David began his career in the investment business over 25 years ago. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree in 1980 and from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Memphis, with Juris Doctor Degree in 1985. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1986 and maintains an active practice emphasizing Tax and Estate Planning. In 2000, David joined a select group of attorneys admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and is considered one of the leading estate planning advisors in the nation.

David and his wife, Beth, have two children: Chris and Katie. Chris is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, and is the Camera Security Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Katie graduated from MTSU and is the Development Coordinator for the West Tennessee Chapter of JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

David has been an active member of his community and the local and national public school system for many years. Volunteerism, Community Engagement, Civic Leadership, and Philanthropic Investment have framed the pillars of his life over the past quarter century.  These same attributes are imbedded into the DNA of his businesses: The Pickler Law Firm, Pickler Wealth Advisors, Pickler Accounting Advisors, and Pickler & Bailey Financial Planning. As a community leader, David has helped shape his city through philanthropic work and foundation developments. He has helped raise millions through his involvement in MOSD (Memphis Oral School for the Deaf), JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America and Kiwanis International, and has built local scholarships and education foundations to assist both students and teachers. Because of his hands-on work in the community, David was recently named among the “25 Who Shaped Memphis” – a list containing the most influential individuals from the past 25 years who helped Memphis become what it is today.

Through his legacy of leadership, David has guided numerous organizations such as the Shelby County Board of Education, the Tennessee School Boards Association, and the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. He served as Governor of the Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District of Kiwanis, and was President of the Germantown Kiwanis Club.  He has served as a member of the Executive Board of the Chickasaw Council of Boy Scouts for over a decade, and also served as Vice President in that District. In May of 2011, Registered Rep magazine, the leading publication for Investment Advisors in the industry, honored David as recipient of the magazine’s 31st Annual Altruism Award, pronouncing him the “Children’s Advocate”. David was one of only ten named nationwide.

In 2008, David was elected to the National School Boards Association Board of Directors. The NSBA is the national advocacy organization representing over 90,000 locally-elected school board members and nearly 14,000 public school districts. In April of 2013, he was elected the 66th President of NSBA at the association’s Annual Conference. Through his presidency, David invigorated the association by reminding the NSBA members that they are both reform leaders and change agents. As Immediate Past President, David will continue to advocate for great public education in America.