“Remember son, always save money for a rainy day.” That’s what Jeff’s father often told him. The reason he kept bringing this up was because Jeff’s uncle had died penniless after initially enjoying lavish financial success in business. Unfortunately, his uncle failed to put any of his wealth aside leading to a life of depravation and poverty in his old age.

 

Determined not to repeat his uncles mistake he systematically began saving regularly at his local bank. That was all he knew to do.  

 

As fate would have it his life changed during a Christmas party in 1980. It turned out to be a pivotal event that ultimately led Jeff to a career in the financial services industry. A young stockbroker was describing various investment strategies and mentioned some mutual funds had generated annual returns of 10% or more over several decades. And while that wasn’t guaranteed it was almost double what Jeff earned at his local bank; and he was hooked! 

 

He began reading everything he could find about personal finance, investing, and insurance. A small Atlanta based broker offered Jeff the opportunity to work part-time selling investment products. Within a few years he quit his job in a grocery store to work full-time in the industry.

 

However, he was never comfortable with the “sales” process and believed clients should first be educated and then they would be in a better position to make appropriate financial choices. Jeff founded Jeff Harris and Associates, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in 1992 that enabled him to work with clients on a fee for service basis instead of commission based sales.

 

Jeff began teaching personal finance classes for Adult Education at his local community college and many of his students ended up becoming clients. Over the years he’s earned a variety of professional designations, which coupled with his experience, give him a strong foundation to serve his clients best interests. 

 

He completed the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) training through The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1996. In 1999, Jeff earned his Financial Planning designation through Raymond James University in St. Petersburg, FL. In 2001, he completed his Certified Wealth Manager training through The Cannon School at Northwestern University in Chicago.

 

Jeff is an avid airplane pilot and has owned his own plane for over 20 years. He’s instrument rated to fly in less than ideal weather and currently has over 3,800 hours of flight experience. He’s served his community as an Angel Flight volunteer pilot flying people with limited finances to distant medical providers completely free of charge.

 

Today Jeff and his wife of 44 years, DeAnn, live in Edgemoor, SC just below Charlotte, NC. They have three married daughters and eight grandchildren. Together, they own Puddle Moon Farm, a 106 acre property of rolling pasture where they raise grass fed and grass finished Red Devon beef cattle and pastured Berkshire pork. www.puddlemoonfarm.com    

 

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