Rick Scruggs's introduction to the financial world was when his father died a few months after Rick had enrolled at The College of William & Mary. His fathers death came only six days prior to the passage of The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which would have provided a lifelong pension to his mother. Given the timing, however, she was not eligible to receive any benefits.
Social Security benefits and a life insurance policy ensured that Rick didn't have to drop out of college, but his mother was forced to continue working in order to support her family. The experience had a profound impact on Rick. It also impressed upon him the importance of thinking about the future and protecting the people you love.
Upon graduation, Rick went on to become a successful business professional. He read voraciously and immersed himself in just about every aspect of business planning from retirement plans to succession strategies, multiple facets of insurance (life, disability income and long term care), investments, ESOPs, and more. He even invested as an owner in a brokerage house with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
The more Rick learned, the more he realized that his passion was for "candidly speaking with people about love, health, finances and business ownership." He founded Financial Designs in 1983.
Today, Financial Designs is a recognized regional leader in business continuity and success(ion) planning. The talented team of advisors and support staff work with business owners and their employees.
Rick is designated a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) by The American College and a Certified 401(k) Professional through The Retirement Advisor University in collaboration with the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education. He is a member of the Advanced Association of Life Underwriters, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Lynchburg Estate Planning Council, the National Center for Employee Ownership and the ESOP Association, The Strategic Coach, 401(k) Coach and David Cohn and Associates 360. He is a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
Rick and his wife Kandy live in Forest, Virginia.