Steve D. Thompson
Property & Casualty Agent at Pillar Insurance Partners LLC

Stephen joins Pillar Insurance Partners after spending 7 years with Farmers Insurance. Steve, licensed in Auto, Home, Life, and Commercial, knows his success as an insurance professional is due to the importance he places on the Client/Agent relationship. After review and discussion, Stephen designs insurance programs or suggests courses of action intended to minimize the possibility of devastating financial consequences for his clients. Stephen’s approach to identifying client needs and his ability to deliver competitive insurance products combined with his professionalism dictated by honesty and morality make Stephen’s advice and service valuable and trustworthy. As an independent agent, Stephen can shop the competition in order to provide the best value for his client’s insurance dollars. Contact Stephen today for a professional review of your insurance needs and protect what is really important; your family, your assets, and your future.

Chris Estrada
Property & Casualty Agent at Pillar Insurance Partners LLC

Chris comes to Pillar Insurance Partners with a background in Financial Planning. He is very capable in Life Insurance, Retirement, and Investment planning. The desire to help you in the area of property and casualty insurance is a direct reflection of his concern for your overall success in your finances. Let Chris work with you to find a great deal on your business, homeowners, or car insurance so that other areas of your life can be planned for.

James Holley, 0A95284
Vice President at Pillar Insurance Partners LLC

James Holley is the guy you should see for all your insurance needs. When asked why, he had this to say. “As a member of Pillar Insurance Partners, I work for my client, not the insurance companies. I’ll quote your insurance with over twenty top companies to find the best coverage, and lowest possible rates. I’ll make sure the insurance companies don’t take advantage of you.”

James is a twenty-year Insurance Professional. He was born into a musical family and raised in Fresno. His Father is a member of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and so is his cousin Buddy. James has been a musician since 1965 and has worked with many of the greats. After a tour of duty in the Marine Corps, ending in 1971, James became a Professional Radio Announcer, working at stations across the country. He got into the insurance business in 1991 and never looked back.

James and his wife Linda have four kids and four grandchildren, three dogs and one cat. They are active in their local church and Linda is a long time Sunday school teacher.
When it comes to insurance, talk to James Holley - he will treat you right.

Paul D. (The Pig) Willingham
PARTNER at Pillar Insurance Partners LLC

Paul started in the financial services industry in 1975 selling insurance to help pay his way through college.  He quickly became one of the top salesmen.  When a few of the insurance company’s local managers left to join Paine-Weber, a large stock brokerage, they offered Paul a position there.
Paul remained in the securities business for about 2 years until he realized what is just now being revealed...  that the securities industry is only interested in the bottom line profit for themselves and are willing to lie to their clients to get that profit. Paul quit.
He then moved on to Prentice-Hall, a company who published tax and law libraries.  Paul's job was to travel throughout the state of California teaching tax accountants and attorneys how to use the library.  He became well versed in the tax code, which has proven to be very useful in devising financial strategies for his clients. Paul’s favorite websites are: www.irs.gov and www.academymortgage.com .
After Paul felt he had mastered that industry, he was recruited by National Revenue Corporation.  NRC was the largest collection agency in the nation.  He enjoyed the industry so much that he started his own collection agency.  Paul found that debtors didn’t pay, NOT because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t have the money. So, Paul began to loan them the money.
That is how Paul ultimately ended up in the mortgage business.  He was offered a position with GlenFed Mortgage.  Shortly, he was promoted to Vice President of the Northern California Builders Division.  Paul felt he would be able to serve his clients better if he started his own mortgage brokerage. So he did.
!n 1995 Paul had an epiphany. He realized that his clients all had a multitude of financial elements at work in their lives and that none of these elements worked with the others. That was when Paul developed the S.O.F.T. concept. He wrote a book and began lecturing financial industry professionals.
In 1999 Paul grew weary of trying to change the system and decided to help those he could help directly. He opened a financial advisory with some 300 clients. He offered mortgages, real estate , insurance, retirement, and pre-tax planning consultation.
In 2009 Paul sold the Real Estate operation and decided to focus on mortgage origination. He was introduced to Academy Mortgage in early 2010. paul says; “ I tested Academy first. But once I saw how Academy handled my files, I was sold.”
Paul lives in Clovis with his wife of thirty-five years, Tandy, two mutts and the neighbor’s cat. His hobbies are history, theology and family.
Paul’s greatest asset is his ability to make connections by and between typically unrelated financial matters. By making these connections Paul actually creates new ways of getting borrowers approved and funded. He credits this uncanny talent to his diverse background and a keen desire to help people.
Put Paul’s experience and breadth of knowledge to work for you.