At the intersection of faith and finance, Chris Albertson, CEO of Stewardship Wealth Management, views leadership not as a title but as a responsibility to serve, guide, and uplift. He is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in wealth management and the financial services industry. His body of work and principled journey offer a compelling blueprint for the next generation to follow. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility—and Chris embraces that fully. He carries the mantle of mentorship with grace, committed to guiding emerging leaders to become purposeful change-makers in their own right.
What guiding philosophy has defined Chris’s path to becoming CEO? According to this industry veteran, his leadership journey has been grounded in biblical principles of stewardship, seeking to bring clarity to things that are hard to understand, helping others move forward with purpose, and leading with honesty, humility, and the heart of a teacher.
These values inspire the team at Stewardship Wealth Management to approach every client interaction with honesty and compassion. Chris believes these principles are essential for building trust. Trust that allows him to walk alongside families, both new and established, as they work through life’s most significant financial decisions, one step at a time. The firm embodies this ethos daily, whether it’s pausing to pray before meetings, supporting a family through the loss of a loved one, or navigating volatile and unstable markets with grace and clarity.
Defining Traits of an Inspiring CEO and Personal Leadership Approach
In competitive business world, setting a benchmark for others is no small feat, especially when you’re in a high-stakes position like a CEO. You are expected to deliver results, inspire teams, and stay ahead of constant change. What distinguishes an exceptional leader is the ability to lead with vision, build trust, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth. And Chris’s perspective aligns perfectly. He defines a great CEO as mission-driven, transparent, and adaptable. Leaders should be deeply involved on the front lines and willing to do the hard work alongside their teams, not from a distance but shoulder to shoulder, modeling servant leadership in real-time.
He shares, “I strive to embody this by staying actively involved in guiding clients, mentoring advisors, and making sure our faith-based mission is alive in every aspect of the firm—from onboarding to planning to long-term legacy building.”
Like steel tempered in fire, this seasoned professional has excelled in high-pressure, fast-moving environments that sharpened his ability to learn quickly, adapt swiftly, and grow stronger through every challenge. He’s a firm believer that the true engine behind any successful venture is its people. With an unwavering focus on people-first progress, deep industry experience, and a passion for continuous growth, he’s become a driving force at Stewardship Wealth Management. His commitment and impact have earned him a well-deserved spot among the “Top 10 Most Inspiring CEOs to Follow in 2025.”
Building Trust and Inspiring Confidence in Financial Relationships
Earning people’s trust is everything to Chris at Stewardship Wealth Management. He does it by being a fiduciary and having extensive knowledge of relationships. The company uses an integrated approach under his leadership. This includes an in-house estate planning team, tax coordination through CPA partnerships, and exclusive access to investments. All of these things are designed to provide clients with real value. Chris considers that the most important thing here is to listen deeply and empathetically. He believes that every steward carries a story, and it’s the company’s responsibility to ensure that each financial plan aligns with the client’s values and goals. His mantra is simple. Trust begins when people feel seen, heard, and supported. When money is involved, the situation becomes a deeply personal matter. For Chris, real change starts when there is a perfect synergy between strategy and each client’s unique story.
Cultivating a Culture of Learning, Empowerment, and Purpose
Chris has transformed Stewardship Wealth Management into an educational institution where learning is a constant, training advisors, mentoring with intention, and prioritizing spiritual growth. At Stewardship, the mission speaks to the heart as much as the head. He avers that EVP Denise Allison’s leadership of weekly reporting and individual mentoring was crucial to the success of the endeavor. The team is more invested in their purpose, and advisors are working better as a result of Denise’s efforts to establish weekly reporting and coaching frameworks.
As a result of Chris’s leadership, Stewardship Wealth has become one of the fastest growing wealth management firms in Texas. It has an environment where employees are honest with one another, supportive of each other’s goals, and continually strive to improve. He fosters an environment where team members feel comfortable voicing their opinions and are encouraged to develop personally and professionally.
Leading Beyond the Ledger: Where Empathy Drives Real Return
While most people measure leadership by metrics and milestones, Chris finds his greatest wins in something less quantifiable, but far more enduring: people. One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership for him has been watching advisors grow into their calling. He has spent much time mentoring and training others, not just in technical skills but also in how to lead with empathy, clarity, and conviction. What makes him feel humble is seeing those principles take hold and grow, with advisors enhancing the client experience and raising the bar for the entire firm.
Chris often sees parts of his early journey in them, like the struggles he faced, his desire to learn, and his strong desire to do right by others. Many of those same advisors are now helping clients transform their lives for the better.
“One client recently said, ‘For the first time in my life, I feel like I can rest when it comes to my finances, I’m not overwhelmed, I’m not anxious—I finally feel at peace.'” Chris recalls, “That’s the kind of transformation that reminds me why we do this, knowing that we bring that same peace to more families—that’s the most inspiring part of all.”
