Peter Holloway CFP®

Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc.

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By Katlin Swisher

Wellsburg native and current Wheeling resident Peter Holloway never expected his love of outer space and music to lead him to a career in financial education. His first job at Oglebay Park’s observatory taught him crucial public speaking skills through the presentations he gave about far-off galaxies, and as an elementary school teacher, he learned that listening and responding to what is said can have huge consequences. Today, as senior vice president and financial advisor at Wheeling-based Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc., Holloway is able to utilize these skills as a financial educator. Whether he is working with clients one-on-one or sharing tips on the air at the local TV station, he is dedicated to helping others improve their financial wellness.

Holloway has also taken a special interest in teaching middle school and college students about business and financial responsibility. Every spring, he teaches fifth and sixth graders about starting a business and the importance of a solid credit rating. His involvement with college students stems from his concern for those beginning their first jobs. “Early at their new job, they will learn about the company retirement plan and be expected to make immediate investment choices,” he says. “I explain 401ks and discuss the importance of setting up a solid financial plan.”

Holloway is motived by his commitment to serve his clients to the best of his ability. His persistence, rapport with clients and connection with his community have helped grow his client base from zero. “My biggest obstacle was growing the business from the ground up by cold calling day after day, year after year,” he says. “At times, it was very hard to separate the honest ‘I’m not interested’ responses from personal feelings of rejection.”

That persistence, along with the importance of personalized attention for each client, is a value he tries to instill in the colleagues he mentors, including his son, Walker, who has worked with him for three years. “When times are tough, newer brokers may come in with a glazed look, and we talk through the situation and try to make sense of it,” he says. “Helping my son learn the business in real depth has been fun. What is truly spectacular is that he is now teaching me things.”

In addition to being a mentor, Holloway also finds time to give back to his community as well as instill the value of community service in his colleagues. His current board memberships include the Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation; West Virginia Independent Colleges & Universities, Inc.; West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and Rotary Club of Wheeling. He has also served on a variety of boards, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Upper Ohio Valley, Children’s Home of Wheeling, United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Oglebay Institute and West Virginia Northern Community College Foundation, as well as the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and West Virginia Aeronautics Commission. In 2014, he received the Community Spirit Award in honor of his service.

As a member of the rotary, Holloway reads to second graders in the Rotary Readers program. Some of the students come from broken families and economically challenged areas, and he feels it’s important for professionals to come to their classrooms and interact with them. It’s also rewarding for him. “Having a discussion with second graders as to whether they would invite the Cat in the Hat into their house—let alone Thing One and Thing Two—is more fun than most of my discussions with adults,” he says.

Holloway finds it difficult to say no when he is asked to participate in a community program or charitable board, and he believes every professional should give of their time and talent to their community. “A professional’s success comes from the community, and giving back should be a natural consequence of that,” he says. “Besides, these experiences are terrific. They allow me to hopefully have a positive impact on the organizations and my neighbors.”

1965-1966 – Began working at Oglebay Institute’s observatory and Oglebay Park’s driving range

1971 – Graduated cum laude from Kenyon College with degrees in music and psychology

1973 – Graduated from Bowling Green University with a master’s degree in music composition and began teaching at Wheeling Country Day School

1975 – Began volunteering at the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and Oglebay Institute

1980 – Became a board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Upper Ohio Valley and Tuberculosis Association of Ohio County

1981 – Joined Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc.

1987 – Appointed to the WV Aeronautics Commission

1988 – Son, Walker P. Holloway III, was born

1980s – Began covering the stock market daily on WV Public Radio

1990s – Served on numerous boards, including Oglebay Institute, Children’s Home of Wheeling and WV Northern Community College Foundation

1992 – Son, James A. Murphy Holloway, was born

2000-Present – Serves the Wheeling Arts & Cultural Commission, WV Independent Colleges & Universities and WV Public Broadcasting Foundation boards

2003 – Appointed to WV Commission on the Arts and helped ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange

2014 – Honored with the City of Wheeling Community Spirit Award