About Us

Rick Scruggs's introduction to the financial world was when his father died a few months after Rick had enrolled at The College of William & Mary. His fathers death came only six days prior to the passage of The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which would have provided a lifelong pension to his mother. Given the timing, however, she was not eligible to receive any benefits.

Social Security benefits and a life insurance policy ensured that Rick didn't have to drop out of college, but his mother was forced to continue working in order to support her family.  The experience had a profound impact on Rick. It also impressed upon him the importance of thinking about the future and protecting the people you love.

Upon graduation, Rick went on to become a successful business professional.  He read voraciously and immersed himself in just about every aspect of business planning from retirement plans to succession strategies, multiple facets of insurance (life, disability income and long term care), investments, ESOPs, and more.  He even invested as an owner in a brokerage house with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

The more Rick learned, the more he realized that his passion was for "candidly speaking with people about love, health, finances and business ownership." He founded Financial Designs in 1983.  

Today, Financial Designs is a recognized regional leader in business continuity and success(ion) planning.  The talented team of advisors and support staff work with business owners and their employees.

Rick is designated a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU^®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC^®) by The American College and a Certified 401(k) Professional through The Retirement Advisor University in collaboration with the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education.  He is a member of the Advanced Association of Life Underwriters, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Lynchburg Estate Planning Council, the National Center for Employee Ownership and the ESOP Association, The Strategic Coach, 401(k) Coach and David Cohn and Associates 360. He is a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Rick and his wife Kandy live in Forest, Virginia.

Though her role eludes definition, Sarah Scruggs Reddell describes her role as helping people, regardless of where they find themselves in the spectrum of engagement with our firm.  Sarah is involved in the day-to-day operations of Financial Designs. "I enjoy going home knowing that we are helping people improve their situation," she says.

Sarah earned her Masters degree in Library Science, and joined Financial Designs in 2012 after running a library in Jackson, Mississippi. She has earned her FINRA Series 6, 63, and 7 securities licenses, and her life and health insurance licenses. She is also a certified Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP).

Sarah has become an ACA guru for group health insurance plans and is becoming an advisor to qualified retirement plans.

She resides in Lynchburg, Virginia with her husband, Matt.

Ben Giese, CFP^®, MBA is a seasoned financial advisor with a decade of experience in financial services, specializing in comprehensive holistic planning for individuals, families, business owners, and working professionals. A Lynchburg native, Ben returned to Financial Designs, where he previously worked from 2015 to 2018, after completing his MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Lynchburg, following his undergraduate studies in sports management at Liberty University. 

Ben's passion lies in building strong client relationships and tackling complex financial situations, leveraging his expertise to develop tailored strategies for his clients' unique needs. Outside of his financial advisory work, Ben is deeply involved in his community, coaching Little League baseball in Forest and serving as the commissioner of baseball at Forest Youth Athletic Association.

In addition to his role as a financial advisor, Ben serves as an Adjunct Instructor for Liberty University Online. Prior to his current role with Financial Designs, Ben served as Assistant Vice President and Financial Advisor at First National Advisors. 

Throughout his career, Ben has honed his skills in investments, taxes, estate planning, cash flow planning, education savings, insurance, and retirement planning. He is committed to providing personalized guidance and comprehensive financial solutions to his clients, helping them achieve financial success and security.

As an experienced finance and accounting professional, David has spent over 36 years in a variety of financial and operational leadership roles. He is a change agent, constantly looking for ways to improve processes, lower costs, and gain efficiencies. David is excited to partner with the team at Financial Designs to work collaboratively with clients to meet their goals. 

David started his career in public accounting as an audit professional. From there, he moved into various corporate finance, accounting and operations roles, holding management positions in Bell Atlantic/Verizon, Crown Castle USA, Genworth and most recently as CFO of Moore’s Electrical & Mechanical. His experience spans the Telecom, Insurance, Manufacturing and Construction industries. His functional strengths include controllership, mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and systems integration. He has achieved millions of dollars in cost savings and departmental efficiencies throughout his career. David is a licensed CPA in Virginia.

David is an alumnus of the Virginia Military Institute and has a B.S. in Accounting from Albright College. David and his wife, Doreen are empty nesters and live in Lynchburg, VA. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. 

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*Authorized for accountancy services in Virginia. Not practicing on behalf of MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies

Amy Cleaver is an Investment Operations Coordinator at Financial Designs, adeptly bridging financial services and client satisfaction. With 15 years of investment professional experience in Dallas and Chicago, Amy efficiently implements investment plans in collaboration with clients and staff. Her responsibilities encompass coordinating paperwork and regulatory requirements, as well as facilitating asset transfers. Amy's industry knowledge allows her to anticipate challenges and address them proactively, ensuring a streamlined investment process.

Prior to Financial Designs, Amy pursued diverse paths. Armed with a degree in Vocal Performance from Bryan College, she contributed to the Dallas Symphony Chorus, even performing for the Queen, and is still active in music ministry at her church. 

