Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. While we may start off in one career, our experiences might show us other areas we want to pursue or open doors to new opportunities. That is exactly how I found my way into my career as a financial advisor. When I first started working for Wellstone Wealth Management, I was their operations manager. At the time I did not know much about what a financial planner did, but as I got more involved in managing the advisors’ accounts and met clients, I became more interested in financial planning and how it could make a difference in people’s lives. I realized I could help people with my knowledge, skills, and passion to see them lead a life of meaning and purpose. This eventually led me to earn my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification (CFP®) and become a financial planner.
Building My Career
I first became an advisor in 2007, although I have worked in this profession since 2000. I started with this firm as the Chief Operations Officer then earned my CFP® from The American College of Financial Services in 2006. In 2013 I became the Managing Member and second-generation owner of Wellstone Wealth Management and continue that role today.
As a Life-Centered Financial Planner and Managing Member, my focus is on providing clients with a “return on life” in addition to a return on their investments. I have seen and learned a lot over the years, and an important realization I have come to is that there is a much more effective approach to financial planning, which we appropriately call Return on Life (ROL).
Using this approach, the money is there to serve you, not vice versa. Instead of focusing on someone else’s definition of success, you get to write your own. This ROL approach puts quality before quantity by managing assets in a way that improves lives and helps provide financial confidence and peace of mind. I do this by helping clients answer the question, “How can I live the best life possible with the money I have?” This puts the client at the center of their financial plan—not their money.
Why I Love What I Do
The most fulfilling part of my job is watching clients have success. I find it hugely rewarding to help people create financial confidence and peace of mind so they can focus on living a life of meaning and purpose. I believe a fulfilled life does not revolve around money, but money is simply a means to an end; more than money, retirement is about well-being, progress, and freedom. I have studied the transition to retirement and I know I can help people develop a plan that places their life, rather than their money, at the center of the conversation. When that happens, I know I have made an impact, and there is no better feeling in the world!
The Next Step
Pursuing and achieving financial and retirement goals is much easier when you are not alone in the process. A helpful guide and trusted advocate can make all the difference. If you are interested in learning more about our unique life-centered approach to financial and retirement planning, I encourage you to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting by contacting us at 503-594-1210 or gallen@wellstoneweatlh.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
About Greg
Greg Allen is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Life-Centered Financial Planner, Managing Member, and second-generation owner of Wellstone Wealth Management, a life-centered financial planning firm that takes a unique Return on Life (ROL) approach to help their clients live the best life possible with the money they have. With over 20 years of experience, Greg holds fast to his mission of helping clients plan their finances around their lives, instead of the other way around, resulting in fulfillment, confidence, and a meaningful life. Greg also provides a caring, trusted long-term relationship and life-centered financial behavioral counseling. He specializes in working with people who have recently retired or are close to it (typically five years or less) and relates well to corporate executives and upper-management couples who often have complicated financial pictures and need help maximizing their wealth, reducing their taxes, and preparing for retirement so they can maintain their ideal lifestyle.
When he’s not helping his clients find meaning and purpose, you can find Greg spending time with his friends and family, especially his wife, Sandy, children, and grandchildren. As a native Oregonian, Greg loves the outdoors, visiting the Oregon Coast, and retreating to their family cabin in the mountains. He enjoys staying involved with his church, reading, watching sports, and anything to do with exercise and wellness. To learn more about Greg, connect with him on LinkedIn.