About
Founder and President of rebel Financial. CFP® professional. Army veteran. Lifelong builder.
Usually covered in dirt or data.
The short version
When I can see a better way to do something, I can't leave it alone. That's been true my whole life — in the Army, in the financial industry, and pretty much everywhere in between.
I served eight years in the U.S. Army, including time at West Point, then earned my history degree at Ohio State. In 2003 I started in financial services at American Express Financial Advisors and learned the business from the inside.
In 2013 I founded rebel Financial — a fee-only firm built on one rule: people before profits. We don't sell products or earn commissions, and we bill on net worth instead of assets under management, so our advice isn't tied to how much money we manage.
That same itch keeps turning into new things. Darevia builds software for independent advisors. rebel Financial Foundation brings planning to people who couldn't otherwise get it. 4Advisors helps advisors go independent. And Ratcliff Farms is where I test ideas about sustainable, self-sufficient living — with a lot of bees.
I'm a dad of five, which keeps the rest of my calendar honest. When I'm not working, I'm usually building something, working out, or halfway through another audiobook.
The road here
U.S. Army
Eight years of service, including time at West Point. I learned how big systems work — and how often “the way we've always done it” isn't the best way.
Ohio State
Bachelor's degree in history from The Ohio State University. Turns out history is a pretty good teacher for finance.
2003
Started in financial services at American Express Financial Advisors.
2013
Founded rebel Financial with a simple idea — planning should work for the people paying for it.
Today
Leading rebel Financial and building Darevia, two nonprofits and a farm — plus a book in the works.
The timeline
Every photo here is dated straight from the camera, oldest first. I'll keep adding to it as life keeps happening.
May 2024
The farm crew on watch in the hayfield.
June 2024
Ducks on the farm pond.
September 2024
The purple barns at dusk.
September 2024
The rebel Financial office in Groveport.
September 2024
The good kind of tired after a farm day.
December 2024
Raising hoop houses as the sun went down.
January 2025
Arms up at Machu Picchu.
March 2025
A timber frame going up.
March 2025
Golden hour on the farm.
May 2026
Mowing hay, the oldest kind of order out of entropy.
June 2026
rebel team day at the go-kart track.
July 2026
Team outing. We brought home the trophy.
August 2026
At my desk at rebel Financial.
August 2026
Rafting the New River in West Virginia.
September 2026
At the helm off Catalina Island.
October 2026
The rebel team at NAPFA in Atlanta.
Off the clock
Building things is the hobby that never turns off. It's the same instinct behind every company I've started: spot something that could work better, then go build it.
Beekeeping
Solar design
3D printing
Smart home systems
Custom computers
DIY construction
Pond renovation
Chestnut trees
Still building.
What I build for
Business is one tool. The bigger goal is systems that last — ones people choose to join, own a piece of and help grow.
Build for the next 10 to 50 years, not the next quarter.
Energy, food, money and information that hold up when things get hard.
More people owning a real stake — in companies, communities and their own future.
Stay curious, keep learning and change course when the evidence says to.
CFP® professional
Founder and President, rebel Financial LLC
Founder, Darevia
Founder, rebel Financial Foundation and 4Advisors
Partnerships, speaking, press, an advisor thinking about going independent, or just a really good idea — my inbox is open.
Get in touch