A Message from Founder & Senior Partner, J.R. Burke:
Thank you for taking the time to acquaint yourself with our firm, Perspective Financial Group, an Alera Group Company.
2026 will mark the 50th Anniversary of my start in the Life Insurance and Financial Services business. As I reflect on my half of a Century of service, several thoughts come to mind:
- While the financial world has changed dramatically during that time, what we do for our clients has not: We believe that our integration of insurance and investments with financial, estate and business planning differentiates us as Financial Advisors. We continually strive to maintain and improve our unique ability to simplify the communication and implementation of complicated financial products and sophisticated planning techniques.
- As the world seems to become more uncertain and complicated, the certainty and simplicity that our planning and financial solutions provide for our clients becomes more valuable. We have helped people maintain their integrity because they were able to keep their houses and businesses, educate their children and grandchildren, create and maintain legacies for future generations, retire comfortably, make meaningful charitable gifts and reward employees.
- The theme of live for today but plan for tomorrow now has much more relevance than ever.
- Continuity is important and change is inevitable.
Continuity
- The value proposition of any personal services firm is measured by the capabilities of its people. Collectively our professionals have 11 professional designations and over 266 years of Financial Services Industry experience. We believe in them and their capabilities and are proud of the long tenure of our team and its low turnover – four of us have worked together for over 25 years.
- We have been a Member Firm and Owner of M Financial Group since 2000. M Financial was founded in 1978 by four prominent financial professionals determined to apply their collective expertise to serving their clients in new and better ways. This culture of innovation has led to an array of exclusive products and services, and a commitment to client advocacy that is unparalleled in the industry.
Change
- Shane Johnson joined me in January 2011, became a Partner in 2018, and is now managing the firm and its client relationships. During those 15 years, Shane has grown professionally by earning his CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, and AEP® designations. He currently serves on two boards, the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council and Shippensburg University’s John L. Grove College of Business Advisory Board, and is a former Board Member for the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP). For the last three years, Shane has been named a Forbes Top Financial Security Professional. Shane is actively involved in numerous non-profit organizations: one devoted to serving the needs of Veterans and others focused on Multiple Sclerosis and Autism. He and his family are active supporters of The Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, where he serves as part of their Ambassador Program and also on their Chairman’s Council.
- We started a “thoughtful transition” to my retirement in 2018 when we merged with Alera Group. Having the support of a National Firm was significant for many reasons. It broadened our capabilities and resources, made Perspective a more secure company with a clear path into the future and further provided the assurance that our clients will continually be served. It was also a seamless transition for our clients as all of our employees remained with the firm and we maintained our relationships with M Financial Group and its Broker Dealer, M Holdings Securities.
- We are excited to announce a strategic alliance beginning in early 2026 with Benson and Blackburn, which is also an M Member Firm and an Alera Group Firm with a National presence that is located in Naples Florida, where I have a Winter home. This will broaden our geographic footprint and our capability to serve multi-generational families.
Looking Forward
- We are not resting on our laurels. Every day we strive to get better and improve upon our core values:
- ACCOUNTABILITY – we honor our commitments, take personal responsibility for our actions and focus on solutions.
- INTEGRITY – we are sensitive to the inherent conflicts of interest in our business and always put the needs of our clients first and we do the right thing for our clients in all aspects of our business, demonstrating honesty, fairness and respect.
- INNOVATION – we are students of our business, constantly learning about new techniques, ideas and solutions for our clients.
- COMMUNITY – we are active in our communities through involvement, volunteerism and charitable giving.
- PERSPECTIVE – this has the dual meaning of using our knowledge and experience to apply Creativity, Perspective and Objectivity to our clients, and taking the time to have a balanced and meaningful non-business life.
- We are a secure company that is focused on the long-term view. Our clients and their other advisors can be confident that their plans and products will be monitored and serviced in the future.
- In this regard, we have made substantial investments in the resources, technology and processes required to scale our capabilities commensurate with the firm’s growth, so that we can continue to provide our services in a responsive and up-to-date manner.
- We are structured to remain entrepreneurial and independent of any insurance or investment companies because we believe that is best for our clients. Through our alignment with Alera Group and our continuing relationship with M Financial Group, we can maintain this independence while still having access to ideas, products and support that would normally only be available to a larger or captive organization.
- As long as my wife, Betsy, and I remain healthy I intend to continue working on a consultative basis, but hopefully for fewer hours. I will spend more time with my 5 grandchildren and will be establishing a GiGi’s Playhouse Achievement Center in the Western Suburbs of Philadelphia. GiGi’s is a non-profit organization with 62 other Centers around the country offering free, therapeutic, educational, and career-development programs for individuals with Down Syndrome, aiming to change perceptions and foster global acceptance by providing vital support, skill-building, and community for all ages.
We are grateful for the trust our clients have placed in us to manage their insurance and financial affairs. At Perspective Financial Group, we rely completely on referrals and personal contacts to meet new clients. If you know of anyone who could benefit from meeting us, please let us know. We are also looking for an experienced Advisor to join our team and would welcome introductions to professionals looking for a new opportunity.
Thank you for your continued confidence in our firm and its services. As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a meeting. We hope this is a healthy and prosperous time for you.
Experiences of clients with life insurance products will depend on their unique facts and circumstances and we cannot guarantee the same results for all clients. This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider.