Brian Hill loves to explore parks and trails with his wife, Caitlin, and their four children, Mason, Jake, Beckett, and Cora. The family spent four weeks driving across the country in 2019 and they had an amazing adventure. They unplugged and didn’t bring tablets, DVDs, or electronics for the boys. “We did it old school with books and games, and the boys loved it.”

Brian was fascinated by finances at an early age. Growing up in a middle-class family, he knew if he wanted something beyond the necessities, he had to work to pay for it. He began college as a marketing major but switched to finance and never looked back. “I was enthralled by investments and the financial markets from that point forward,” says Brian.

His first job out of college was selling mutual funds, but he quickly learned he was not cut out to be a salesperson, so he left to work for a bank where he helped clients with their investment portfolios. “This is where I learned the importance of financial planning. To this day, I find the greatest fulfillment in my work when I help solve a complex problem for my clients.”

Candor and honesty are the personality traits Brian relies on the most to perform his job. “Having all of the financial aptitudes in the world isn’t useful if you can’t honestly share the best recommendations with your clients. Sometimes you must tell someone that they can’t retire at a certain age, or they may need to decrease their spending or work longer. Those are hard conversations to have, but you need to be honest to help them reach their goals.”

Brian’s credentials include:

• Bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst University with a concentration in finance
• MBA from Robert Morris University
• Insurance licensed in life, health, and disability insurance in PA, WV, OH, SC, and NC
• Earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification or CFP^® Certification