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Family First

Andre Pennington's Journey from Adversity to Advocacy

Article by Kylie Strawn-Badger

Photography by Beverly Shumway and Andre Pennington

Originally published in Surprise City Lifestyle

At 19, Andre Pennington found himself at a crossroads. Surrounded by negative influences, he realized that he needed a significant change. Despite the challenges, Andre was determined to forge a new path. At the time, he was attending junior college on a basketball scholarship, but life felt like it was unraveling. It was during this period that Andre turned to prayer and felt a calling to change course. He decided to aim high, choosing to pursue a career in law. From that moment, his journey to transform his life began.

Andre’s purpose became even more meaningful when his grandmother was diagnosed with dementia while he was in law school. Without any estate planning documents, his family struggled to help her, eventually losing nearly everything to the state. Witnessing this hardship inspired Andre to dedicate his career to helping others avoid similar struggles. Today, as the founder of Pennington Law, Andre provides families with the security and peace of mind that his own family lacked.

The journey to building Pennington Law started humbly. Andre began his practice with two IKEA slabs of wood for a desk and a $200 Walmart computer. With perseverance, he built his practice from the ground up, driven by the vision of creating a better life for himself and his family.

Growing up in a dysfunctional environment filled with instability fueled Andre’s determination to break the cycle. He was driven to “break the branch of my family tree and plant it somewhere healthier.” This vision motivated him through years of education, law school, and building a successful career.

Andre is deeply thankful for the life he has built—not just for himself but for his family. Seeing his children thrive in an environment filled with love, opportunity, and security is his greatest accomplishment. He is proud to have created a stable, nurturing environment that contrasts with his own childhood.

The values that guide Andre, both as a parent and a professional, include perseverance, humility, integrity, and continuous growth. He believes in “being at least 1% better every day,” which helps him guide clients toward building a secure future.

When Andre isn’t practicing law, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, taking trips, playing sports with his children, and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These activities help him stay balanced and focused.

As a father, Andre is committed to creating a nurturing environment for his children and wants the same for his clients. His journey is one of breaking negative cycles, building a stable foundation for his family, and helping others secure their futures.

"My family is the heart of everything I do. Creating a home filled with love, opportunity, and security for my children is my greatest success, and I am endlessly thankful for it.”

"I grew up surrounded by instability, and I knew I had to break the cycle. My mission is to create a stable, nurturing environment for my family and help others do the same through estate planning"

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