Stephen Mallery Bio

Owner, Mallery Financial, LLC

Stephen Mallery came to the financial services business after a 17-year career in journalism and publishing. He earned his B.A. degree in journalism from the University of Oregon in 1986. During his career he served as editor and publisher for leading national and international technical trade publications and commercial internet projects.

In 1992 he founded his own magazine publishing company. Its flagship publication became the leading technical publication in its niche, with circulation in 22 countries. The publication won 23 writing awards, including Stephen’s gold medal for “Best Editorials” in 1998.

After a successful 7-year run as publisher, Stephen transitioned to a new industry – insurance and investments. He joined New York Life as an agent in 2003, became securities licensed and a registered representative with NYLIFE Securities in 2004, and earned his LUTCF professional designation in 2006. He earned a place as a qualifying member at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) that same year.

Not satisfied with a single branded toolbox, Stephen began to reach out for broader solutions to clients’ often complex needs. In 2007, he established Mallery Financial, LLC, while continuing to maintain his close relationship with New York Life.

In 2010, Stephen jumped from the nest and flew full force to independence – to build a business on the values of independence, objectivity, and transparency.

Stephen says his roots as a technical editor continue to feed his business practice. “My background in technical publishing taught me the importance of accuracy and analysis,” he says. “I also really believe in the education function — I think people want access to good, credible information they can use to make important decisions.”

Journalism also shaped his philosophy of business and life: “In journalism school, I was preoccupied with the question of truth. There is a set of facts,” he says, “and then there is ‘the truth about the facts,’ or, what does the sum of all the detail really mean — the ‘so what’ factor. To me that’s the perfect synthesis of idealism, realism, and practicality. That’s what I bring to my financial services practice.”

As an editor Stephen used an editorial practice known as “peer review,” where material was sent out to specialists – leading experts in their fields – to review, critique, and recommend changes before publication. Manuscripts and went back and forth, sometimes several times, until everything had been thoroughly vetted and was scrubbed and polished for publication. The end product was always intended to be durable. And it was.

At that time Stephen coined an expression, “There is no such thing as problems – only interesting solutions.” His persistence and commitment to finding the solution to any problem continues in his financial services practice.

Stephen serves as board member for the Mid-Oregon Financial Planning Association as well for the non-profit international children’s magazine Skipping Stones. He is a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He is married and is the father of six children (27, 24, 21, 19, 18, and 16).