Brent Baldwin believes a financial adviser should look out for his clients first and his own business second.
It’s a philosophy he’s lived working various financial advisory roles for BancorpSouth and UMB Bank.
“My professional goal has never been one to book a deal, but rather to work with customers to find the best solution for their important decisions to be made,” Baldwin says. “Trust is earned over a period of time through consistent actions, seeing both potential positive and negative outcomes of that decision.
“It is important as a trusted adviser to consider what is in the best interest for the customer.”
In his role as senior vice president of BancorpSouth, Baldwin is tasked with developing and managing commercial accounts, as well as leading a staff of nine lenders, insurance brokers and treasury management officers.
Working primarily with business owners or decision makers, Baldwin helps lead clients through a multitude of situations that range from starting out, to maintaining revenue and growing sales, to closing acts such as selling or liquidating assets. He might help a client make a major asset purchase, expand its property, enter a new market or start a project.
“My impact with individuals and customers over the years has been significant. In my early days of lending, that impact may have been helping a young farmer purchase cattle, financing an unproven teenager to purchase her first vehicle or providing startup costs for a new small business,” Baldwin says.
“Today, in all parts of our community, the impact is shown through financed commercial construction projects, building purchases, housing developments and business expansions.
“My services affect clients’ businesses from their initial planning stages through startup, growth, maturity and finally, its sale.”
Baldwin’s community endeavors have been felt by many, particularly with the Child Advocacy Center.
A member of Leadership Springfield Class 18, Baldwin was involved with a group dedicating its effort to then relatively unknown CAC. After the class raised nearly $20,000 for the nonprofit, CAC asked Baldwin to join its board in 2004.
Along with other board members and staff, Baldwin helped CAC change from a board driven largely by stakeholders – such as the sheriff, police chief and prosecutor’s office – to a community-based board.
“In my seven years of service to the agency, fulfilling two terms as treasurer and two terms as president, the Child Advocacy Center grew its exposure in Springfield and in surrounding areas, becoming less reliant on the government and instead was primarily supported through community efforts,” Baldwin says.
Most recently, Baldwin has served the community through the 230-member Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast, for which he was club president 2011-12. During his tenure, the club raised funds for an interactive wagon at the Southeast-sponsored K-Park, a project that’s part of Jordan Valley Park in center city. He also led the club to 100 percent participation in the Rotary Foundation, the first time the group had reached that benchmark.[[In-content Ad]]
