Barbara Hudock, Managing Principal of Hudock Capital Group in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been in the financial services industry since she began as a manager’s secretary in 1975 at Merrill Lynch. While there she rose to the position of First Vice President, and built a team of professional associates. In November 2001 Barbara left Merrill Lynch with her team to form Hudock Capital Group, an independent practice offering investment products and services through Wachovia Securities Financial Network.1
Describing her business philosophy, Barbara says, “Our passion is to make a profound difference in the lives of our clients, our teammates, and in our communities. We strive to ensure the passion is clearly communicated to anyone entering our doors, whether you’re talking to a Financial Advisor, the Branch Manager, the Administrative Manager, support personnel, or to our receptionist, whom we call our ‘Coordinator of First and Lasting Impressions’. Our ‘secret’ mission is that everyone who walks through our doors is magically transported to a world that is kinder, gentler, and warmer…….and where all their dreams come true.”
In Barron’s Top 1000 Advisors ranked by state in the February 2010 issue, Barbara was ranked 11th in the state of Pennsylvania and 12th in PA in the February 2009 issue.2 Barron’s also named Barbara one of America’s top 100 Women Advisors for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 and one of Barron’s America’s Top 100 Independent Advisors for 2007, 2008, and 2009 as well as Registered Rep’s America’s Top 100 Independent Advisors3 in 2007 and 2009.. Her team was featured prominently in R.J. Shook’s recently published book, The Winner’s Circle V: Wealth Management Insights from America’s Best Financial Advisory Teams. They were also profiled in the book Wealth Management Teams, by Sydney LeBlanc and Lyn Fisher, and in the book The Trust Equation. Barbara’s article, “The Un-Sale!” was published in Investor Today Magazine, and her article was selected as one of the best articles written over the 100-year history of the Magazine. In Barbara’s view, the greatest part of that honor was the feedback she received when clients saw the article.
Hudock Capital Group was named by Forbes Magazine as a recipient of the Forbes Small Business Enterprise Award4 in 2007, with award ceremonies held at The Lincoln Center in New York City. Barbara has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation5 for her monetary donations to the club. Her service to the community runs wide and deep; a partial list includes:
- Chair of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania
- Director of the Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation
- Director of WVIA Public TV & Radio
- Director of Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts
- Williamsport Chamber of Commerce Director
Her recognition for service to non-profits has also been recognized:
- Fifteen years as a director on the Bloomsburg University Foundation
- Named Young Alumna of the Year at Bloomsburg University in 1997
- In 2002 Barbara was named by the Chairman of the Board of Governors and the Chancellor of the State System of higher Education to receive the volunteerism award for her contributions to Bloomsburg University.
- Barbara is a 2007 recipient of the Wachovia Way” Award “which recognized Barbara’s extraordinary personal and professional achievements and her continuing dedication to the quality for her family, friends, clients, and community.”
- In a recent award ceremony (November 2008) led by Governor Ed Rendell, Barbara received the Governor’s Patron of the Arts Award.
- In May 2009 Barbara will receive the Community Arts Center’s Director’s Chair honor.6
Barbara Hudock, her team, and her Firm have been consistent and leading benefactors in their community, having contributed over $1 million in monetary gifts to local charities in addition to enormous time commitments from team members. Giving back is a hallmark of Hudock Capital Group, and it is embraced by every member of the team. Most team members serve on at least one local non-profit board and truly make a difference in the community. Hudock Capital Group matches all charitable gifts made by its employees. In addition, Branch Manager Jason Moyer has directed, starred in and/or produced numerous theater productions including performances specifically created for the Firm’s clients as a symbol of appreciation.
Says Barbara, “I believe our community is a wealthier place, not only because of our commitment to our clients’ financial assets, but because we help protect and contribute to our community’s assets. We make it a point to help other advisors in our industry around the country who ask for our help; we have spent many hours and days working with advisors who are challenged, or simply want advice.”
Barbara is frequently asked to be a presenter at industry conferences around the country. She feels that this is also a way of giving back and expressing her gratitude for her team’s success.
The mission of Hudock Capital Group is “to help our clients define and achieve their financial goals, and distinguish ourselves by consistently exceeding client expectations and improving the quality of our clients’ lives.”
Barbara Hudock’s favorite quote: “To give beyond reason. To care beyond hope. To love without limit. To reach, stretch, and dream in spite of your fears. These are the hallmarks of divinity – traits of the immortal – your badges of honor, and your ticket home.” – Mike Dooley
1 Investment products and services are offered through Wachovia Securities Financial Network, LLC (WSFN), Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Hudock Capital Group is a separate entity from WSFN. 02/09
2 The number of advisors shown for each state is based on the total population of the state, so larger states have larger listings. The rankings reflect assets under management, revenues, quality of the advisors` practices and other factors. Total assets are all assets Overseen by the advisor’s team, including some that are held at other institutions. Assets managed for institutions are given less weight in the scoring. Portfolio performance Is not a criterion because most advisors do not have audited track records. Criteria was based on more than 3000 filtered nominations from mere than 100 investment, insurance, banking and other related Independent financial service firms.
3 Criteria was based on quantitative and qualitative criteria as well as by examining regulatory records and talking with peers, supervisors) clients and the advisors themselves. Portfolio performance is not a criterion because most advisors do not have audited track records.
4 A $100 entry fee was paid by Verizon, who nominated Hudock Capital Group for Forbes Enterprise Award consideration. Businesses were judged on information they provided on the Forbes Enterprise Award entry form. Businesses were evaluated in five areas: Marketing, Customer Service, Employee Relations, Community Service and New Product/Service Offerings. Forbes is a registered trademark of Forbes LLC. Use of the trademark herein is by permission of Forbes LLC.
5 Individual donors who commit to contributing $1,000 or more to the. Rotary . Foundation’s Annual Program’s Fund, PolloPlus, or the Humanitariari16rants Program, or people who have that amount contributed in their name, can be recognized as Paul Harris Fellows
6 PURPOSE: To recognize “unsung hero” friends of the Community Arts Center who have over the course of many years quietly worked to promote the present programs and secure the long-range future of the facility