Guiding Your Financial Voyage with Trust and Expertise
About Us
Welcome to First Sentinel Financial Services, where your financial well-being is our top priority. We are committed to delivering exceptional financial advisory services built upon the fundamental principles of integrity, education, and guardianship. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve their financial goals and secure their futures with confidence.
Integrity
The cornerstone of our approach is unwavering integrity. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring that every recommendation we provide is rooted in honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to our clients’ best interests. Building trust and reliability is paramount to us, as we aim to foster lasting relationships founded on integrity.
Education
We believe that knowledge is the key to financial success. Informed clients are empowered clients, and we are dedicated to equipping you with the knowledge and understanding needed to make informed decisions about your financial well-being. We offer accessible resources, informative seminars, and personalized consultations to help you navigate the intricacies of finance with clarity and confidence.
Guardianship
Our commitment to safeguarding your financial well-being spans generations. Every financial plan is approached with a guardian’s mindset, aiming to protect and preserve your wealth for you, your family, and your legacy. Through careful planning and strategic guidance, we strive to create a secure financial roadmap that endures the tests of time.
By embracing these three pillars—integrity, education, and guardianship—we aspire to be more than just financial advisors. We aim to be trusted partners on your financial journey, steadfastly supporting you as you navigate life’s uncertainties and aspirations. With a genuine dedication to these ideals, we are determined to help you achieve financial peace of mind and lasting prosperity.
Meet Josh
I embarked on my journey in the finance industry after nearly 17 years in communications. Through a process of trial and error, I acquired the skills to save and grow my investments for my retirement and family’s financial security. Reflecting on my past, I often wish I had had someone to guide me during those crucial years, as it would have greatly expedited my financial goals. It’s the absence of such guidance that drove me to seize the opportunity to become an advisor who could assist others facing similar challenges.
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Learn More
Over the past seven years, I have dedicated myself to the role of financial advisor, with a specific focus on assisting small businesses in setting up retirement plans for both owners and employees. Additionally, I’ve been involved in estate planning, helping families transition their wealth to the next generation. Furthermore, I provide individualized retirement planning, especially for those at a point in their lives where they must consider how to transition from earning an income to relying on the assets they’ve accumulated over their careers.
When working with my clients, I always aim for a fun and engaging experience, vowing never to take myself too seriously. Yet, I approach my profession with the utmost seriousness because I believe financial planning can be more lighthearted than people often perceive. My aim is to create a warm and welcoming environment that fosters open communication between my clients and me.
My affiliation with First Sentinel Bank has given me the privilege of collaborating with a remarkable group of colleagues, allowing us to continue our unwavering focus on supporting small business owners and their employees. Together, our team brings over 40 years of experience in partnering with business owners throughout southwest Virginia.
If you are a business owner, on the cusp of retirement, or someone with questions about your financial planning options, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can find a path that helps alleviate your worries, granting you the time to concentrate on your family, nurture your business, transition your assets to the next generation, or pursue any other worthwhile endeavor. Let us help you transform your concerns into a clear and comprehensible plan that may empower you to take control of your financial future. Contact us today!
When not working, I enjoy the outdoors with my wife, Chesnut, our son Reed, and our four-legged family member, Pearl. We love the Appalachian Mountains we call home and the beauty that surrounds us. I volunteer in my community by serving on the Downtown Wytheville Board to help make our town a necessary stop for travelers and a place natives can enjoy to the fullest. I am a member of the Wytheville Lions Club, and the Wytheville Ruritans. I spend every moment I can fishing the waters of VA, NC, and TN. These are the things that you can find me doing when I have the opportunity to be away from my office.
Services
Your Unique Financial Journey, Our Comprehensive Guidance
Comprehensive Financial Planning
At First Sentinel Financial Services, we recognize that every person and family has a distinct financial story. It’s this uniqueness that makes a comprehensive approach to financial planning essential for success. Whether you’re starting a family, navigating a business transition, or preparing for retirement, our wealth management team possesses the expertise to assist you in planning for each significant milestone in life’s voyage.
Empowering Small Businesses for Financial Success
Business Planning Services
Small-business owners and entrepreneurs are a driven and motivated group. They are constantly in motion, striving for success and seizing every opportunity that comes their way. However, this unwavering focus on their businesses can sometimes overshadow other aspects of life, including personal finances.
At First Sentinel Financial Services, we understand small businesses because we are one ourselves. With nearly 42 years of experience in providing financial planning for local small businesses, we have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs. We know the personal financial issues that can keep business owners up at night and hinder their focus on business goals during the day.
Our knowledge and experience position us to help alleviate that stress by becoming your trusted partner in managing your business’s long-term financial future.
Our comprehensive financial planning services for small-business owners consider both family priorities and business needs. We carefully craft financial plans that capitalize on opportunities to create security for entrepreneurs and their families.
