facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast blog external search brokercheck brokercheck

Financial Independence
Doesn’t Have to be a Dream.

Financial independence is a vision we all share.


Ruggaard & Associates, LLC provides holistic, personalized services to help you meet your financial goals and dreams. No matter where you are in life, we will help you build a secure and independent future.

Trust

Skill

Integrity


Founded in 1993, Ruggaard & Associates, LLC offers fee-only financial planning, investment management and tax services with time-trusted experience, knowledge and a comprehensive approach. This is The Ruggaard Difference.

HOW WE HELP YOU

Our mission is to help our clients become financially independent by offering complete services from financial planning to investment management and tax services, paired with our core beliefs – trust, skill and integrity. We do this in a fee-only, collaborative environment, fine-tuned to each of our client’s individual goals. Let us take you on your financial independence journey.


Financial Planning

Investment Management

Retirement Plan Management

Tax Services


The Process

 Financial Planning Services

No matter where you are in life, we are able to help you determine what you need for financial independence, becoming a trusted partner in your financial goals and dreams.


Discovery & Engagement


Starting with a free, introductory meeting, we work with you to identify and assess your personal objectives, and financial goals are established. Through our customized approach and planning, you will begin to understand how we help you move toward financial independence. As Registered Investment Advisors, our fiduciary responsibility is to serve our client’s interests first and provide a transparent, fee-only service model. Our clients value our advice.

Employee Benefits:
Retirement:
Estate:
Education:
Tax Planning:
Insurance:



Analysis


Plan Development: Our approach puts an emphasis on understanding your unique financial “big picture.” Understanding where you are and where you want to be is important to achieving financial independence. As your trusted partners, we’re able to make the optimal recommendations for your goals, backed by more than 25 years of experience.

Plan Presentation: With our customized approach, our investment team develops a plan for your financial goals. The plan is presented and discussed with each client to begin the path to financial independence.



Implementation

After your detailed analysis is complete and we have agreed on services and recommendations, your investment team will focus on coordinating all aspects of your plan.  Accountability for new financial independence is our top priority.



Monitor & Review


Change is a constant in our lives, whether it is personal or economic. These changes may impact your financial independence and this is where your partnership with Ruggaard & Associates, LLC is most important. With trust, skill and integrity, we handle constant change for you with your best interests in mind. Updates are just a click away. Because life moves quickly, access your information utilizing our Client Portal.



Investment Management Services

No matter where you are in life, we are able to help you determine what you need for financial independence, becoming a trusted partner in your financial goals and dreams.


Discovery & Engagement


Your trust is very important to us – as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor, the fiduciary role is one we take seriously. From the beginning you will experience The Ruggaard Difference, as we work with you to discover and prioritize your investment goals while understanding your risk tolerance. 



Analysis


Our approach includes analyzing your financial situation and combining it with customized portfolio construction and asset allocation. While all investments have some degree of risk, risk mitigation is an important part of the investment strategy. With our individualized, holistic approach, we develop a plan for your investment objectives. 



Implementation

We continuously study, analyze and evaluate investments and markets. Our 25 years of experience with due diligence and market research enables us to employ the strategies that will add value. We are dedicated to your investment needs and financial health, providing personalized, transparent advice based on your unique goals and dreams.



Monitor & Review


Change is ever present—in the markets and in our lives. With trust, skill and integrity, we handle constant change for you with your best interests in mind. Do you know how your current investments are performing? We make sure you do! Our Quarterly Reports and meetings keep you informed. By aligning your interests and our core values, we ensure a long-term partnership with you. 

 


Our Team

Randy Ruggaard, CPA, CFP® Photo

Randy Ruggaard, CPA, CFP®

President
Read Bio

Randy Ruggaard, CPA, CFP®

PRESIDENT

Randy Ruggaard, CPA, CFP® is President of Ruggaard & Associates, LLC since the company was formed in 1993. Randy graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance and earned an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He has decades of financial planning, investment management, and tax planning experience. In addition to helping clients achieve their lifetime financial goals, he enjoys family, outdoor sports, travel, and gardening.

John D. May III, CFP®  Photo

John D. May III, CFP®

Vice President
Read Bio

John D. May III, CFP®

Vice President

Financial Advisor

John D. May III, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Vice President. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Services with a concentration in Financial Planning from the University of Akron and began his career as a financial analyst. Today he has an immense knowledge of various planning concepts and works directly with clients, assisting them in making sound financial decisions. Client feedback shows that John can effectively take sophisticated investment and planning concepts and articulate them in simple and easy-to-understand dialogue. He dedicates time to understanding the ever-changing landscape in financial services, advancing his own knowledge to implement with existing and new clients. John enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children. He is also actively involved in the community as a coach for local youth sports programs.

