Suburban Life - Main Line/Philadelphia - Issue #12 (December 2025)

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1225_TheManchesterGroup_profile_Layout 1 1 / 28 / 26 9 : 58 AM Page 1 illiam Manchester has spent the past quarter of a century designing plans to help families preserve , build , and make the W best use of their wealth . He loves the work ; in fact , he cannot imagine doing anything else with his life , which is ironic , because his career path would have been much different if not for a man named Andrew L . Lewis Jr . Manchester first met Lewis — the chairman and CEO of Union Pacific Corp . , who also served the Reagan Administration as Secretary of Transportation — about 30 years ago . Lewis and his wife , Marilyn , owned a sprawling property in Schwenksville , where Manchester tended to the gardens and landscaping . One day , the chauffeur who was tasked with driving Lewis to a board meeting in New York City was unavailable . The responsibility then fell to Manchester . “ I started driving Drew regularly after that , ” Manchester recalls . “ He would tell me to wear a suit , and he brought me into these meetings , referring to me as his financial advisor . I met George Bush Sr . , George Bush Jr . , [ Henry ] Kissinger , [ Donald ] Rumsfeld — all these notable leaders and business leaders . They all respected Drew so much because of his knowledge and because of the person he was . ” They got to know each other well during their travels to and from New York . Manchester saw in Lewis a brilliant mind and a profound commitment to helping others . In Manchester , Lewis saw sincerity , a tireless work ethic , and the willingness to earn people’s trust , as well as a fledgling interest in the stock market . At some point , Manchester intended to ask Lewis to review his business plan , which involved opening a flower shop in Blue Bell . “ A lot of people wanted to be around Drew because of his money and power ; I just wanted his knowledge , ” he says . “ One day , we were stopped at a light on Township Line Road — I’ll never forget it — and he asked Cultivating me , ‘ Why are you my gardener ? ’ So I turned around and handed him my business plan . He took it and said , ‘ You can do that when you retire . You need to make money now . ’ He told me I was fired as his gardener and to go back to school and become a financial Financial advisor . He was right . And that’s when I decided to go into finance . ” Fast - forward to a recent Wednesday morning , 25 years after Manchester launched his career as a financial advisor . Manchester Growth finds himself in the place where he starts most weekday mornings : behind the wheel of his car , en route to a meeting at a client’s by Bill Donahue | photos by Jody Robinson home — thisone in Ambler . He has a full day ahead of him , just like every other workday , and it will end in the same place it started : William Manchester , founder of The Manchester Group of sitting across from a client , talking about the future . Firstrust Financial Resources , took a remarkable path to “ A lot of people get the ‘ Sunday blues , ’ helping clients plan and prepare for the future . thinking about the start of the workweek , ” SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 17 ISSUE 2 16 |

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1225_TheManchesterGroup_profile_Layout 1 1 / 28 / 26 9 : 59 AM Page 2 Manchester leads a team that includes two fellow financial professionals , Gregory Mugnier and Cristian Surdykowski , and Executive Assistant Alison Watson . he says . “ I love Mondays because I love my While he enjoys the ones and zeroes , work as a game , ” he continues . “ We have to job . I can’t wait to get to work every day . ” whatManchester loves most about his work be the best of the best and beat our compe - As the founder of The Manchester Group are the personal connections . He cites a tition , and we do that by doing everything of Firstrust Financial Resources in Con - recent interaction with a longtime client . we can to serve our clients . ” shohocken , Manchester derives great joy from “ He’s 98 years old and he’s the greatest As for his plans to one day run a flower helping clients of all ages and backgrounds guy in the world , ” he adds . “ He’s been with shop of his own — perhaps in retirement , as build financial and portfolio plans , solve prob - me for 20 years . I met with him just recently , his mentor Lewis once suggested — Man - lems , and otherwise build a more secure and he told me the things I’ve helped him chester’splans have changed . He just derives future . He leads a team that includes two accomplishhave meant so much to him . He too much pleasure from helping others plot fellow financial professionals , Gregory Mugnier does these drawings at the nursing home out the future , financially speaking . and Cristian Surdykowski , and Executive where he lives now , and he gave me one of “ My daughter’s best friend recently got Assistant Alison Watson . In order to accom - those drawings . That meant so much to me . married , and I did all the flowers for the modate demand , Manchester expects to bring “ I think back to the period between 2008 wedding , ” he says . “ I still like the flower busi - on more new faces in the months and years and 2010 , which was the worst time for a lot ness , but as a hobby . I just love what I’m ahead . of people , ” he continues . “ Those bad times doingnow so much more . I don’t see myself The lessons he learned from Lewis , who were tough for me , too , but that’s when I stepping away from this anytime soon . ” ? passed away in 2016 , guide him to this day . built the most relationships because I was “ Drew was in the office by 5 or 6 a.m . , there for people . I’m really proud of that . ” and I’m an early riser , too , ” he says . “ The Looking back on his journey from a gar - The Manchester Group biggest things he taught me were the impor - dener to the founder of a well - established tance of work ethic and earning people’s andgrowing financial services firm , Manchester of Firstrust Financial trust . Rarely have clients come into our office ; has immense gratitude for the people who Resources I go to their home or their office . I also like to helpedhim along the way . Drew Lewis is an say that I’m open 24 / 7 . They can call me any - obvious one , though he also thinks of the 15 E . Ridge Ave . time to ask questions and take the load off high school Spanish teacher who once gave Conshohocken , PA 19428 their shoulders , and they appreciate that . himthe nickname , fundo de fundo , or “ bottom themanchestergroupffr.com That’s how I built my business . ” of the bottom ” — a nod to Manchester’s poten - ( 215 ) 919 - 7253 | ( 215 ) 640 - 3829 Manchesterhas been associated with his tial , not yet realized . firm , Firstrust Financial Resources in alliance “ I barely got through high school because with Equitable Advisors , since August 2021 . I had no interest in academics , ” he says . Duly registered and duly - licensed representatives offer securi - He describes the organization as “ the best “ Drewsaw the potential in me , but I needed ties through Equitable Advisors , LLC ( NY , NY 212 - 314 - 4600 ) , I’ve ever worked with . ” Not only do the two to get the education first ; I had to have that memberFINRA , SIPC ( Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN ) , offer investment advisory products and services through sharean office building , meaning Manchester background . No one could outwork me on Equitable Advisors , LLC , an SEC - registered investment advisor , has face - to - face interactions with members the football field or in landscaping . I just had and offer annuity and insurance products through Equitable Network , LLC . Representatives may transact business , which of the Firstrust team as often as possible , but to answer the question : How do I apply that includes offering products and services and / or responding to they also share the same philosophy : “ The workethic into a career in financial planning ? inquiries , only in state ( s ) in which they are properly registered client comes first , and everything else comes “ I take my work very seriously , but I and / or licensed . The Manchester Group of Firstrust Financial Resource . PPG - 8717811.1 ( 01 / 26 ) ( exp . 01 / 30 ) later . ” always joke with my team that I look at our SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 17 ISSUE 2 | 17

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