Scott Hall has been president of Upper Level Sports Management Group and Abaco Investment Group for seven years. He moved his office to the Humana Building in December and will soon add additional space and staff.
WHAT IS UPPER
LEVEL SPORTS?
“We negotiate contracts. If someone [a ball player] chooses our firm now and they play for the NFL for a few years, they’ll be financially secure. I know if they take our advice, they’ll be OK. We help manage their entire career.”
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
“Our primary niche includes professional football, track and field and soccer athletes. They are athletes out of college pursuing a career. We represent one of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Micah Ross.”
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE
WITH ABACO?
“I’m a money manager and financial advisor. We specialize in pensions, retirement planning and individual portfolio management. I consider myself to be a conservative advisor. My main responsibility is bringing in the bread and promoting the business.”
BACKGROUND
In the securities industry for 18 years, Hall began work in Palm Beach as a stock broker at age 18. After a brief stint in banking, Hall was employed by New England Insurance and Investments.
ROOTS
A Jacksonville resident for 15 years, Hall was born on Abaco, an island in the Bahamas. He grew up in Nassau.
WHY GO INTO FINANCE?
“I was influenced to get into the field by my older brother, Lecious Hall. He had an insurance business in the Bahamas. Now he has a tree farm. In college, I was actually an engineering major. I had a part-time job at Paine Webber and from there I was persuaded to get into it.”
HOW DOES SPORTS
FACTOR IN?
“I crossed over seven years ago after some athletes asked me to represent them, so now I’m a sports agent as well.”
WHERE DID he GO
TO SCHOOL?
Palm Beach Atlantic College is where Hall received a bachelor’s degree in marketing He also attended Longman’s Financial Institute to fine tune his skills and become certified to teach.
WHY NOT TEACH CLASSES?
“Because I became really successful and I’m enjoying life.”
WHAT MAKES IT
SO ENJOYABLE?
“The quality of life it affords me and helping individuals plan for their future.”
WHAT’S THE DOWNSIDE?
“Having to do it every day and keeping up with the demands. I haven’t had to market or make cold calls in four years because all my business is referrals. But it’s challenging to keep abreast of all the rules and regulations of the securities industry.”
WHAT ABOUT FROM THE SPORTS ANGLE?
“The challenge is presenting myself to a family or individual in a way that would encourage them to choose me to represent them.”
WILL DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION IMPACT YOUR COMPANY?
“Not directly, but it will open the door of opportunity to meet more people on a day-to-day basis.”
FAMILY
The Northside is home to Hall and his wife, Cheryl. They have one son, Anderson, and two daughters, Rachel and Jillian.
HOBBIES
A music lover, Hall enjoys singing and playing the trombone. He is learning to play the saxophone. Dining at Roadhouse Grill, tuning into “Unsolved Mysteries” or exercise such as hiking are other favorite activities.
WHAT’S YOUR PET PEEVE?
A neat freak, Hall abhors clutter.
HALL OF FAME
In his capacity as a sports agent, Hall has been interviewed on radio and Black Entertainment Television. He also sang in a pageant while in college. Some folks even asked for his autograph.
— by Monica Chamness