Dr. Gregory McBride, Ph.D. • Cantonment, FL
American Heritage Financial • OneAmerica Securities, Inc.
I was raised in a faith-based family and have always been involved with the church. My grandfather, a Baptist preacher, was a big influence in my life. He and my grandmother also managed a home that cared for foster children.
During my college years at the University of Southern Mississippi, I was president of the Baptist student union. Over more than 30 years, I have been a pastor, an educator, and a church leader in a variety of settings. I earned a master’s in divinity and a doctor of philosophy degree in theological education from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I was trained in guiding people to make better life decisions.
One of the most dreaded sermons to preach and listen to is one on tithing, or as most people refer to it, “money.” Nobody likes to hear advice from a clergyman about what they should do with their money.
Preparing for one of these sermons sparked my gradual transition to a new career. After years of preaching from a Baptist pulpit—occasionally about money—I began to realize a few things.
First, there aren’t many good resources available to help people become good stewards of their money. Money is a private affair in America, and everyone keeps it under wraps. Second, much of the advice given by the financial-services industry has little to do with stewardship.
As stewards, we are entrusted with capital to responsibly use, share, and manage for growth. It is not unusual for someone to start with limited financial resources and to use their life to produce something significant. A good steward grows what they earned so that, at the end of their life, they have more to give back than what they started with. This is a great message for a sermon on money, but it’s an even better lesson for those figuring out what to do with their money. I left the pulpit to help fill this void and add value to people’s lives through financial stewardship education and guidance.
In 2013, with the support of my financial advisor, I became licensed to start a career helping people make better decisions with their money. I joined his firm and greatly appreciate the mentorship I received, gaining proficiency as a financial advisor. After three years, I joined a larger financial-services firm, American Heritage Financial, which offers comprehensive services and support for professionals and their clients.
Related Article: Advisors embrace values-based investing and financial planning
I am passionate about meeting and serving people from all walks of life. I think my background in ministry has honed my ability to listen to people empathetically. This skill, combined with my financial training, allows me to help people solve their financial problems, find and cultivate suitable opportunities, and seek to improve their lives.
A few truths inform the way I approach my advisory practice. I believe prior generations helped build this country and its manufacturing economy with tremendous effort, ultimately passing unlimited opportunity to the baby boomer generation. Baby boomers were integral to the shift to a more services- and technology-oriented economy. They have accumulated the greatest amount of wealth of any generation and are now aging into retirement. They are about to transfer this wealth to a generation that may or may not be equipped to handle it well as responsible stewards. My mission is to help both the retiring boomer generation and younger generations that follow to be better stewards of their finances.
As a financial advisor, the theme of stewardship informs everything I do with clients. This includes (1) helping clients figure out what is truly most meaningful to their lives and values as they approach retirement planning; (2) looking at wealth accumulation and investments not only from a return perspective but also in terms of accountability for investment choices; and (3) making ethical and efficient choices regarding tax minimization, protection of assets, and legacy planning.
Disclosure: Securities offered through OneAmerica Securities, Inc., a registered investment advisor, member FINRA, SIPC. American Heritage Financial LLC is not an affiliate of OneAmerica Securities or the companies of OneAmerica Financial and is not a broker-dealer or registered investment advisor. The provided content is for overview and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be relied upon as individualized tax, legal, fiduciary, or investment advice. Neither OneAmerica Securities, the companies of OneAmerica Financial, American Heritage Financial LLC, nor their representatives provide tax or legal advice. For answers to specific questions and before making any decisions, please consult a qualified attorney or tax advisor.
Photography by Corey Woodruff
