Can you imagine what it’s like to be orphaned at age 16?
Shane Phillips had just begun a year of study abroad when he received news that his parents and sister had been killed in a plane crash in Washington, D.C. Though Shane’s aunts, uncles, and grandparents urged him to return immediately to his childhood roots in Colorado, he chose to remain in McLean, Virginia to complete his junior and senior years at Langley High School. He moved back to his home state upon graduation to attend the University of Denver.
This episode of Heart & Soul epitomizes purpose, passion, and perseverance. Shane, knocked flat by tragedy, has risen to become a shining star in his profession; a devoted husband and loving father of four; and co-founder of the Children’s Grief Education Association, which helps hundreds of grieving children around the world.
If you seek encouragement to overcome despair from whatever difficulties you may be facing, listen to Shane. You will be inspired.
Shane Phillips
In 1993 Shane began his career in financial services as an intern for one of Colorado’s largest privately held financial services firms. He became a two-time national Top 10 producer, starting his own financial service business in 2006. He sold his company to a Denver-based Private Wealth Management Bank where he now directs residential lending nationally. Shane’s managed nearly $250 million in transactions and counts elected officials, professional athletes, and industry captains among his clientele. In 1989 Shane lost his parents and sister in a plane crash. In 2004, as a tribute to them and to help other children work through the loss of loved ones, he co-founded the Children’s Grief Education Association where he serves as board chair. The CGEA provides low cost and pro bono grief counseling to hundreds of children in the Denver area as well as web-based services for children nationally and internationally. Shane and his wife Valerie have four children and reside in Highlands Ranch, CO.
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