Meet our Team

Jean Keener, Principal | Owner

Jean started KFP in 2008 after a 10+-year career in business management.  As a career changer, Jean went back to school in 2006 and completed the CFP® educational program through the University of North Texas professional development institute.  After passing the CFP® exam in 2007, Jean joined the Garrett Planning Network in 2008 and began serving financial planning clients full-time.    Outside of work, Jean is married to Mark and co-parents 2 rambunctious lab mixes Maya and Tanner.  She enjoys cooking, visiting Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurants, and spending time out-of-doors.  Jean shares more about why she became a financial planner and answers questions you should ask a financial planner on the Interview Jean page and in this video.

 

Rachel Songer, Financial Planner | Co-Owner

Rachel joined Keener Financial Planning in 2013.  She most enjoys brainstorming with clients to come up with tools and strategies that will empower them to meet both their near- and long-term goals.  Rachel is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Professional and holds a degree in personal financial planning from Texas Tech University.  Outside of work Rachel and her husband, Adam, are parents to their endlessly entertaining dog, Boomer. Rachel enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and exploring all of the outdoor pursuits that come with her recent move to Boise, Idaho.  Most of her meetings are held via video conference, and she comes to Texas once a quarter for in-person client sessions. Rachel shares more about how she became a financial planner and answers questions you should ask a financial planner on the Interview Rachel page.

 

Patty Priddy, Financial Planner

Patty joined Keener Financial Planning in March 2017.  As a career changer, Patty has been a financial planner since 2015 and previously has 20+ years financial and accounting experience including serving as a business consultant with Arthur Andersen.  In addition to an MBA from Texas Tech, Patty is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Professional and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC®) designation.  She was named to the D Magazine Best Financial Planners in Dallas 2020 list.  Outside of work, Patty enjoys spending time with her husband Paul and her extended family.  She enjoys walking, reading, and yoga.  Learn more about why Patty became a financial planner on the Interview Patty page.

 

Samuel Pond, Financial Planner | Co-Owner

Samuel joined Keener Financial Planning in May 2020 after working at a wealth management firm in the DFW area. He enjoys helping clients gain greater understanding of their financial situation to better inform their financial decisions. Samuel graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in personal financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professional. Outside of work Samuel and his wife, Meghan, are parents to two active daughters,  Brooklynn and Kalynn. Samuel enjoys spending time with his family getting outside anyway they can: hiking, walking, swimming, going to the park, watching baseball, or simply playing with bubbles.  Samuel shares more about why he became a financial planner and answers questions you should ask a financial planner on the Interview Samuel page.

 

Beth Shurtz, Financial Planner

Beth joined Keener Financial Planning in 2014, and was a member of the planning team until 2018. After taking several years off to attend to some family responsibilities, Beth rejoined the firm in 2022. Beth is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Professional, and she received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University. Beth and her husband Todd have lived in the area for more than 20 years, and they have two grown sons. Outside of work, Beth loves spending time with friends as well as her extended family. Her other interests include hiking, reading, gardening, and especially pickleball.

 

Trista Jacobs, Financial Planning Associate

Trista joined Keener Financial Planning in September 2021. She started her career in tax compliance and consulting at Deloitte, earning her CPA license. She later worked part-time as a dental practice CFO while her family grew. Trista has completed the CFP® education requirements with The American College of Financial Planning and has passed the CFP® exam.  She is working on transferring her CPA license to TX. Trista is driven to help people map out a path toward achieving their financial goals with respect and clarity. Along with her husband Steve, she has invested in raising their six children (Amanda, Luke, Melanie, Brett, Tara, and Julie). When not cheering from their sidelines, she enjoys running herself! She recently trained for and competed in her first full marathon and looks forward to running more (half)-marathons.

 

Steven Myers, Financial Planning Associate

Steven joined Keener Financial Planning in May 2021 as the firm’s first intern. He did such an outstanding job that he was offered and accepted a permanent position with the firm. Steven has a Bachelor’s degree in personal financial planning from Edinboro University. He has a passion for financial planning and serving to make a positive impact on other people’s lives. Outside of work, Steven loves spending time with his wife, Julia, spending time with his two dogs, and watching football with family and friends.

 

Zach Tingle, Financial Planning Associate

Zach joined Keener Financial Planning in May 2022. He is a member of the fightin’ Texas Aggie class of 2013 and is passionate about both learning and teaching. He is currently in the process of completing the CFP® educational requirements through the University of Georgia.  He loves getting to know new friends and sharing tools for long-term success. He and his wife, Hannah, are avid YNAB’ers and love sharing the freedom of living life on a budget. Outside of work Zach spends most of his time wrangling his 2-year-old, Heidi, and helping at his church. When not doing that, he can usually be found in his woodshop building something.

 

Kelli Hinton, Director of Operations | Co-Owner

Kelli joined Keener Financial Planning in July 2019 and holds the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP™) designation.  Prior to joining KFP, Kelli worked in the medical field in a free-standing Emergency Room. She attended the University of Oklahoma to pursue a degree in Health/Sports Science. Outside of work, Kelli enjoys spending time with her husband, James, and their daughter, McKenzie. She has a passion for singing and performing with the 5-time International Champion Sweet Adeline Chorus, The Rich-Tone Chorus. She has served as the President and Financial Coordinator for the past 7 years for the Rich-Tone Chorus, which is what led her to make the decision to make a career change to the financial planning field.

 

Catherine Mueller, Administrative Assistant

Catherine joined Keener Financial Planning in June 2020 after spending a few years as a stay-at-home mom. Catherine holds the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP™) designation.  Outside of work, Catherine is the parent to Madeline, Zach, and Jacob. She enjoys cheering on her kids at cross country, track meets, and show choir performances. Catherine enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, and cooking a variety of cuisines.

 

 

Thomas Warkins, Operations Associate

Thomas joined Keener Financial Planning in July 2022 as an operations associate. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in financial planning at the University of North Texas and will be in the class of 2022. He is wanting to soak up as much information as possible about the financial planning industry so one day he can become a financial planner himself. When Thomas isn’t working, he enjoys playing recreational sports (especially basketball), cooking, and spending time with his three brothers.

 

 

 

Interested in joining our team?  Please check for openings on the Join Our Team page.