National Guardsman, immigrant, Schwabbie; Dave Valdez does it all
National Guardsman, immigrant, Schwabbie; Dave Valdez does it all
When he was just five years old, Dave Valdez and his family emigrated from the Philippines to Alaska. By nine, he was a naturalized United States citizen.
“I grew up in Alaska and earned my undergraduate from Seattle University and later my MBA from the University of Alaska at Anchorage, where I met my wife,” says Dave. “I first started at Schwab as a Financial Consultant at the Anchorage branch and eventually was the Branch Manager there.”
Dave’s wife works in healthcare, and due to the nature of her career, the family—which now includes two-year-old Hudson—has moved several times. After leading the Anchorage Branch, Dave and his family transitioned to Las Vegas, where he worked in the Learning and Development Team.
“Schwab has been very supportive of my career and the decisions I’ve needed to make for my family,” remarks Dave. “Schwab has also been very supportive of my military career. The firm has really provided me the latitude to flourish as a member of the Alaska Air National Guard.”
In what Dave calls a unique position, he serves as part of the Joint Force Headquarters, the combined power and presence of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. Major Dave Valdez, as he’s known in that world, has given 10 years of service and hopes to give many more.
“This country has given me everything and I’ve always felt indebted to serve,” says Dave. “I need to give back and serve this country that’s blessed me and my family with so much. It also means the world to me that Schwab has such a high respect for those who serve and allows me the opportunity to grow both in my financial services career and my military life.”
These days, Dave is back in the Pacific Northwest working as a relationship manager in Advisor Services in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue. His new role includes managing a collection of regional institutional clients and helping them grow strategically – whether it’s in terms of technology, personnel or opportunity. He’s also an active member of Schwab’s Military Veterans Network, where he has the chance to build relationships with other Schwabbies who are serving or have served our country.
“I’m just so thrilled to be at Schwab. I love the firm and how the firm supports its clients and employees,” says Dave. “I’m proud to serve our country and our clients.”