David's professional career began in 1982 when he obtained his CPA and worked as an auditor and then tax accountant with Price Waterhouse in Chicago. From 1985 to 2007 he was a financial advisor with Smith Barney, Inc., where he was a Senior Vice President, a Senior Investment Management Consultant, and a member of the firm's Chairman's Council since 1990. He is now a Director at Private Banking USA, a division of Credit Suisse and a principal of the Hirsch-Kelly Group. His clients include foundations, endowments, and high net worth individuals. He prides himself on taking a consultative approach in a product-driven industry. He was recognized by Crain's Chicago Business in 1994 as one of the 40 under 40 and by Registered Representative Magazine in 1995 as one of the country's Outstanding Brokers. In 2000 he received the John Stanford Education Heroes Award from the U.S. Department of Education. In 2005 the Illinois CPA Society recognized David with its Distinguished Public Service Award. In 2007, he was recognized as one of three Fathers of the Year, by Illinois Fatherhood Initiative. He completed the 2009 Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon.