About Us
We are a fiduciary fee based Investment Advisory firm that specializes in full service, comprehensive financial planning. We work with our clients to preserve their hard earned money, maximize income during retirement, minimize financial risks and effectively preserve family wealth. Our planning includes general advising, tax strategies, asset allocation, medical/long term care, inflation/income planning, real estate, equities, fixed income, life insurance planning, and personal insurance.
Blue and Gray Financial is an independent financial planning firm that is not limited by a one size fits all philosophy. We are fiduciary financial advisers which means we look out for your interest… not ours..
Our History
Grandma’s House
At the time, Sean was an Marine Corps Officer serving in the Infantry. It was while he on leave (vacation) visiting his Mother (Grandma’s House), that Sean first hand that many retirees that were into their 70s and higher were either broke or struggling tremendously. He found that most of the people he spoke with thought they have saved enough money over their lifetime to live comfortably in their retirement, but they didn’t know what they didn’t know. He also found that a handful of retirees had plenty of money and truly enjoyed their retirement. One gentleman told Sean that “having enough income to live comfortably in your golden years is extremely important for your quality of life and way more important than having it while you are younger.” He went on to say that he was lucky because he spoke with a financial advisor when he was younger, and they came up with a lifetime plan to ensure he was taken care of during his retirement. It was during this time, that Sean developed his passion for financial advisement and started his financial education.
After Fighting In Iraq…
Sean continued his financial education, but was sidelined for a bit when he was sent to Iraq to fight for his country. He was actively engaged in some of the toughest combat action the Marine Corps had seen since the Vietnam era, and led over 200 men into battle on a daily basis. Now a combat hardened Marine, Sean was sent to Quantico VA to train newly minted Officers to become basically trained professional Marine Corps Officers. Sean soon learned of the overwhelming college debt these young leaders had incurred while going through college, so he began to show the young Officers how to pay off their student loans by changing a few small things in their current lifestyle. Considering these young men and women were getting by on military pay, this was no small effort.
A New Beginning…
As the line of people that needed help with their finances grew, Sean retired from the Marine Corps and settled in Fredericksburg VA. He developed a true sense of the problems that a regular middle class family faces on a daily basis. He found that very few people, including those with a decent pension plan, had a good plan to create enough income in their retirement, and they were on the very path that he came across while on vacation in Arizona years earlier… they would not have enough money to live a comfortably while in retirement in their golden years, and they didn’t even know it. They had a plan they thought was good, but the plan was not sufficient and if they just tweaked a few things, most would have been fine. He then made it his mission in life to help as many people as he possibly could.
Educational Workshops
He decided the best way to reach the most amount of people was to host educational workshops and in the community. The workshops cover a variety of issues, but they mostly focus on proper financial planning. He is able to help show people simple techniques on accomplishing financial goals such as showing parents how to pay off a home 5-10 years early, paying for their kids’ college education, how to reap the upside of the market without the downside risk, how to maximize a tax free retirement, how to preserve the money that has been saved in an IRA, TSP, Mutual Fund, 401(k) and other investments, and how to make ensure you don’t run out of money while in retirement. Most of the workshop attendees ask to meet with Sean privately, and he does so free of charge.
“I believe that by putting our clients first and accomplishing their financial goals is the best way to serve our community. Middle class families work exceptionally hard. We are fiduciary financial advisers which means we look out for our clients best interests.”
-Sean J Schickel
Some Focus Areas
“Fiduciary”… it’s not just a word, it’s what we do for people everyday. Can we help you? Let’s find out. Call us at (540) 300-9684.
Why Blue and Gray Financial?
Fiduciary
Being a Fiduciary means we put our clients interests first… not ours. We are fee-based only. This means our clients typically save thousands within their portfolio and adds to their bottom line so they have more money during retirement.
Holistic
Every family has a unique situation so there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We begin by listening to you about your financial goals and finding out how we might be able to help you. We then develop a long term, thoroughly holistic financial plan around your goals, and show you how to implement the plan.
How to Work With Us
Simple… call us at (540) 300-9684.