Our Mission
Our mission at Stephens Planning is to help people achieve and enjoy the retirement lifestyle of their dreams. We work to identify your priorities involving Financial Development, Investment Strategy, and Estate Organization. We fully understand the significance of your client experience and have an unwavering professional commitment to providing excellent service. Our goal is to empower people to make confident financial decisions that provide them with peace of mind, so they can live their dreams and chase their passions.
Hi, I’m Curtis
I didn’t grow up dreaming of spreadsheets and stock tickers. My first job wasn’t in finance. I’ve worked in hospitals, on towboats, and in situations where you learn quickly how to keep calm under pressure and how to serve people when they’re scared, overwhelmed, and need someone steady.
That’s where my passion for this work started, not in finance exactly, but in helping people when the stakes are high.
Eventually, I found my way into a small financial firm. I was answering phones and filing papers, and honestly, wasn’t sure if it was the right fit. But then I started noticing something. The people calling in weren’t just asking about money. They were asking about life. Can I afford to retire? Should I sell the house? Will my spouse be okay if something happens to me?
And I realized: this work, real financial planning, is just another form of being there when it counts. It’s a different kind of emergency response—but no less urgent.
What I Do (and Why I Do It)
Here’s the truth: Money is emotional. It’s not about spreadsheets or perfect timing. It’s about clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
I work with people who are approaching or living in retirement. People asking questions like:
● Can I retire and still support the people I love?
● What happens if the market crashes?
● What if I get sick? Will I be OK?
I help answer those questions—not with false certainty, but with honest, thoughtful planning grounded in your values. And if I don’t know something, I’ll tell you. Then go find the answer.
I do this work because I’ve been through my own hard seasons. I know what it feels like to carry financial stress alone. That’s why I try to be the kind of advisor I wish I had back then, calm, clear, and committed to doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.
Founder of Stephens Planning LLC
Today, I’m the founder of Stephens Planning LLC, a firm dedicated to helping clients build, protect, and preserve their wealth through every stage of life. With a client-first philosophy and a
passion for personalized planning, I focus on financial development, investment strategy, and estate organization.
My clients include:
- Business owners
- Retirees
- Pre-retirees
- High net worth individuals and families
Before launching Stephens Planning, I gained valuable experience working across multiple organizations in the insurance industry. That experience gave me a well-rounded understanding of the unique financial challenges people face and shaped how I approach planning today, with heart, integrity, and a wide lens.
Credentials That Matter (and the Ones That Really Matter)
I’m licensed (Series 7, 63, 65) and fully credentialed to offer life insurance and annuity products, allowing me to build truly comprehensive financial strategies. But what really matters? I’ve been battle-tested.
I’ve sat at kitchen tables during market crashes. I’ve taken calls the night after a spouse passed, celebrated retirements and walked through heartbreak. That kind of trust isn’t built in a discovery meeting. It’s earned through years of showing up, listening well, and doing what I said I would.
When it comes to taxes (yes, taxes), I don’t flinch. They’re one of the biggest threats to your retirement, and avoiding them doesn’t help. I lean in, ask hard questions, and build strategies that align with what matters most to you.
Who I Am, Really
Outside the office, I’m a dad. A volunteer. A guy who’s been knocked down and gotten back up more than once. I serve on the local zoning board, support organizations like Adult AndTeen Challenge, and stay active in my church. I don’t talk about faith or values to impress you—I try to live by them instead.
I also value time with family and friends, often spending weekends at community events or exploring the outdoors. Giving back is more than a tagline for me; it’s a way of life.
Let's Talk
If you’re looking for a glossy brochure, I’m probably not your guy.
But if you want a guide—someone who’s walked through fire (literally and figuratively) and came out stronger—someone for whom loyalty is not just a word but a way of life, then maybe we should talk.
Let’s have a 15-minute, no-pressure, no-BS conversation about your money, your life, and what really matters