GulfCoast Financial Services

John, Brent and Blake Kuykendall

Family Owned & Operated Since 1992.

By Hayli Zuccola

Since its founding in 1992, GulfCoast Financial Services has operated on the basis of treating everyone from their employees to their clients like family.

After maintaining a 20-year career in the banking industry, John Kuykendall decided to go into business for himself and opened GulfCoast as a mortgage brokerage business in Bradenton. When his dad fell ill, he moved further north to be with him and ultimately planted new roots in Lake City where he and his business have remained for the last 28 years. Today, GulfCoast Financial Services has become a threegeneration family business located in the heart of downtown Lake City and though they’ve stepped away from mortgages, they’ve grown into a full-service investment and planning rm

specializing in everything from tax preparation and retirement income planning to social security, wealth management and everything in between. “It’s been an evolution of where we are today just picking up services, going to classes, learning, nding out how things are going,” John Kuykendall said. “It’s a business that evolves, and John Kuykendall you have to evolve with it.” Financial Advisor CEO and Founder Aside from being the only locally registered investment advisor in Lake City, what sets GulfCoast apart is the individualized attention and customized planning they provide to each client. “It’s never a one size ts all—I mean, we learned that a long time ago—and so I think it’s really more of nding the niche, nding what works for each individual person,” said Brent Kuykendall, who is the current President of GulfCoast and represents the second generation of the family business. “It’s always been about the need of a client so we’re trying to do what’s best for our clients when they come in.”

Brent Kuykendall Registered Representative President That one-on-one model is what’s kept GulfCoast not only thriving for three decades but has helped forge longterm clients - some of whom have been with the company since nearly the beginning.

That family feel has melded its way into every aspect of GulfCoast with John and Brent’s weekly breakfast meetings and daily co ee catch-ups, Brent’s son Blake coming on board, and client-dedicated events hosted throughout the year.

“Every letter I send out when I do a market update it always says ‘GulfCoast family’; I mean we just consider them family. So when we do things during the year—we’ll do client events at Christmas, we’ll do a barbeque in the spring, we do a lot of things—not everybody comes, but it’s available and so we’ll come and just hang out and get to know each other and just be a part of the family,” Brent said.

That compassion also extends beyond the GulfCoast walls as John and his team try to give back to the community they’ve been a part of for the last 28 years whenever possible. Whether that’s being a platinum sponsor for the United Way, being a co-sponsor for the annual Olustee Festival, hosting rst responders luncheons or supporting the e orts of the Lake City Humane Society, Columbia High School and those of local veterans, “We try to give back as much as we can,” John said.

“We try to get out in the community and be involved, and I’ve always said that showing compassion and showing you care goes a long way, and so I think people see that,” Brent added.

Though the occasional accolades aren’t the reasoning behind their stance on community support and treating their clients like family, that business model has resulted in GulfCoast being recognized on multiple occasions as the Lake City Reporter’s Best of the Best and Small Business of the Year.

While the move to Lake City wasn’t initially part of the plan, John has forged unwavering roots in the community for himself, his family and the business he started 30 years ago; so, while he may not have been born here, it’s home.

Blake Kuykendall Client Service Associate “It’s always been about the need of a client, so we’re trying to do what’s best for our clients when they come in.” — Brent Kuykendall

To learn more about GulfCoast Financial Services, Inc., like what nancial solutions they can help with, their community involvement or to listen to one of their weekly podcasts covering nance-based topics, visit their website atgulfcoast nancial.net.

For 30 years, GulfCoast Financial Services has worked closely with its clients, working to secure nancial stability for each individual’s future.

At GulfCoast Financial Services, we would like to help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal nancial situation.

O ering: Retirement Income Planning, Social Security Planning, Wealth Management, Preservation, Financial Planning and Retirement Advising.

We invite you to discover and experience the power of our services. We believe it has farreaching bene ts for our clients to get opinions from several sources with diverse backgrounds, education and experience.

No one strategy ts everyone, which is why every client gets our undivided attention—from planning to execution to follow-up. We take a proactive approach to helping you develop a strategy to address your nancial goals and objectives, using the most e cient methods available.

Recognizing that everyone encounters challenges along the way, we strive to anticipate and address those situations as they occur. We want to keep you on track toward a meaningful and purpose-driven nancial future.

Your family. Your future. Our focus.