Who We Are
At The McGriff Burrus Alliance our stated mission is "Designing Strategies for Financial Security."
We have enormous enthusiasm for helping successful people enhance and preserve their wealth. First and foremost, we are dedicated to our clients' success. To provide practical and effective solutions to their problems, we strive to understand their needs, then formulate and implement a plan that works toward achieving their goals. By conducting our business with uncompromising honesty and integrity, we have earned the trust and respect of our clients and a host of other professionals within the region and our community.
Joel McGriff
Joel began his financial services career with the Principal Financial Group in Minneapolis. In 1985, Joel moved to Birmingham to build a practice around the relationships he had developed while growing up in North Alabama.
He subsequently joined forces with his father, Bill McGriff, a respected CPA and founder of McGriff, Dowdy, and Associates, a leading Alabama public accounting firm. By combining their expertise in different fields, the two could offer their clients comprehensive advisory and investment services.
In his 27 years as a Financial Advisor, Joel has developed a specialty in working with retirees and those preparing to retire who want to protect their principal and insure that their money lasts. He has advised retired government employees, retired teachers, physicians, and business executives approaching retirement.
Joel holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) degree, as well as, the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation. Joel earned a degree in Finance from Auburn University in 1981 after attending Chattahoochee Valley Community College on a basketball scholarship.
Joel and his wife Laurie reside in Birmingham with their two sons, Bronson and Colton, and a daughter Kierson. The family is most often found at the ball field and gym for practicing and playing the sports activities the children enjoy.
Bill Burrus
Bill has a career in financial services that goes back to 1968. He is a Registered Principal in securities. Bill has set himself apart over the years building his financial practice on a straightforward philosophy of working with clients. He is very client oriented; working with each investor individually, listening to objectives and goals then working on a strategy to help them accomplish their dreams. This philosophy has worked brilliantly. Many of Bill's original clients from the early 1970's - are still clients today, and so are their children. As Bill says, "Clients are not numbers with us. We've never taken on so many clients that people feel like they're not being taken care of."
Bill served our country in the Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He attended the University of Alabama in pre-law, the University of Alabama School of Law and St. Louis University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri. He was Chairman of the Alabama Eye Bank, a non-profit organization, for 13 years and is now Chairman of Sight Savers America, also a non-profit organization. He taught Dale Carnegie courses for 13 years. He has been Chairman of the Salvation Army in Shelby County, Past District Governor of The Lions Club, life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers, a member of the Birmingham Aero Club, and a member of Inverness Country Club. Bill loves to fly, play golf and dance. Bill and his wife Ercelle have four children, 13 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. They attend St. Mark's Catholic Church.
Bill McGriff
Bill is recognized by his clients as the person they depend on to bring creativity and insight to their personal and business-related issues. In the 40+ years he has practiced public accounting, Bill has taken a leading role in his profession and community. He founded McGriff, Dowdy & Associates in 1975 and in his 15 years as President and Managing Partner, grew the accounting firm from a staff of one to 60 with offices in six north Alabama cities.
A member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Alabama Society of CPA’s, Bill was a first recipient in Alabama of the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation and is an active member of the Institute’s Society’s “Public Service award” in 1987. In 1986, Bill was an Alabama delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, and he frequently lectures and gives seminars on various aspects of tax, investment, retirement and estate planning.
A graduate of Auburn University, Bill was a member of the Auburn Basketball team and received United Press All-American Honorable Mention in 1956. He maintains close ties to his Alma Mater and was a charter director of the Auburn Accounting Alumni Association.
Bill is a recognized leader in civic, community, and church activities. He was honored with the 1986 “Citizen of the Year” award from the Chamber of Commerce in his hometown of Albertville, Alabama. He has served as president of the local Civitan club and as President, Treasurer, and Director for the Mountain Valley Council on the Arts.
Shirley Brown
Originally with a background in property and casualty insurance, Shirley has worked with Bill Burrus since 1978. Together they have offered life insurance, long term care insurance, disability insurance, investments, and estate planning as a total financial services firm. Shirley and Bill have helped their clients create and manage strategies for the last 32 years. While Bill travels regularly to meet with clients and prospective clients, Shirley works primarily in the Birmingham office. She is the person that clients know they can depend on to assist them when they call. As Bill says, "When clients call, they don't get a secretary on the phone; they get an associate who can help them."
Contact Us!
Learn more about our company now by calling 205-991-4448 or Contact us today.
Read our full disclosure. Click here >>
Our services are geared to help you reach your retirement goals in life.
