Phillip Mills, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, AEP®, TPCP®, EA
Founder & Wealth Advisor
Flying Forward Wealth Management
Can you share your journey from the U.S. Air Force to becoming a financial advisor?
I stumbled into financial planning somewhat by accident. After 12 years of active-duty service in the Air Force, first as an enlisted aircraft mechanic and later as an officer and pilot, I attended a Service Academy Career Conference, where I was introduced to the profession. I was immediately attracted to the autonomy it offered, something you don’t experience much of in the military!
But what ultimately made this career meaningful was the chance to do something I had always hoped to do in the Air Force. I aspired to become a commander, largely because I wanted the opportunity to mentor others and help them achieve their professional and personal goals. Although that opportunity never materialized, financial planning has given me that same sense of purpose. Today, I have the privilege of helping individuals and families navigate important decisions and pursue the lives they envision for themselves.
How has your background as a veteran shaped your approach in this field?
Integrity and trust have always been foundational to both my military service and my work as a financial advisor. When someone places their financial future in your hands, that’s a responsibility I take seriously.
The military also reinforced the importance of self-discipline, determination, and personal accountability. Those qualities are especially valuable in this profession, where success requires continuous effort and comes with very little hand-holding.
Perhaps most importantly, my experiences have shown me how valuable our time really is. I’ve come to view wealth as the freedom and ability to choose how we spend our time and money. Financial planning is about much more than accumulating assets. It’s about helping people create the freedom to live life on their own terms.
