Stephen P. Byrne CFP®

A lifetime resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Stephen grew up in Pass Christian with his three brothers and one sister. The son of Dr. and Mrs. George Byrne, he attended local schools and graduated from Pass Christian High School in 1969. A Mississippi swimming All-Star at age 13, Stephen attended Auburn University on a swimming scholarship. He graduated from Auburn with a BS in accounting and later earned his MS in taxation from the University of Houston. While attending the University of Houston Stephen was awarded the Arthur Andersen Tax Research Fellowship.

Stephen is happily married to his wife, Pam, and they are proud parents of four children (Stephen Jr., an investment banker in New York, NY; Melanie, an eighth grade teacher in Broussard, LA; Lauren, a sales consultant in Lafayette, LA; and Meredith, a practicing attorney in Charleston, SC) and eight grandchildren

Professional:

Upon graduating from Auburn, Stephen started his career as a CPA in Birmingham with a “Big Eight” accounting firm. An advocate of working first so you'll know what you'll want from life, he returned to college and earned his master's degree in Taxation from the University of Houston. He continued his career as a CPA with a “Big Eight” accounting firm until 1979 when he opened his private practice to advise individuals on financial and tax matters.

Wanting to help his clients even more Stephen, with his background as a CPA and knowledge of tax laws, moved into advising and managing investments for individuals and affiliated with a major financial services company as a Financial Planner in 1983.

Stephen has conducted many financial workshops for Mississippi Power Company and Coast Electric Power Association. Additionally, he has been a featured speaker at numerous American Economic Development Council's CED summits, the FPA Retreat 2007 Conference, and is a regular invited guest on WLOX-TV programs: 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM News.

Stephen has completed numerous educational courses pertaining to his profession. He currently holds the following registrations and professional designations:

CFP^® (Certified Financial Planner)

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

EA (Enrolled Agent)

Series 7, 24, 63, & 65 (through LPL Financial)

He maintains professional memberships in the Financial Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Mississippi Society of CPAs and the Gulf States Chapter of FPA. In addition, he is actively involved in the Gulfport, MS Rotary Club where he is a Paul Harris Fellow, a former board member of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, and is past President of the Gulf States Chapter of FPA.

Stephen's primary objective is to make a positive difference in peoples' lives and that is evidenced by the fact that he always places his clients' needs, goal and desires first. Stephen's clients regularly recommend him to their friends, family, and colleagues because of the value-added services he provides.