Founders Financial, Inc. - Officer Cabinet

The Founders Financial Officer Cabinet Team works to support the needs of all Members.

Michael O. Brooks
Chief Executive Officer, Founders Financial

Bradley M. Shepherd, ChFC
President, Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC

Randy Farnum
CFO/FinOp, Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC

Richard Briggs
Chief Compliance Officer

Helen A. Crouse
Director of Operations

Brian Daugherty, CLU, ChFC
Director of Risk Management - Product Solutions

Shaun Kane
Member Services Representative

Kerry Hayward
Member Services Representative

Daniel J. Donovan
Donovan & Rainie, LLC

Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Trading Desk

Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Service Support

Founders Financial Securities, LLC Member FINRA, SIPC Technology Support

Michael O. Brooks
Chief Executive Officer
Founders Financial, Inc.

Michael Brooks is the chief executive officer of Founders Financial, Inc. A veteran in the financial services industry, Michael founded the organization and is responsible for the continued growth and vision of the corporation.

Michael is dedicated to providing independent professional financial advisors a single-point relationship that celebrates the growth and representation of their practice through the common resources provided at Founders Financial. Under his leadership, the organization, through the development of its independent member firms, grossed $225 million in sales in 2005. As a result, the firm was named one of the area's leading companies for future growth, by a Maryland-based CEO publication.

Michael is called to participate in the affairs of many industry-related professional organizations and the community. He is a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, The International Association of Financial Planners, Million Dollar Round Table, the Financial Planning Association of Maryland, Association of Advanced Life Underwriters and the Estate Planning Association. He has also written articles for many industry-related publications. Michael is a past board member of Literacy Works, an adult literacy organization in Baltimore, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Maryland and the Board of Trustees at Calvert Hall College. He continues to serve as the Chairman of a local charitable golf event and banquet to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and is on the Board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Maryland/Delaware. Michael holds a degree from Towson University in finance and economics.

Bradley M. Shepherd, ChFC
President, Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC

Bradley M. Shepherd entered the financial planning industry more than 15 years ago and is currently the President of Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC. In this role, Brad is responsible for the vision, direction, and overall management of the broker-dealer. Additionally, his focuses include membership development, recruiting, practice management and marketing.

Brad sits on the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals, and has served as Vice President for the Financial Planning Association of Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Dickinson College and the degree of Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College. Brad holds the Series 6, 7, 4, 24, 53, 63 and 65 licenses from the National Association of Securities Dealers.

Randy Farnum
CFO/FinOp, Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC

Randy serves as the CFO/FinOp of Founders Financial Securities, LLC (FFS), Member FINRA, SIPC, the broker/dealer of Founders Financial, Inc. In this position he manages the overall financial reporting for FFS and acts as the primary interface with any internal and external professional resources, all regulatory agencies and any other parties as it may relate to the broker/dealer financial management functions.

Randy began his professional career in 1982 and over the years has held a number of executive positions in the commercial banking and financial services industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Business Administration from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Finance with the Sellinger School of Business, Loyola College and the School of Professional Studies on Business and Education, Johns Hopkins University.

Richard Briggs
Chief Compliance Officer/Chief Operations Officer

Richard Briggs serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operations Officer for Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC. While his role is vast and varied, some of Richard's responsibilities include ensuring the company's compliance with securities laws, rules, and regulations; investigating the qualifications, and experience of applicants for registration; maintaining all administrative records for the company, as well as reviewing those of each registered office; reviewing and approving transactions, accounts, and correspondence to ensure ethical business practices; and supervising the company's continuing education program. Richard joined the financial services industry in 1995 and Founders Financial in October 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University.

Helen A. Crouse
Director of Operations

As Director of Operations for Founders Financial, Helen is instrumental in all of the business' internal strategic operations. She is a member of the Executive Staff and serves as secretary to the Board.

Helen began her career in the financial services industry in 1986 and has worked in agency and independent advisory environments. Helen has been a critical member of the Founders Financial team, since the company's inception in 1992. Helen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Baltimore.

