Our Story
Built by a cop, for the people who get it.
15 years on patrol taught Ryan Skaggs things no finance textbook covers. That experience is the foundation of The Shield Finance.
Ryan Skaggs, Founder
Full-time police officer, major Indiana university, since 2011 · MS Finance, Kelley School (2025)
About Ryan
The Shield Finance was founded in 2026 by Ryan Skaggs.
Ryan has been a full-time police officer at a major university in Indiana since 2011. During that time he’s had incredible experiences — handling two explosive-detection K9s (Zeus and Cash), serving as Indiana Men’s Basketball team security since 2014, and spending the majority of his career as a field training officer shaping the next generation of officers.
And in all those years, he noticed the same pattern: officers finishing field training and immediately financing a $70,000 truck. First real job, finally making real money — and nobody ever taught them what to do with it.
That’s where the idea for The Shield Finance was born.
Ryan spent the better part of the last eight years building toward this moment. He earned a Master’s of Science in Adult Education from the Indiana University School of Education, then a Master’s of Science in Finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business (completed 2025).
“Money is a tool to support your life plan. Our job is to help you figure out what you want from your life — then build the financial system that gets you there.”
- MS Finance · Indiana University Kelley School of Business (2025)
- MS Adult Education · Indiana University School of Education
- Full-time police officer since 2011
- K9 Handler — Zeus & Cash (Explosive Detection)
- Men’s Basketball Team Security since 2014
- Field Training Officer — majority of career
- Fee-only · Fiduciary · Registered Investment Adviser — State of Indiana
Our Mission
If you serve your community, you already carry enough stress. Your finances shouldn’t add to it.
The Shield Finance provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services built specifically for first responders and their families. We help clients plan their money and plan their lives. We believe money is a tool — and our goal is to help you use it to move closer to your personal vision, every single day.
Transparency
Fee-Only. Fiduciary. Registered.
The Shield Finance is a fee-only Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Indiana (CRD #341345). Ryan Skaggs serves as the firm’s sole Investment Adviser Representative and Chief Compliance Officer.
As a fiduciary, we are legally obligated to act in your best interest — always. We don’t earn commissions, receive referral fees, or sell financial products. Our only compensation is what you pay us directly.
Nothing shared on this website constitutes personalized investment advice. Advisory services are provided only under a formal client agreement.
Get Started
Ready to take control of your financial future?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. No commitment, no sales pitch — just an honest conversation.