Ryan Ruggaard Photo

Ryan Ruggaard

Director of Research
Read Bio

Ryan Ruggaard

Director of Research

Ryan Ruggaard is a Vice President and the firm’s Director of Research. He graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance.  Ryan is responsible for defining and implementing the firm’s investment strategy and processes. He has a strong background in equity stock research drawing on his knowledge from his time as an Equity Research Analyst on Driehaus Capital Management’s international team, a Global Sector Specialist at the investment bank Credit Suisse and a Senior Research Analyst for the Micro-Cap strategy at Bard Associates.  While he enjoys writing and reading investment reports, you’ll often find him out looking for great undiscovered companies and researching them firsthand. This natural curiosity has led him to 30+ countries and to also become fluent in Spanish and German. In his spare time Ryan enjoys playing guitar & ukulele, biking the streets of Chicago on the Divvy bike, finding the next great craft lager and being active in his local neighborhood of Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village.

David Sleeter, CFA® Photo

David Sleeter, CFA®

Vice President
Read Bio

David Sleeter, CFA®

vice-PRESIDENt


David A. Sleeter, CFA® is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. David has nearly fifteen years of private wealth management and institutional investment experience. He takes pride in applying his knowledge and expertise in helping clients navigate through their financial lives. David began his career as an equity stock analyst at Manning & Napier Advisors in Rochester, New York before moving back to the Midwest. David and his wife live in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. In his spare time, David enjoys boxing, salsa dancing and is a big Chicago Bears fan.  

Tom Sleeter, MBA Photo

Tom Sleeter, MBA

Wealth Advisor
Read Bio



Tom Sleeter, MBA

WEALTH ADVISOR


Tom H. Sleeter has a long history in the investment field. This was a focus of his in graduate school at the University of Chicago. Subsequent to that, he has served as a financial officer of Nalco Chemical Company, Director of Investor Relations at USG Corporation and then Director of a three hundred million dollar pension fund at USG. He has been Chief Financial Officer of a healthcare company and an adjunct professor of finance where he taught courses including investment theory and portfolio management. He has been securities licensed for over 20 years and has served retail, institutional, and non-for-profit clients.

Jan Sleeter, MBA, AIF®, CFP® Photo

Jan Sleeter, MBA, AIF®, CFP®

Wealth Advisor
Read Bio


Jan Sleeter, MBA, CFP®, CFP®

wealth advisor


Jan S. Sleeter, CFP® AIF® is a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Investment Fiduciary. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University. After 20 years in corporate finance, Jan started a wealth management firm working with individuals and business owners. Jan has conducted many seminars and workshops on financial planning, investing, retirement, philanthropy and estate planning. She is active with several charities.

Cameron Heileman Photo

Cameron Heileman

Manager of Client Relations
Read Bio

Cameron Heileman

Manager of client relations

Cameron Heileman is a Client Services Associate at Ruggaard & Associates where she acts as a liaison between our advisors and clients, providing an exceptional client experience. She streamlines our clients’ needs and ensures accurate delivery of important matters. Cameron graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and minors in art and entrepreneurship. Her work experience includes finance management, area sales management, and program management. Cameron lives in Hudson with her husband and son. In her free time, she likes to hike, run, and travel.

Margie Ruggaard Photo

Margie Ruggaard

Controller
Read Bio

Margie Ruggaard

Controller

Margie Ruggaard is the Controller at Ruggaard & Associates, LLC where she ensures that the daily operations run smoothly. She joined the firm in 2000 and is responsible for human resources, accounting, and marketing for the firm. Margie graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Her prior work and management experience are in the fields of education, banking, and mortgage lending. To keep the balance in her life, she enjoys vacationing with Randy, visiting her sons and family, gardening, yoga, and walking with her friends.

Cynthia C. Allen, CPA Photo

Cynthia C. Allen, CPA

Senior Tax and Operations Manager
Read Bio


Cynthia C. Allen, CPA

Senior Tax and Operations Manager

Cynthia C. Allen, CPA is a Certified Public Accountant in our tax department.  Cynthia graduated Cum Laude from Virginia Tech with bachelor’s degree in Accounting.  At both KPMG and United Rentals, Cynthia worked with employees at all levels of the company in both a financial and operational capacity.  After relocating and raising a family – a time during which Cynthia volunteered at various clubs in functions such as President and, repeatedly, Treasurer – Cynthia re-entered the workforce and prepared tax returns for several seasons at H&R Block.  Cynthia joined Ruggaard & Associates in October 2017 and has experience with investment billing, client services, special projects, and individual tax preparation.

Amber Moran Photo

Amber Moran

Tax Accountant
Read Bio

Amber Moran

TAX ACCOUNTANT

Amber Moran is a Tax Accountant responsible for the preparation of federal, state, and local tax forms, as well as other tax projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from Kent State University. Her work experience includes nonprofit, auditing, and tax accounting work. Amber lives in the Cleveland area and enjoys spending time with her husband and their young daughters.

Blog

Get access to valuable tips and resources related to financial health and independence.

Sign up here.


Loading Posts...


Read More




take the first step towards realizing your dreams.

Contact Us

Schedule Online

… or leave a message with your information below. 


Follow Us