Jacob Brown
Financial Advisor
Jacob brings a unique blend of tech and finance experience to his role as a Financial Advisor. With a background in implementation and account management at several innovative tech companies, he understands both the fast-paced world of startups and the financial needs of growing businesses. Jacob is especially passionate about empowering small business owners and helping young families build strong financial futures.
What makes his journey even more special? He started out as a client at SIA, experiencing firsthand the impact of thoughtful financial planning, before joining our team as a Paraplanner on the Portfolio team. Now, he’s proud to pay it forward, helping others navigate their own financial paths with clarity and confidence.
Jacob has a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal State Fullerton in Geography, concentration in Environmental Analysis.
Jacob holds the FINRA SIE, Series 7 and 66 registrations, which are held with LPL Financial.
He and his wife Sarah have two kids and a bloodhound named Waylon. Jacob plays drums for Lifepoint Tucson’s worship team, loves to hike, surf, hunt, and play golf. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club.
Shelby Penrod
Client Services Assistant & Event Coordinator
Shelby Penrod provides comprehensive client service support to the advisors at Southwest Investment Advisors, specializing in the preparation, processing, and management of client documentation. She also plays a key role in coordinating and supporting firm events throughout the year, contributing to positive client experience and team engagement.
Shelby joined SIA in 2024, bringing with her a strong background in human resources and customer service. Her experience includes managing employee relations, payroll processes, and delivering exceptional client support across various industries
Shelby is currently studying for her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional FPQP™ designation.
Outside of work, Shelby enjoys spending time with her family. She met her husband, Troy, in 2013 while they were both working at Target—he invited her to Winterhaven, and the rest is history. Together, they share a wonderful son, Elijah, who is nine years old and just began fourth grade.
Dave Bowen, CFP®
Financial Advisor
David Bowen, CFP® has specialized in working with retired and nearly retired people since 1996.
Dave worked for a major brokerage firm eight years before beginning his own planning and management firm in 2004. After advising clients as a sole practitioner for 20 years, Dave now joins SIA and brings his decades of experience as a financial advisor to those we serve.
Dave was raised in Nebraska and has a bachelor’s degree in industrial education. He has been a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner since 2003. Before becoming a financial professional, Dave was affiliated with a third world religious organization and lived in West Africa with his family for eight years.
When not working, Dave enjoys playing the piano, flying his small plane, exercising, and brewing beer.
Sarah Porter, FPQP™
Lead Paraplanner
Sarah supports the advisors at Southwest Investment Advisors with fund research, financial planning prep, portfolio construction, account rebalancing, and trade executions. She also plays a key role in the firm’s marketing initiatives.
Sarah joined SIA in 2021, bringing over a decade of experience in marketing, customer service, and project management. Her background includes work in the technology sector as well as with various non-profit organizations.
Sarah is currently studying to pass the FINRA SIE.
Sarah met her husband, Chris, in 2020 during the height of the pandemic—on a Zoom call, no less. They now enjoy life with their daughter, and two dogs: Einstein, a Corgi, and Portia, a wire-haired Dachshund. A passionate reader, Sarah especially enjoys diving into sci-fi and fantasy novels whenever she can.
Douglas Riegger
Financial Advisor
Douglas Riegger is a financial advisor with SIA, working with individuals and families to create practical, well-structured financial plans. He specializes in two primary areas: helping clients prepare for significant future spending goals and working with business owners and skilled trades professionals to build and protect long-term financial stability. Douglas is passionate about helping clients achieve financial success through clear, actionable strategies that help them make confident decisions about their money.
Douglas holds the FINRA SIE, Series 7 and 66 registrations, which are held with LPL Financial.
Beyond his client work, he is active in the community, serving on the board of a local youth literacy organization, volunteering with a program that introduces eighth graders to real-world skills, and participating in Eagle Scout boards of review for the Catalina Council.
Annette Tate
Administrative Assistant
As the first face clients see when they walk into our office, Annette takes pride in creating a welcoming and helpful environment, whether that means offering a warm smile or a fresh cup of coffee. Her role is centered on building strong client relationships and ensuring they always have access to the tools and information they need.
