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A Legacy of Inspiration: Planning Allows a Business and a Family's Calling to Continue
Sometimes, the lessons our agents give their clients hit close to home. In December 2002, Guardian agent Patty Picardi made a bold career move. She and colleague, Brian Weiss, branched out on their own and started a satellite office of Guardian's Philadelphia-based insurance agency, Independence Planning Group, in Pottstown, PA. To help with the already bustling business, they also enlisted the help of independent financial planner, CPA and fellow Guardian financial representative, Randy Heiser.
Eight months later, disaster struck. On a sunny day in August 2003, Brian and Randy boarded a plane bound for Scranton, PA to meet with a client. The plane never made it.
At 46, Brian left behind a wife and two daughters. Randy, 54, left behind a wife, one daughter in college and another, April, a recent grad who had begun working at his firm just a few days prior.
Patty remembers receiving the news.
"We had just opened the office six months ago and now suddenly everything was gone in an instant."
The life insurance protection Brian had in place allowed Patty to continue to build their agency and allowed his wife to continue their dream of having their daughters finish their education and start families of their own. Randy's family was able to sell his accounting firm while daughter April continued his financial planning practice. Today, Patty and April work side by side at Independence Planning Group.
"Dealing with the loss of my father was enough for my family to endure and thankfully, because of the planning he had in place, we didn't have to suffer a financial burden as well," said April. "It's one of the reasons that I've continued the work my father started. His work and the legacy he left behind has been my inspiration."
Patty agrees.
"In hindsight, it was because of Brian and Randy's care and planning that I was able to continue to grow the business we worked so hard to create," she said.
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