For Jerry L. Spivey, CLU, CFP, RICP, a career in financial services began with a chance encounter and a question that changed the course of his life.
A recruiter with New York Life had approached one of Jerry’s high school friends about a career opportunity. His friend politely declined, but the recruiter followed up with a simple question: “Well, do you know anyone else who might be interested?” That person turned out to be Jerry.
More than four decades later, Jerry is still going strong. A loyal NAIFA member since 1985, he now works with retirees, pre-retirees and small businesses through Spivey Financial Group, helping business owners, key employees and frontline workers navigate their financial needs.
Although his entry into the profession was unexpected, financial services was already part of Jerry’s family story. His father, Leo Spivey, spent 50 years in the debit insurance business as an agent, trainer and district manager and served as president of the Savannah chapter of NALU in the 1970s. Jerry admired his father’s accomplishments and occasionally helped with events sponsored by the organization that would eventually become NAIFA.
Some of Jerry’s earliest lessons about the profession came from an even simpler experience. As a young boy, he would help his father count his collection money each night: pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters. Those evenings taught Jerry an enduring lesson about the importance of respecting money and, even more importantly, respecting other people’s money.
When Jerry considered making financial services his career, he was attracted to several aspects of the business. One of the most important was flexibility. At the time, Jerry had children who were 5 and 1 year old. Being available for them was a priority. He found that the profession allowed him to schedule their activities first and then build his work schedule around his family’s needs.
That flexibility, along with the opportunity to continually develop his professional knowledge, has remained one of the things Jerry enjoys most about his career. He also appreciates that success is closely tied to the value he provides to the companies he represents and, ultimately, his clients.
Jerry’s commitment to NAIFA has also remained strong throughout his career. He points to the organization’s educational resources, speakers, professional contacts and advocacy efforts as important contributors to his success. His father’s involvement in NALU made joining NAIFA a natural decision, and New York Life’s longstanding support of the association reinforced that connection.
For Jerry, however, NAIFA advocacy is much more than a benefit of membership. He has seen firsthand how legislative and regulatory issues can affect financial professionals and their clients. Issues such as the tax treatment of permanent life insurance, fiduciary rules and best-interest regulations have all had the potential to significantly affect his business and the people he serves.
Over the years, Jerry has attended numerous Congressional Conferences, enjoying the opportunity to build camaraderie with fellow NAIFA members while meeting elected officials and establishing relationships with their offices.
He also believes that being engaged in the community is an important part of being a financial professional.
For nearly 30 years, Jerry’s cousin has hosted LEAP, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a large barbecue in South Georgia that draws between 1,000 and 1,500 people, including sheriffs, local and statewide elected officials and candidates. Jerry sees the event as a valuable opportunity to connect with people from across the state’s political and community landscape and build relationships. Jerry says seeing a politician in another environment always reinforces the fact that your collective interests overlap.
After more than 40 years in the business, Jerry continues to approach his career with the same commitment to learning and hard work that has defined his professional journey.
When asked what advice he would give someone considering a career in financial services, his answer is refreshingly straightforward.
“It’s not for everyone,” Jerry says, but he believes the formula for success is relatively simple: “Learning, working, modeling, working, studying, working and working, practicing, and working.”
In other words, success comes from learning the business, learning from others, putting in the work and continuing to practice your craft.
It is an approach that has served him well.
For Jerry, membership is part of a much larger professional legacy, one that began with his father, grew through his own career and continues through his commitment to clients, colleagues and the financial services profession.
From counting pennies and quarters alongside his father to meeting with elected officials on Capitol Hill, Jerry’s career has been grounded in a simple principle: respect what people entrust to you, keep learning and stay engaged.
Securities and Registered Investment Advisory Services offered through Silver Oak Securities, Inc. (SOSI), Member FINRA/SIPC. SOSI and Spivey Financial Group are not affiliated.