Briarcliff Manor Small Business Spotlight: Unified Retirement Planning Group

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: UNIFIED RETIREMENT PLANNING GROUP

Owners: Peter J. Gallagher, ChFC, CLU, CASL, AIF ®

Email: peter@myurpg.com

Website: www.myurpg.com

Address: 59 Sunset Drive, Unit 101A, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510

How did you come up with the name?

The firm name, Unified Retirement Planning Group (URPG), reflects our focus on retirement planning for our clients, and their loved ones. We do this by simplifying the process – we clarify our clients’ goals for both their future retirement income needs and their dreams, and we stay in touch on a regular basis to review the plans progress. Embedded within our culture is keeping our clients’ interest first and foremost. We aim to provide a unified solution in the planning of our clients’ future retirement income. Peter Gallagher is an investment adviser representative with/and offers securities and advisory services through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Why start a business in this town?

Being a life-long Westchester resident, having grown up in Ossining and now a long-term resident and community member of Briarcliff Manor, I felt I had a unique connection to the people whom I have served within town and in surrounding areas of Westchester County.

What business are you in?

We are in the business of serving our client base, providing high-level of service and specializing in comprehensive, fiduciary based, individual retirement planning.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

We believe that a client should be selective in choosing a firm to manage their retirement savings. In turn, Unified Retirement Planning Group is also very selective in the type of client that we agree to work with. In order to continue to provide this high-level of service, which includes an on- going review of their retirement plan portfolio, we have to limit the total number of customer households that we agree to work with at any given time.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

My proudest achievement is providing my clients the commitment that our firm, URPG, has to offer. We pride ourselves in our service process plan, ensuring close monitoring of all service issues to completion. My hope is to continue my track record as a multi-year award winner of the Five Star Professional Award featured in Westchester Magazine, based on a number of different factors, including client retention and education and professional designations. I appreciate my clients’ loyalty and will strive to earn my clients’ trust each and every day.

How does your business give back to the community?

We believe that giving back to our community is paramount to Unified Retirement Planning Group’s values. Peter, the owner and Managing Director, volunteers his time with the Briarcliff Manor Ambulance Corps, responding to ambulance emergencies in his hometown in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Peter’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) service extended beyond Westchester County as he volunteered at Ground Zero in 2001. His entire team believes in giving back and is excited about the community and charitable events planned as Unified Retirement Planning Group will be dedicating several community service events each year.