Mike Phillips

Michael (Mike) Phillips, a dedicated CPA and successful entrepreneur, has always been driven by a passion for helping others. Born in Pittsburgh and now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mike's journey has been marked by hard work and a commitment to making a difference.

Mike's connection to heart disease began at a young age when his father, Dave, underwent emergency bypass surgery at the age of 42. This life-saving procedure was a wake-up call for the Phillips family, highlighting the hereditary nature of heart disease and the importance of prioritizing your health. Mike also survived a minor stroke at age 30, which emphasized the critical need for ongoing research and advancements in heart and brain health.

Throughout his career, Mike has leveraged his expertise in accounting, taxation, and real estate to assist clients in navigating complex financial landscapes. His passion for helping others is evident in his work, whether saving clients money through amended tax returns or providing valuable financial planning advice. Supporting the AHA through his estate planning was a natural extension of Mike's values. Naming the AHA as the sole beneficiary of his numerous life insurance policies and creating a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) were strategic choices that aligned with his commitment to making a lasting impact. "Life insurance policies and gift annuities have been one of my primary financial tools for many years,” Mike explained. “Based on my experience with these financial tools, it made sense to use them to support the AHA. By naming the AHA as the beneficiary of my life insurance policies, the organization receives a larger donation because the full face value of the policies will go to them. Plus, by doing this, I reduce my estate's tax liability," Mike explains.

The process of setting up these gifts was straightforward with the help of the knowledgeable staff at the AHA. "The AHA made the process as simple as possible. Knowing that the AHA is now the beneficiary makes me feel delighted that my hard work of setting up all these life policies will now support the mission of the AHA well into the future of heart and stroke research."

Mike believes that while heart disease remains a significant challenge, life-saving progress will be made in the next hundred years. "Today heart disease is still the number one killer in the world . I’m not sure if heart disease will be fully cured within the next one hundred years, but I believe there will be tremendous progress made toward this goal."

Mike's generosity is driven by his belief in the AHA's mission and the importance of supporting ongoing research and education. "Research and education are both expensive and necessary to continue to fight this disease. If heart disease does not affect you, it will certainly affect many of your loved ones. We all need to do our part to support the activities of AHA."