Client Advisory

Biography

Steve is a Partner in the Cleveland office and has thirty-five years of experience as an executive in the financial services industry, specializing in all facets of the corporate retirement sector. Steve serves on Cerity Partners’ Personnel Development.

As a Retirement Plan Advisor, Steve works with company decision-makers to coordinate the design and implementation of qualified retirement plans for employers and their employees.

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Steve was Director of Retirement Plan Services at Spero-Smith Investment Advisers in Cleveland. Previously, he served as a senior executive in Los Angeles with the Capital Group Companies, a private investment management firm, where he managed the retirement effort for the American Funds.

Education

  • Bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University

Highlights

  • Co-founder (along with his wife) of the Aspire II Nav Foundation, an organization whose mission is to “to help people in need navigate through the headwinds of life”
  • Board member of the Aspire II Nav Foundation
  • Former member of the Board of Trustees of Ohio Northern University and American Funds Distributors
  • Served as President and Director of Northeast Cleveland Little League
  • Served as President and Director for the Northeastern Ohio chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation

Q & A

Q:

Who inspired you to pursue your career in financial management?

Several coaches and teachers throughout my young life taught me the “we” is more important than the “me”. Financial management services allows me to focus on others, not me.

Was there a specific incident in your life that made it clear you were made for this career?

A significant business loss and the personal despair associated with such led me to the realization that sharing the learnings of “how not to” can be just as important as sharing the “how to” with associates and clients.

What should your clients know the most about you?

Simply put, I care deeply about those who struggle. My wife Stephanie and I have a foundation dedicated to helping people navigate the financial headwinds that life can bring.

What kind of clients work best for you?

Clients willing to allow us to provide not only investment advice, but also financial planning.

What differentiates Cerity Partners from other firms in our space?

A recognition that every client is unique and therefore requires a laser focus on each client’s goals and objectives before recommendations of any kind should be made.

What do you do in your personal life that helps you help your clients?

I coach young athletes on how to win with humility and lose with dignity. This helps me add value to my clients who deal with the successes and failures of life on a daily basis.

How would you describe your best day doing what you do?

When I add value to the people around me, whether they be clients, co-workers, friends or family.

What does the world need now more than anything?

Constructive discourse. An understanding that everyone has something to offer, but if we do not listen or provide one the opportunity to share what he/she has to offer, we will never know.

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By clicking “Submit”, you acknowledge that we collect your name, email address and phone number to respond to your inquiries and provide you information about our products and services in accordance with our Privacy Policy. If you are a California resident, please see our CCPA Notice to California Residents.