Skip West has been in the finance sector for over 20 years. He is the current owner and major financial advisor at West Financial Group in Wildwood, Florida.
Current Role and Responsibilities:
West Financial Group’s president, CEO, and primary financial advisor is Skip. West Financial Group, established in 2003, is a boutique-sized independent financial planning organization specializing in assisting retirees and pre-retirees in developing long-term financial goals. Retirement income planning, retirement tax strategies, life insurance and annuities, and legacy and estate planning are all services provided by the firm. West Financial Group is located in Sumter County’s The Villages Retirement Community.
Academic and Professional Background:
West earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1972. He’s always run his own company. He developed his interest for financial planning and has worked as a financial advisor for numerous decades. He has recently created a niche in assisting retirees in living the life of their dreams. He is also a writer.
Professional Qualifications and Experience:
Skip West is knowledgeable in a wide range of financial planning and advising services, such as retirement planning, budgeting, taxes, legacy planning, and estate planning. He also assists clients in determining their insurance requirements, such as life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance.
Providing individualized service is a critical component of his company model. He collaborates with clients to create customized strategies based on their desired retirement lifestyle. For example, they can choose to travel, volunteer, take a “retirement job,” or simply relax. He also advises seniors and soon-to-be retirees on how to reduce their tax bills during retirement and in what they leave to their heirs.
He routinely gives seminars and teleconferences in addition to counseling clients one-on-one. Topics covered include:
defending oneself against stock market risk
defending retirement against rising taxation
how to have a lifetime income while overcoming the fear of uncertainty
ways to spend less time chasing the green and more time on it
Is it feasible to retire debt-free?
Women’s Retirement Strategies
How to avoid outliving your money.
The seminars are frequently free.
Despite living in a retirement home, West continues to attend continuing education activities and stay informed on current affairs. During the pandemic, for example, he researched and provided resources on the CARES Act and its modifications and annuities.
Values and Childhood :
Skip West was born in Greenville, South Carolina, but eventually relocated to Arkansas. He graduated from Monticello High School. His father instilled in him a creed that has fueled his success throughout his life. “Do more for others than they do for you, no matter what,” the motto goes. At West Financial, he puts this concept into action by empathizing with and personally supporting clients. For example, he knows the emotional turmoil that comes with figuring out what will happen to your estate when you die. Through preparation, he assists customers in navigating that difficult moment.
West also believes that having a healthy mind and body is a gift that must be managed. He works to maintain his mind and body fit and sharp via faith and discipline as part of fulfilling those tasks.
Philanthropy and Charitable Contribution:
Giving back to the community is a core element in his life. His particular interest is in promoting financial literacy in his community. He also believes that everyone should have a retirement income plan and works to assist them in creating one. Many of his seminars are free of charge. He and West Financial Group also provide a number of free resources and consultations centered on retirement preparation. West Financial Group’s website, as well as his personal Twitter and Facebook profiles, provide free materials.
Achievements and accomplishments :
West and West Financial have garnered numerous awards. He is “personable,” according to one client, and “truly knows his clientele… “He makes me feel special, takes care of my business, and gives me fantastic advise.”
Another pair appreciates the activities he organizes for them to mingle with other clients who share their interests. They like him because he is polite and provides personalized care. “With Skip, you don’t feel like a number. He’s really approachable and puts you at ease.”
Another client describes him as her “finance man.”
Still, another client claims that he pays close attention to their wants and needs. “In how he monitors each account, we considered him to be sincere and informed.”
Hobbies and interests:
Skip West practices the retirement lifestyle he advocates for his clients. He enjoys running and golf. He has a wife, children, and grandchildren. His grandchildren live in Florida as well, near Port St. Lucie, and one of his granddaughters is an enthusiastic golfer. Skip and his wife are currently residents of The Villages. West is a great admirer of The Villages, which he promotes on social media.
Skip West 