At BrightHaven Financial Advisors, we are dedicated to guiding our clients through these uncertain markets using time-tested and sound investment principles. We are here to help you make informed decisions on your portfolios, retirement income planning, and more.
Reach out to us today and let us schedule a complimentary portfolio review for you.
We are BrightHaven Financial Advisors, your partner in navigating today’s dynamic financial landscape.
As fiduciaries, we put your needs first in everything we do. This means our recommendations are always based on what's best for you, not for us.
ABOUT US
BrightHaven Financial Advisors is a leading financial advisory firm specializing in retirement plans, investment advice, and portfolio management services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, our financial experts guide clients through uncertain markets using time-tested investment principles. When you work with us, you should expect a collaboration with transparency and consistency. Want to learn more? Contact us today for an initial consultation.
Meet the Team
Financial Advisor/CEO
Phillip A. Gibson
Phillip is the founder and CEO of BrightHaven Financial Advisors. Phillip is a licensed Financial Advisor and Attorney who lives in Huntsville, Alabama with his wife. Phillip graduated from Berry College in 1981 with an English degree. He later earned his Master’s degree in English from the University of Alabama and taught English and coached basketball at Houston Academy in Dothan, Alabama. After teaching for several years, Phillip then completed law school at the University of Alabama in 1995. He then moved to Huntsville to practice law for over 20 years. After successfully helping clients with their legal work, Phillip used his expertise in insurance to open an insurance agency with his sons. This business naturally led to opening a Financial Advisory business.
Financial Advisor/CIO
John P. Gibson, CFA®
John Gibson is the Portfolio Manager of BrightHaven Financial Advisors. He is a CFA® Charterholder and lives with his wife, Kristen, and three children in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. John graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in Finance in 2008. After starting his career as a financial analyst at Sanmina-SCI, he worked as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. In 2013, John and his partners founded Hightower Advisors (later Twickenham Advisors) in Huntsville, AL. John worked with Hightower Advisors until 2020, when he resigned to manage a hedge fund and teach a portfolio management class at his alma mater, UAH. John currently serves on the board of directors for the Downtown Rescue Mission. In the past, he has served on the BoD for the UAH Alumni Association and the UAH Foundation.
Financial Advisor
Cameron West, CPWA®, CPFA®, AAMS®, CFS®
Cameron West is a Partner of BrightHaven Financial Advisors with expertise on retirement plans and business owners. He is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®, and Accredited Asset Management Specialist™. He lives in Madison, AL with his wife, Heather, and two children. Cameron graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in West Tennessee with a degree in Finance in 2011. He began his career working in a specialized financial concept utilizing premium-financed life insurance with Landmark Brokerage. His next position at Jackson National allowed him to work with the majority of the Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and other wire house advisors throughout Georgia. After becoming an awardee of the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation, Cameron accepted a corporate position with Raymond James, acting as a consultant for four states of Raymond James advisors. Cameron and Heather returned to Alabama after starting their family, where Cameron began working directly with clients at Raymond James, rather than through their advisors. In 2024, Cameron joined BrightHaven Financial Advisors seeking to provide the full experience and opportunities that his clients deserve. Cameron is currently serving on the Hatchett Investment Board of Freed-Hardeman University.
Financial Advisor
Spencer Chappell, CFP®, AAMS®
Spencer Chappell is a Partner of BrightHaven Financial Advisors with expertise in holistic financial planning. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Accredited Asset Management Specialist™. Spencer lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife, Allison, and their son. He is a graduate of the University of South Alabama with a degree in Finance and Economics. As a CFP® practitioner, Spencer’s approach to financial planning emphasizes discipline, clarity, and purpose - principles that create the pillars of long-term success. He works closely with clients on comprehensive investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, and tax planning, serving as a partner through life’s transitions. Spencer is committed to simplifying complex financial decisions and helping families stay focused on what matters most. Prior to joining BrightHaven, Spencer began his career with Raymond James, gaining extensive experience working with investors across a wide range of financial situations. Spencer joined BrightHaven in 2026 seeking to provide more personalized, transparent financial guidance to his clients.
The BrightHaven Client Experience
At BrightHaven Financial Advisors, we do everything we can to make sure our clients are satisfied with our work. Our tailored consulting services have helped clients from all over make crucial decisions and achieve their financial goals.
At BrightHaven, we strive to give our clients a white-glove, tailored experience.
We begin with an initial meeting in which our clients describe what they want their financial lives to look like, what they fear, and what they want to achieve.
We then collect all the data that we need to produce a written proposal to review together. This includes a risk tolerance assessment in which we determine how much risk a client wants and can tolerate.
After establishing new accounts and transferring assets to our firm, we begin to execute any necessary trades to align the clients’ portfolios with their risk tolerance and financial goals.
We stay in touch with our clients regularly according to their needs with portfolio reviews, risk assessment updates, and check-ins.
BrightHaven Investment Philosophy
Nimble, High-Conviction with a Moat
Core Beliefs
• High-Conviction Portfolio: Diversification benefits can be achieved with 20-30 carefully chosen positions, allowing for deeper understanding and conviction. • Sustainable Advantage: Focus on companies with wide moats – strong competitive advantages that protect long-term profitability. • Financial Strength: Prioritize companies with low debt, ample cash reserves, and consistent profit growth. • Technical Analysis: Utilize technical indicators to identify entry and exit points for maximizing returns and managing risk. • Market Adaptability: Embrace agility and nimbleness, shifting investments towards sectors and themes with momentum. • Diversification: Maintain diversification across geographies, asset classes, industries, etc.
Investment Guidelines
• Deep Research: Conduct thorough fundamental analysis before entering any position, understanding the company's business model, competitive landscape, and growth prospects. • Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize high-quality stocks over a large number of holdings. Favor companies with sustainable competitive advantages, efficient management, and strong corporate governance. • Financial Discipline: Maintain a conservative overall portfolio debt level and avoid chasing speculative investments. • Technical Signals: Use technical analysis to determine entry and exit points. Look for confirmation of fundamental strength through technical indicators like moving averages, relative strength index (RSI), and volume patterns. • Active Management: Monitor positions closely and be prepared to exit quickly if fundamentals weaken or technical signals indicate a reversal. Actively search for new opportunities with strong momentum and growth potential.
Key Takeaways
Our philosophy seeks to combine the benefits of a concentrated portfolio with rigorous due diligence, technical analysis, and active management. By focusing on high-quality companies with wide moats, strong financials, and favorable technical signals, we aim to achieve superior returns while maintaining acceptable risk levels. Remember, this is a general framework, and we adjust it based on clients’ individual risk tolerances, investment goals, and market conditions.
BrightHaven Fee Structure
At BrightHaven, our fee structure is clear and transparent. In many cases, we save our clients money in fund expenses by building our proprietary portfolios of stocks and bonds instead of using expensive mutual funds and asset managers.
We bill our advisory fee to our client accounts by applying a percentage to their account balance monthly or quarterly. If a client hires our firm mid-quarter or mid-month, they are charged proportionally to the time we were managing their accounts.
