Sean McAllister Looks to Honor Father as He Takes Over Family Business

COBLESKILL — Leo T. McAllister Inc. is entering a new chapter. Sean McAllister has been in financial services since 2008 and with his father in 2009. He currently partners with Sage Financial Associates and will be continuing the great legacy of his retiring father, Leo McAllister.

The younger McAllister said that starting during the Great Recession helped to deal with clients through a “trial by fire.”

This has helped him assist clients during downturns.

McAllister said that his almost 20 years of experience has helped a lot. He doesn’t look at the job as “just numbers” and doesn’t have a “cookie cutter” approach to each client, and looks at each as a “team approach.”

He added that getting to know each client personally counts for a lot. “What are they doing in their lives, their kids doing, their grandkids doing, going on vacation? There’s plenty of tools out there to understand the individuals themselves.”

He honored his recently retired father Leo McAllister. The older McAllister is a longtime community servant, including as Cobleskill Town Supervisor.

“I can’t say enough about being able to learn from someone who is understanding, caring, with a lot of empathy,” he said. “A true gentleman.”

This sentiment was echoed by many clients.

“The portfolio, that’s kind of secondary,” he said. The younger McAllister wants to make sure that his father is able to enjoy his retirement and be able to travel and not feel the stress of the office.

Running the business on his own started as “completely overwhelming,” including a change of broker-dealer in the last year.

“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work with my father for more than 15 years,” he said. “It’s a blessing, I’m lucky.”

The transition is getting easier, said McAllister. He sat with his father over time and gained more and more of a leadership role.

“It was a nice way to do it,” he said. “And for the clients, they can see the transition as well.” This kept good care of each client, he said.

“The business is not going to change,” he said. “The client comes first.”

“There’s nothing too small,” McAllister, “I have big ears.”

The new owner welcomes new clients, especially those nearing retirement and business owners.

McAllister studied at West Point and served seven and a half years in the United States Army as a helicopter pilot, retiring as a Captain, and ran a beer distribution company in Boston. He also serves as JV/Varsity Assistant Wrestling Coach at Cobleskill-Richmondville.

He added that being back in Cobleskill has been an experience. “It’s almost like I never left,” McAllister said.

The new business owner is looking “forward to the next chapter in my career,” especially running the business with his wife Buffy.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor.  Member FINRA/SIPC