The Road Wasn’t Easy—But It Was Worth It
Nothing was handed to him. Chris had to earn his place the hard way. The journey was anything but smooth, and from the driver’s seat, he had to keep his eyes fixed on the road ahead. One major hurdle came in 2024 with their transition away from previous broker/dealer. It meant three months without production. This was an actual test of resilience and conviction. But Chris led his team with transparency, prayerful intent, and a spirit of deep collaboration. In the end, the move set the stage for long-term growth and reminded them that bold decisions, grounded in purpose, are part of the Stewardship mission.
If the road to success has its share of steep climbs, it also rewards the faithful with purpose and perspective. When asked to share the key achievements at Stewardship Wealth Management that he’s most proud of and how they continue to fuel his inspiration, Chris’s eyes are lit with a quiet fire of fulfillment and resolute purpose.
“I’m proud of our transition to Arkadios (our new Broker/Dealer), which empowered us to serve clients more holistically,” he shares. But that’s just the start. He’s also proud of scaling their advisor segmentation model, a move that now allows the firm to match stewards to advisors who best align with their stage of life. Most of all, it’s the stories that move him, such as families finding peace, giving more generously, and preparing legacies that will bless generations.
Staying Inspired in Wealth Management: CEO’s Strategic Roadmap for 2025
This industry trailblazer draws inspiration from witnessing stewards flourish and lives transformed. Whether retirees give generously, young families build wisely, and legacies take shape, Chris finds renewed purpose in every story. What fuels his personal growth? He responds, “I also invest in my own learning, lean on my faith, and remain surrounded by a leadership team that sharpens me daily—including Dan Alan Jenkins, our COO, and Tyler Maness, our President—both of whom are instrumental to our growth.”
Chris is a visionary leader who plans well ahead, blending foresight with action. While acknowledging destiny’s role, he firmly believes in being a ‘doer.’ His clear agenda for Stewardship Wealth Management in 2025 centers on deepening impact while broadening reach. Beyond organic growth through client referrals and digital channels, they are actively pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions. This year, they aim to acquire 2–3 advisory practices that share their values and client-first culture. The goal is to extend their holistic, faith-based planning model to more stewards without losing the personalized service that defines them. As they grow, the focus remains on the thoughtful integration of new advisors, operational excellence, and scaling while preserving the personal relationships at the company’s core.
Emerging Financial Trends: Leading with Purpose to Inspire Lasting Change
This seasoned C-suite executive has witnessed emerging trends such as tech-driven personalization, values-aligned investing, and the massive intergenerational wealth transfer open remarkable opportunities, but also demand deeper responsibility. “As a CEO in wealth management,” Chris emphasizes, “we must go beyond products and platforms.”
He knows that the role has evolved from advisor to family CFO, guiding stewards holistically through taxes, legacy, philanthropy, investments, estate planning, and aligning wealth with personal values. It’s no longer just about financial returns. Instead, it’s about decision-making grounded in eternal perspective and generational wisdom. By leveraging AI and automation, Chris believes they can deliver sharper, more personalized insights. However, it’s a purpose that truly gives those insights meaning. At Stewardship Wealth Management, our focus is on helping clients steward not just their net worth but also their life’s pursuits. This, he says, is the future of leadership in wealth management: impact, trust, and long-term transformation.
The Power of Work-Life Balance
Excelling solely on the professional front while sidelining personal life can be unsustainable. For Chris, striking a meaningful balance is essential. He stays grounded through faith, family, and rest, knowing that true leadership demands clarity that comes from being rooted in what truly matters. He prioritizes spiritual growth, which usually includes taking rest and refuge in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Church and daily reads in the word) He also cherishes meaningful family moments, especially watching his kids play sports, which fills him with joy.
Over time, Chris has learned, “Rest isn’t just downtime—it’s intentional renewal.” By stepping away when needed, he shows up stronger for his team and the families they serve. He leads by example, believing that healthy leaders create healthy organizations.
Key Advice for Aspiring CEOs: Lead with Conviction and Values
For Chris, leadership is about conviction, not just about title or control. As CEO of Stewardship Wealth Management, he offers a timeless blueprint for aspiring CEOs who want to lead with inspiration: “Build something that reflects your beliefs, not just your ambitions.”
He encourages future leaders to anchor themselves in faith, integrity, and purpose, reminding them that leadership without values is hollow. “Lead with conviction, not convenience,” Chris advises, urging these aspirants to build cultures that serve others before themselves, surround themselves with truth-tellers, and stay humble enough to keep learning.
He considers that the most inspirational leaders aren’t the loudest or the most visible. They’re the ones who live their values, serve their teams, and lead by example. At Stewardship, Chris models this daily, whether mentoring advisors, guiding families through complex decisions, or stepping away to invest in faith and family. Chris’s closing wisdom: “Never underestimate the power of faith and grit.” It’s how he leads, inspires, and transforms wealth management into something deeply human.
