As a relatively young advisor whose age aligns nicely with many of the team’s newer clients, Chris finds that serving “the next generation” in clients’ families occurs naturally to him – whether conversations revolve around mutual interests, recent experiences or raising a family. An active and engaged listener, Chris brings clients an intuitive understanding of their priorities and passions. He is particularly adept at helping clients discern their long-term goals before identifying specific strategies and tactics that align with those intentions.  “Whether a client’s focus is retirement, wealth transfer, or something business-related. I examine their current financial picture and areas that may have been ignored previously, perhaps insurance or liability management,” Chris says. “Building a strong financial foundation for clients is a critical first step in helping them build wealth and confidence.” Before joining Merrill in 2022, Chris was an associate financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial, where he handled financial planning and portfolio management. He holds the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor™, APMA™ designation through the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp.Introduced to investing at the age of 18 by his father, Chris has been an avid student of the markets. The more he read about wealth planning and long-term investing, the more Chris grew fascinated – turning his interest into a career choice that led him to Missouri State University where he “graduated twice” – earning a B.S. degree in Finance, an MBA, and a graduate certificate in International Business. At MSU, Chris was also a 2020 Cleveland Srixon All-American Scholar Athlete in Golf. He still plays today, although his favorite activities revolve around family time (grilling, especially) with his wife, Madison, and their young son. In addition, Chris is currently on the board for Rotaract Springfield and an active member of Springfield Sertoma Club.