Our Services Include:
Asset Allocation
Estate Planning
Retirement Planning
Cash Flow Management
Risk Management
Onboarding Plans
Our Process
Navigating Your Financial Galaxy Step by Step
Join
Embark on your journey with a brief introductory meeting that helps us determine if our services align with the challenges you're facing. If so, you can join forces with our team to continue to the next step, just like allies coming together for a cosmic mission.
Explore
Take a deep dive into your current financial circumstances to determine where and how your current situation can be improved upon. This phase typically consists of 1-2 in-depth conversations and the sharing of vital information, like statements, tax documents, and insurance documents.
Develop
This is where our team reviews all the information gathered during the exploration phase, crafting the most advantageous plan for reaching the goals you are most concerned with. We also test that plan against different circumstances that can arise as your financial future progresses, to help you stay prepared for anything.
Implement
Experience the final review of strategies between you and our team before we put these plans into action. Investments and other appropriate financial instruments are now structured for the desired effects and set into motion.
Improve
Our team consistently monitors investments and financial trends to ensure the plans are working efficiently to produce appropriate outcomes. Meetings occur according to a schedule developed between our team and clients to make changes as needed, adapting to the financial environment or changes in your goals.
Our Partners
Blog
Cashing Out Early: Creative Income Sources for Retirement (Without Taxing Your Sanity)
Cashing Out Early: Creative Income Sources for Retirement (Without Taxing Your Sanity) Early retirement is a dream for many, but achieving it requires careful planning, diversified income streams, and an understanding of tax implications. This article explores various...
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): A Strategic Guide for Young Physicians
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): A Strategic Guide for Young Physicians For many young doctors entering the workforce, managing the financial burden of medical school debt can feel overwhelming. With educational costs often exceeding six figures, it’s no...
How the Corporate Transparency Act Impacts Small Businesses: Compliance, Costs, and Privacy Concerns
How the Corporate Transparency Act Impacts Small Businesses: Compliance, Costs, and Privacy Concerns The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was introduced as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 in the United States. It is a landmark law...
From Subsidized to Snowball: Smart Strategies to Tackle Every Type of Student Loan
From Subsidized to Snowball: Smart Strategies to Tackle Every Type of Student Loan Student loans play a vital role in helping millions achieve their educational and career goals, but they often come with long-term financial commitments. As graduates enter the...
SEP IRA: Because Even Doctors Deserve a Retirement Plan That Doesn’t Require a Pager!
SEP IRA: Because Even Doctors Deserve a Retirement Plan That Doesn’t Require a Pager! A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA offers significant benefits for doctors who work as independent contractors or have no access to an employer-sponsored 401(k). As a retirement...
Fast-Track Strategies for Young Doctors to Reduce Student Debt
Fast-Track Strategies for Young Doctors to Reduce Student Debt Becoming a doctor is a noble and rewarding profession, but the fi nancial burden of medical school can be overwhelming. Many young doctors graduate with signifi cant student debt, often exceeding $200,000....
Essential Steps in Estate Planning: Safeguarding Your Legacy
Author: Josh PenningtonEssential Steps in Estate Planning: Safeguarding Your Legacy Estate planning is a crucial process that ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes and minimizes potential conflicts among your heirs. While it may seem daunting,...
Exploring the Differences Between Fixed Indexed Annuities and Certificates of Deposit
Author: Josh PenningtonComparing CDs vs. Annuities: Understanding the Benefits and Risks for Financial Stability Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs) and Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are two popular financial instruments known for their stability and predictable returns....
Leveraging Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Policies for High-Income Earners’ Retirement Income
Author: Josh PenningtonIn today's landscape of financial planning, high-income earners face unique challenges when it comes to securing their retirement. Traditional retirement vehicles may not offer the flexibility, tax advantages, or growth potential desired by this...
The Blue Collar Guide to 401(k) Savings: Building a Strong Foundation for Retirement
Author: Josh PenningtonIn the realm of blue-collar work, retirement might seem like a distant horizon, especially when the daily grind demands attention to immediate needs. However, overlooking the importance of saving for retirement could lead to financial hardship...
Take the first step towards sound financial help with First Sentinel Financial Services. Our expert team is here to guide you through the complexities of finance, helping you secure your financial future with confidence. Explore our services, and together, let’s embark on a journey to unlock your financial potential. Contact us today to begin.
Contact Josh
To learn more about our suite of products and services to help you grow, preserve, and transfer your wealth, contact Josh Pennington at 276-617-1069 or 276-963-3000. Visit Josh at the First Sentinel Wytheville office located at 1105 North 4th Street, Wytheville, VA, in the Evansham Shopping Center, or at your local branch by appointment. You can also send him a message using the form below or you can contact him by email here.