After years of playing in the major leagues, he traded his catcher’s mitt and Louisville Slugger for an accounting career and eventually learned the sweet science of investments.

Now William C. Heath, who suited up with the Chicago Cubs in 1969, serves clients committed to covering all the bases on their way to reaching their retirement and life goals. Heath founded Barrington Financial Advisors, a member of Advisory Services Network LLC, and serves as a senior wealth advisor and for the Texas-based firm.

Heath said financial advisors often focus on cold, hard numbers, minimum investments, and the pursuit of alpha, sometimes leaving investors feeling like bystanders to their own finances. Heath’s clients, however, don’t feel left out in the cold when he’s at home plate protecting their investments.

“I feel that if I put a dollar minimum on a prospect … that to me says I am more interested in their money than I am them. So, we don’t have that,” Heath told The Suit Magazine, referring to his rejecting the idea of a minimum investment to work with his firm.

Heath left an accounting career in the 1970s because he was more interested in helping clients manage their finances than conducting audits and preparing taxes.
“I really didn’t have the same personality as accountants and wanted to break out and start my own company,” he said.

Several years in major league baseball – Heath played for four seasons, playing for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox as a catcher – taught Heath to always pursue the best. That’s the approach he takes to his clients, he said. 

“I look for clients with the same amount of commitment as I do,” Heath said. Clients who pursue the best, get the best service from Barrington Financial Advisors, he added. 

Heath founded the firm – then known as William C. Heath & Associates, Inc. – after leaving Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1972. He completed an accounting degree via correspondence from the University of Chicago, graduating while a minor league baseball player. Heath’s accounting career began when he entered the majors and worked for an accounting firm during off-seasons, assisting with tax issues and audits.  When he retired from the majors, PwC snapped Heath up quickly.

Commitment to clients and strong relationships is what keeps Barrington Financial Advisors, in a league of its own. Heath doesn’t load clients down with confusing jargon, explaining things in human terms. On the back end, the firm’s approach is thorough.

“We try to approach money management from both a fundamental and technical approach … To determine whether we’re interested in buying a position for a client or not,” he said. “We do our analysis, and I use a number of third-party resources, to help determine what’s good and what’s bad in the market right now.”

Barrington Financial Advisors, is a fiduciary, meaning they strive to put clients’ interests ahead of their own.
“I think that’s the foundation for any good professional relationship with a client,” Heath said.

He said he encourages his clients to save 10 percent of their gross earnings in addition to their retirement contributions.

“If they do that, they’ll never run out of money in retirement,” Heath said.

When clients feel worried their investments might strike out, it’s best to call in a heavy hitter like Heath to bring it on home. 

A Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC

For more information visit: www.barringtonfinancial.com