Brian Daugherty, CLU, ChFC
Director of Risk Management - Product Solutions

As Director of Risk Management Product Solutions for Founders Financial, Brian is responsible for the successful positioning of all Life Insurance products. Brian provides Member Firms and affiliated organizations with the knowledge, marketing direction and sales support necessary to excel. He and his team are focused on product design solutions and advocate business for Members of Founders Financial, representing them throughout the underwriting process.

Brian holds a Business degree from the University of Baltimore. Prior to joining Founders Financial in April 2001, Brian was the Brokerage Manager for Security House, Inc., which joined Capital Synergies, Inc. in 1999.

Shaun Kane
Member Services Representative

Shaun Kane joined Founders Financial in April, 2006 as a Member Services Representative supporting Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC. Responsible for day-to-day business operations and seamless service delivery, Shaun works directly with Members, providing personalized attention and ensuring smooth transaction execution. Shaun joined the financial service industry in 2003 and is currently completing his BA in Business from the University of Phoenix.

Kerry Hayward
Member Services Representative

As a Member Services Representative, Kerry is responsible for coordinating and managing all aspects of the new Member Development and Recruiting program. She is also responsible for the coordination and execution of the many facets of the New Member Firm Transition Program while providing guidance to all Member Firms and their office personnel on their day-to-day questions. Additionally, Kerry’s responsibilities include providing administrative support for the appointment/licensing of all Members, the preparation of branch audits/inspections for Founders Financial Securities, LLC (FFS), Member FINRA, SIPC coordinating advisory board meetings, and providing support on the coordination of the annual Founders Financial National Conference. Kerry joined the financial services industry in April 2007 after a successful career in school administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Towson University.

Daniel J. Donovan
Donovan & Rainie, LLC

Daniel Donovan serves as corporate counsel for Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC. Mr. Donovan is co-founder of Donovan & Rainie, LLC, a Baltimore, Maryland-based law firm primarily serving the needs of broker-dealers and their employees, and other financial services providers. Mr. Donovan began his career in 1982 and concentrates his practice in corporate and securities law, including securities arbitration and litigation.

Mr. Donovan is a summa cum laude graduate of the State University of New York and Boston University School of Law. Prior to helping form Donovan & Rainie in 2002, he held senior legal counsel and compliance roles at several major investment banking and retail securities brokerage firms, including E.F. Hutton & Co., Cowen & Co., Alex Brown & Sons Incorporated and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as well as a New York City litigation firm. Mr. Donovan is a regular speaker at membership meetings of the National Association of Compliance Professionals, the SIA Legal & Compliance Division and at American Conference Institute seminars. Mr. Donovan is admitted to practice law in Maryland, Massachusetts and New York, before the United States District Courts for the Districts of Maryland and Massachusetts, the Southern and Eastern districts of New York and before the United States Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Legal and Compliance Division of the Securities Industry Association.

Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Trading Desk
The experienced traders behind Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Trading Desk hold Series 7 licenses and leverage not only their extensive knowledge of the industry, but also state-of-the art technology to quickly and efficiently execute orders. Our team employs NetExchange Pro software to trade stocks, bonds, and mutual funds online. In addition to executing trades and providing stock quotes, our advisors assist in a variety of other ways, including laddering bond portfolios, helping facilitate voluntary stock reorganizations, executing employee stock options, processing variable annuities, and notifying representatives of option assignments.

Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Service Support
The Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Service Support team boasts a combined 50 years experience in brokerage, insurance, trust and banking. A single source of service solutions for registered advisors and their assistants, this team answers and resolves inquiries and processing requests within 24 hours, on average.

Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Technology Support
With all of the technology available today, it can be difficult to determine which options will work best for your business. The Founders Financial Securities, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC Technology Support team can help. Depending on your business niche or model, this group of professionals can assist you in finding the computer and software solutions to better serve your clients and grow your business.

Shared Resources. Shared Values. - Founders Financial, Inc.