Allen Phillips
Elegant Island Living recently sat down with Brunswick Financial Advisor Allen Phillips of Phillips Wealth Management to learn more about this hometown broker, the services he provides, and his love for the community he calls home.
EIL: When you say you’re “local,” what does that really mean?
AP: My family moved to the area when I was 2 years old. I have lived all over Glynn County. I went to Brunswick Christian Academy as a small child but graduated from Brunswick High School in 1993. I later attended Georgia Southern University and came back to the area following graduation and have been here ever since.
EIL: Can you tell us about your family?
AP: I met my wife in college. She has been a special needs teacher in the Glynn County School system for 18 years. Our beautiful daughter is currently enrolled at Frederica Academy. And I guess I should also include our fur baby, a beagle named Sadie that we adopted a few years ago.
EIL: What was your background before opening your own firm?
AP: I have been in the investment and financial planning field for over 21 years. I have worked at some of the largest names on Wall Street, primarily through the private bank departments of those firms. In 2018, I decided that I’d had enough of corporate America. I partnered up with LPL Financial, which is one of the largest independent broker dealers in the U.S., and started my own firm, Phillips Wealth Management.
EIL: What services do you provide?
AP: I offer the following services to my clients: IRA and 401k options; retirement strategies with a focus on income; trust and estate work; education savings; insurance protection; cash flow strategies, including debt restructuring; and charitable giving
EIL: What is your investment philosophy?
AP: The most important thing that a financial advisor can do is listen to their clients. Not everyone has the same goals or level of risk that they are willing to take. It is important to discuss those things first before ever making any types of recommendations. The other thing that I am very big on is client education. You would be surprised at how many people that I meet when we are doing our initial interview with them who have no idea what they own, why they own it, or how that investment works. We take the time to help them be able to answer those questions. And from there we start to build a strategy that meets their specific needs. I believe that is what sets us apart from many others. Everything that we do is customized for that specific client. We set the expectations for our new clients that we treat their needs as a process and not an event.
EIL: Where are you located downtown?
AP: We are located at 777 Gloucester Street in Suite #301. We have recently obtained some additional space located adjacent to my current location and will be adding to our existing office in the next few months to make room for some additional staff.
EIL: Why did you decide to return to the area and set up shop in downtown Brunswick?
AP: When I was growing up, my father drove me to school in the mornings on his way into work. His office was also on the waterfront downtown. Many mornings as we drove in the sun would be coming up behind the old Lanier Bridge. He would sometimes say, “We are so blessed to be able to live here in such a beautiful place. People save up all year just to come on vacation here and we get to enjoy it every day.” I guess that stuck with me. I have had opportunities in my career to move to other areas. I just never wanted to give up my hometown.
EIL: What do you do in your spare time?
AP: What is spare time? When you’re self-employed, there’s no such thing! I’m just kidding! Growing up in the area, I discovered there are three things you can do here: hunt, boat, and play golf. I happen to be the worst golfer that ever lived, so I try to focus on the other two. I am also involved in a few nonprofit organizations that raise money for local charities in our community.
To contact Allen for a consultation or to learn more about services provided by Phillips Wealth Management, call 912.342.7373 or visit phillipswealthmgt.com.