Before stepping into the administrative world, Annette spent many years providing compassionate care in the veterinary field and leading teams as a retail manager at H&M. These experiences shaped her dedication to service and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Outside of work, Annette cherishes time with her children. She loves working out and thrifting with her daughter and granddaughter and taking long walks with her son and their dogs. These moments keep her grounded and energized.
Stephanie Hilton
Practice Manager
Stephanie joined SIA in 2022 as a member of the Operations Team. As Practice Manager, Stephanie serves our clients with a strong commitment to client satisfaction. She is a trusted point of contact and resource, ensuring each client receives tailored solutions and responsive support. Beyond client relationships, Stephanie oversees day-to-day operations, streamlines internal processes, and ensures compliance with industry standards.
Previously, Stephanie gained industry experience at another financial advisory firm, where she was first introduced to the world of finance. Her professional journey began in banking, where she started as a teller and advanced to Assistant Operations Manager at a Texas-based bank. After several years, Stephanie and her family returned to Arizona to be closer to home.
Stephanie is currently studying for her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional FPQP™ designation.
She met her husband through mutual friends, despite attending the same high school, and they married in 2014. Together, they have two children, born in 2012 and 2017. As a family, they enjoy off-roading, camping, fishing, and spending time on the lake. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys baking, horseback riding, reading, gardening, and helping on the family ranch.
Lacey Rogers
Client Services Assistant
Lacey is part of the operations team at Southwest Investment advisors. Her primary duties include assisting clients, supporting advisors, processing paperwork, and working with the firm’s back office at LPL Financial.
Lacey joined the firm in 2007, right out of high school. Her past experience includes working at a pet store, which has fueled her love of animals.
Lacey is currently studying for her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional FPQP™ designation.
Lacey and her husband Dustin have two children and 4 dogs (and counting). Outside of the office, Lacey enjoys riding horses, going camping with her family and dogs, spending time outdoors, and listening to her dad, Rob Wright, play his music (mainly the banjo).
Rick Zich, CEPA®, MBA
Partner
As a wealth advisor, Rick helps clients define their financial goals and create personalized plans to achieve them, balancing practicality with long-term aspirations. His approach is built on open communication and mutual trust.
Before joining SIA, Rick was President and CFO of a consumer goods company and currently co-owns Trinity Diamonds with his wife. He has deep experience in technology and operations, having chaired the Microsoft Dynamics peer group and consulted on software integration and manufacturing efficiency with Desertview Management Services. His CEPA designation enables him to help business owners maximize value.
Rick holds FINRA Series SIE, 7, 24, 63 and 65 registrations, which are held through LPL Financial.
Outside the office, he enjoys working out, science fiction audiobooks, and traveling, recently to Tahiti. His office displays photos from his global adventures, including a memorable trip to Australia with his daughter to celebrate her high school graduation.
Alix Kusler, CWS®
Partner
Alix serves as partner and portfolio manager at Southwest Investment Advisors. She builds long-term relationships with clients and develops financial plans and strategies that allow clients to “outsource the worry” to the SIA team so that they can live the lives they want to live, knowing that their money is in good hands. As portfolio manager, she directs the portfolio team as they research, implement, and monitor investment portfolios specifically designed to help clients pursue their goals in an ever-changing world.
Alix joined SIA in 2009 after serving as a college ministries intern at a Presbyterian church in Fort Collins, Colorado. In her time at SIA, she has worn just about every hat in the firm from operations manager to financial advisor to portfolio manager and now partner.
Alix graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University, where she seized the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. Yes, she still speaks (limited) conversational Italian, and yes, she still has an undying love of bold red wine, al dente pasta, and dark chocolate.
Alix holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations, which are held through LPL Financial.
When she’s not in the office, Alix enjoys running with her handsome husband, singing at church, laughing with friends, and traversing National Parks with her two very active young boys. She is in a constant state of rearranging furniture, which she swears is a real hobby, and has recently renewed her long-lost love of reading, preferring historical fiction with an element of magic or mystery.
