In the early 1960s, Philip “Phil” Broadbent established his accounting practice, in North Kansas City, MO. An orphan who was never adopted, Phil honed his accounting skills in the Air Force which allowed him the opportunity to start his own business. In 1974 Phil began offering services to Excelsior Springs and the surrounding area from his home office and his office in North Kansas City, MO. In those early days, Phil would travel from house to house helping his clients navigate the complexities of tax codes and finance. Phil’s grandson Greg Broadbent who recently joined the family business, says they still hear stories from folks about “Grandpa Phil’s yearly visits.” Phil was welcomed into each home where he would spend several hours, not only helping with finances but trading stories and usually enjoying a hearty meal.
In 1985, Phil’s son, Brad Broadbent left his job in corporate accounting after seven years, to join his father’s firm as a staff accountant, but only after his father called him and said that “if he did not join the firm soon, he (Phil) would have to find some else”. In November 1989, Brad purchased his father’s accounting practice but not his tax practice, to allow Phil to continue working with their tax clients.
As the business grew the Broadbents realized that many of their customers needed help managing their personal finances. As a result, Brad Broadbent became licensed as a financial advisor in 1992 to offer financial planning and consulting services to their clients. It was through his work as a financial consultant that Brad Broadbent met Bradly “the other Brad” Tharp, a 20 year veteran of the financial services business. Tharp agreed to come out of semi-retirement to help form Family Wealthcare Center because he believed in their mission of helping everyday folks manage their wealth. “I wanted to help real people with real problems, and consulting through Family WealthCare Center was a way I could do that,” said Tharp.
The Broadbents strengthened their presence in Excelsior Springs and the surrounding area with the purchase of a local accounting firm in 1997. In 2002, the North Kansas City, MO office was relocated and combined with the Excelsior Springs office on 69 Highway, where it remains. After Phil passed in 2007, Brad (Broadbent) continued the tradition of personal and accessible service and the business grew substantially, mainly through word-of-mouth advertising. Tharp attributes the success of their business to the fact that they don’t operate like larger firms. “Loyalty, ethics, morality, those things matter. We hope to be a counterbalance to the fear that is created in peoples’ lives. We are poised, calm, listen, and offer solutions,” he said.
After teaching social studies and coaching football, baseball, and basketball in the public school system for 11 years, Greg Broadbent made the move in May 2021 to join Family WealthCare Center as a Financial Consultant. He spent the past couple of years working at the firm during the summers all while getting his certifications to be ready for the switch. He had been at Excelsior Springs Middle School for the past six years and served as a basketball coach for five of those years. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to leave the classroom and kids behind but working for the business established by his grandfather, continuing it to the third generation, was too good to pass up. One of the key reasons Greg says he felt comfortable leaving the education field is that he is able to transfer a lot of the skills of teaching and coaching into what he’s doing now. “I’ve found the difference between the two (professions) is minimal, building relationships with clients, educating them, guiding them, and offering them service. It’s actually a continuation of what I was called to do.”
Greg says he looks forward to working and learning from “the Brads.” He plans to modernize the facilities, add more clients, build his credentials, and continue the legacy of service. He says, “if you’re built on a solid foundation, there’s no need to shake that foundation.” Moving ahead Greg says he wants to be even more involved in Excelsior Springs and has already made an impact, joining the chamber of commerce, Rotary Club, and looking for opportunities to offer scholarships. “I think it’s important to be proud of where you’re from and to give back,” said Greg. He said that he’s seen a lot of people from his generation sticking with Excelsior Springs and working to make it a better place to live. “I’ve always told people, it is what you make it, try to limit the negative and build the positive, there’s a lot of good going on in Excelsior Springs,” he concluded.
Family WealthCare Center (816-630-3011) is located on 69 Highway at 1600 Rainbow Blvd, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024.
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Family Wealthcare is a paid sponsor of the Excelsior Citizen.
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