Amy stepped away from finance temporarily to raise four children. She has called Lynchburg home since 2005 and celebrates 34 years of marriage to her husband, Ken. In 2021, Amy returned to the financial industry, drawn back to her passion after her children had grown. Her experiences in music, family, community involvement, and dedication to excellence converge in a professional who adds exceptional insight to Financial Designs.

Valarie brings over seven years of experience in advisor and client services, account management, and operational strategy to her role at Financial Designs. Formerly the Brokerage Account Maintenance Team Lead at MMLIS, she played a pivotal role in the MMLIS/GCC India collaboration project, serving as training lead and spearheading initiatives to streamline workflows, implement new technologies, and enhance client service delivery. With a strong focus on risk mitigation, cross-functional team leadership, and operational excellence, Valarie is known for her analytical mindset, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering exceptional results.

Based in Massachusetts, Valarie lives with her husband, Eric, and their 15-year-old son, Julius. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking, and collecting Starbucks merchandise. She is currently studying for her Life and Annuities license as well as the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam.

Lynn Slightham brings nine years of administrative and operational management experience to Financial Designs, where she coordinates meeting schedules, organizes data, supports clients and team members, and helps streamline operations. Lynn understands the important roles positivity and compassion play in providing the best client experience.

She holds a specialized honors Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from York University in Toronto, Canada, where she worked as a licensed real estate sales representative and served as an office coordinator for various firms. Lynn is skilled in graphic design, editing and SEO. She is also a certified Montessori Directress.

Lynn is passionate about community service, and previously received a Toronto regional “Volunteer of the Year” award for five years of dedicated service supporting terminally ill patients and their families at Hospice Thornhill. She served on the board of a cottager’s association and organized regattas and Red Cross swimming programs. Lynn was an active organizer of youth community sport leagues and had the pleasure of coaching Mites hockey.

Lynn now resides in the Forest area with her youngest daughter. When she isn’t at work, she enjoys exploring the trails, making glass art, writing poetry and music, and reading inspirational books. Lynn looks forward to serving the Forest community in future volunteer roles.

Phillip Deyerle is the Business Systems Manager at Financial Designs, where he brings a unique blend of financial insight, business operations experience, and a client-first approach. With a diverse background spanning scientific research, higher education, and business operations, Phillip brings a systems-focused mindset to improving both client and advisor experiences.

A Lynchburg native, Phillip earned his undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College and pursued graduate studies at George Mason University before completing his MBA at Southern New Hampshire University with a focus on Finance.

Prior to joining Financial Designs, Phillip served as Business Manager at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he oversaw financial operations, research administration, and strategic planning for core laboratories. His earlier career included technical roles in radiochemistry at UVA, polymer chemistry at The Lycra Company, and analytical chemistry at Abbott, giving him a strong foundation in process rigor and regulatory compliance.

Phillip now applies that same attention to detail and operational discipline to support the firm’s mission to deliver thoughtful, values-based planning. He is passionate about empowering teams through technology, data, and efficient processes.

Outside of work, Phil enjoys exploring entrepreneurial ventures, the Claytor Nature Center, contributing to the local community, and spending time with his family in the Lynchburg area.

As Marketing Director, Esther brings over a decade of experience in brand marketing and visual design. Prior to joining Financial Designs, she served as the Director of Brand Marketing for Virginia Episcopal School, where she oversaw all aspects of marketing strategy, planning and execution, branding, visual design, communications, photography and videography. Esther began her career in marketing and advertising agencies, working with renowned international brands like Foot Locker, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Delta Machinery, and KitchenAid. 

Esther holds a B.S. in Visual Communications with an emphasis in graphic design from Liberty University and an M.A. from the prestigious Business Design & Arts Leadership program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

In addition to her professional work, Esther is also deeply committed to making a positive impact in her community and the world. Currently, she serves as the Vice President and Director of Marketing & Development on the board of Empowering Quechuas, a US-based non-profit organization that operates in Peru.

Tigist Maxson serves as the Operations Administrator at Financial Designs, bringing valuable experience in operations. She is driven by a deep love for continuous learning, constantly seeking opportunities to expand her knowledge and refine her expertise.  

Tigist is currently pursuing a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Shenandoah University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Exercise Science. During her time at Shenandoah University, Tigist was a Resident Advisor (RA) and worked as a Front Desk Assistant in the President's Office. In this role, she handled administrative tasks and assisted with event planning. She also served as the President of the Student Government Association and was the Founder & President of the International Student Association.  

Prior to Financial Designs, Tigist gained experience in retail management, including roles as sales manager at Ulta Beauty and Beauty Consultant & Special Projects Assistant at JCPenney. She also worked as an Assistant Store Manager at Rue21. This background has provided her with skills in team leadership, customer engagement, and operational processes. Tigist is eager to sharpen her skills further at Financial Designs, contributing to the team while growing professionally within the financial services industry.  

Outside of work, she cherishes time spent with her family and friends, enjoys reading, crocheting, and going on walks.