Business beat

By Staff
July 11, 2004
Meridian native receives national honors
ATLANTA Certified Financial Planner Kay R. Shirley, a Meridian native, and president of Financial Development Corp./Mutual Service Corp., has received two significant national honors.
Shirley is ranked No. 1 as the best female financial planner in the Southeast; Women's Winner's Circle, a supplement to Research magazine, puts her at No. 8 nationally.
This is the highest ranking given to any family financial advisor in the Southeast. The ranking notes that her specialties include universal retirement planning, money management, asset allocation and comprehensive financial planning.
The rankings were compiled by author R.J. Shook, who founded the Winner's Circle organization. The Winner's Circle is devoted to promoting best practices within the financial planning industry.
The magazine quotes Mutual Service Corp. President John W. Poff congratulating Shirley: "She is outstanding in her profession, as well as an icon in her community. Along with admiration of her MSC peers, she has earned the respect of her many clients."
In addition, Shirley and her firm, Financial Development Corp., ( a registered investment advisory firm), have received Mutual Service Corporation's 2003 Leadership Award.
The award recognizes the financial planner whose office consistently delivers exceptional client service and industry leadership.
MSC is one of the nation's largest full-service financial planning independent broker/dealers, providing investments and support to more than 1,600 independent financial advisors in all 50 states.
The award was bestowed at MSC's national conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. last month.
Great Southern elects Rickles as network administration officer
Great Southern National Bank has announced the election of Meridian native Les Rickles to network administration officer.
Rickles is a 1995 graduate of Meridian High School. He served in the Mississippi Air National Guard from 1995 until 2001 as an electronic switching and maintenance technician.
Rickles began his career with Great Southern National Bank in 1999 as a computer specialist. He attended Microsoft School and earned a Microsoft Certified Professional degree in 2000.
Rickles is a member of the Meridian Lions Club and a supporter of the United Way of East Mississippi, the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. He and his wife, Amanda, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Cateland