much as possible. She lives in Clintonville, Ohio and supports animal rescue.
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
Focusing on quality, service, and value.
Background & Expertise:
Caitlin started at Northwestern Mutual in early 2017. She works closely with the team to develop a customized financial plan for each client and to help ensure that all facets of a client’s planning considerations are implemented.
Professional Approach:
Caitlin is extremely focused, organized and works diligently to deliver consistent and courteous service with the utmost professionalism. She facilitates many of the operational roles within the team, supporting advisors throughout the financial planning process.
Personal Fulfillment:
Caitlin lives in Dublin, OH with her cat, Peatri. She loves to travel and watch sports: Go Buckeyes! When Caitlin’s not at the office, you’ll find her planning her next adventure or with her nose in a good book.
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 7, 63
Navigating investment activities.
Background & Expertise:
Lou Ann has been in the financial services industry since 1981 and joined Northwestern Mutual in 2020. In her role as Associate Wealth Management Advisor, she assists clients with their investments and overall relationship with the firm.
Professional Approach:
Lou Ann’s interest in investments evolved from her personal experience with successful financial planning. Empathetically relating to clients’ needs, she strives to meet and exceed their expectations. She understands the importance of teamwork in providing comprehensive customer service.
Personal Fulfillment:
Lou Ann lives in Worthington and enjoys spending time with her new granddaughter. She likes to garden, read, and cheer on the Buckeyes.
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
Always be willing to learn and to teach.
Background & Expertise:
Bre joined River Tree Wealth Management in October 2021, with a versatile background in financial administration and office management. Leading client services, she is a valuable communicator who is responsible for bridging interactions between our advisors and clientele as well as maintaining our client relationship management software.
Professional Approach:
Bre is highly detail oriented. She likes creating structure and organizing systems. Her goal is to satisfy various client needs through creating comprehensive, flexible workflows for all day-to-day service requests. Once a process is designed, she continues to refine it for standardized use by implementing real-time feedback.
Personal Fulfillment:
Bre and her partner, Chris, enjoy traveling and camping. They love planning pet-friendly vacations and bringing their two fur babies along for travel adventures. In her free time, Bre performs in the circus arts.
- Wittenberg University – Springfield, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6
Ensuring an exceptional client experience.
Background & Expertise:
Cheryl joined Northwestern Mutual as an Insurance Operations Associate in 2017. She brings over 25 years of customer service and financial service experience in a variety of industries.
Professional Approach:
Cheryl is extremely organized, prompt and focused. She supports advisors throughout the entire financial planning process.
Personal Fulfillment:
Cheryl resides in Newark, Ohio with her husband, Tom, and two children Sarah and Gus. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, watching the Columbus Blue Jackets and officiating women's lacrosse and field hockey.
- Franklin University – Columbus, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6 & 63
Either I will find a way or make one.
Background & Expertise:
Tina joined Northwestern Mutual in 2021. She has a background in business and sales, with a strong focus on customer service. As an entrepreneur for many years, she understands the importance of relationship building, being resourceful and the risks associated with operating your own business.
Professional Approach:
Tina takes pride in providing excellent customer service; her goal is to make every client feel appreciated and valued as the most prized client relationship.
Personal Fulfillment:
Tina is the proud mom of two sons, Ryan and Jack. In her free time, she enjoys working out, travel, walking with friends and outdoor adventures like kayaking, ziplining and ropes courses.
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
Supporting clients to help them reach their goals.
Background & Expertise:
Julie started at Northwestern Mutual in 2021 as Practice Manager for Matthew Beeghley. Julie has worked previously in retail banking and within the private and commercial lending industry. Julie works with the team to balance clients’ needs with operational requirements.
Professional Approach:
Duty of care is imperative. Julie aims to provide superior service and support.
Personal Fulfillment:
Julie lives in downtown Columbus with her husband Matt and their retired racing Greyhound, Minnie. She enjoys spending time in the garden and hiking at any one of the numerous Columbus Metro Parks.
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
Cheerful, Organized, and Friendly.
Background & Expertise:
Leah joined NM in August of 2021 as a marketing intern and moved to a full-time marketing assistant in 2022 following her Graduation from The Ohio State University in May.
Professional Approach:
Leah is a creative and open-minded thinker with a unique approach to every situation. Honesty, trust, and respect drive her passion forward to any end goal or project.
Personal Fulfillment:
Leah still currently resides in Columbus with her pup, Zuko. Outside of the office, she enjoys museums, fashion, reading, and art.
- The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
- Life / Health Insurance Licenses
- FINRA Series 6 & 63
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
Background & Expertise:
Alexis started Northwestern Mutual’s financial representative internship in January 2022. After graduating from The Ohio State University, she joined Northwestern Mutual full-time in June 2022 before accepting a position at River Tree. With her role, she’d dedicated to servicing client’s insurance needs and helping them easily secure defensive financial planning.
Professional Approach:
Determination, building trusted relationships, and acting as a resource for others are Alexis’ top strengths. Her goal is to be a positive influence to everyone who comes into her life and help them reach their full potential.
Personal Fulfillment:
Alexis resides in the Short North with her two best friends from college and enjoys finding new places in Columbus to explore. In her free time, Alexis likes to read, work out or play with her cat, Boo.
Alexis R Johnson Alexis R Johnson MLS, MLS
Client Service Associate
- Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University – MLS
- Tiffin University – B.S.
- Notary Public Commission
Trust the process.
Background and Expertise:
Alexis’s background is in legal administration. Responsible for ensuring clients have a wonderful experience.
Professional Approach:
Known for her meticulous attention to detail and organizational skills, Alexis always exceeds client expectations. She provides unwavering support to both clients and financial advisors.
Personal Fulfillment:
Alexis resides in Gahanna with her cat, Sage. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys nature walks, art, and being involved with her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, and giving back to the community.
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