Stephen Kates, CFP®

Stephen Kates is a Certified Financial Planner™ and personal finance expert specializing in financial planning and education. Stephen is the former Head of Financial Planning for Advisor.com and now runs Clocktower Financial Consulting where he helps financial advisors and fintech brands deliver exceptional products. Armed with over a decade of experience, his work focuses on individuals, families and business owners who need help with their finances. Stephen leverages his passion for financial literacy to simplify complex topics and make financial planning accessible to everyone.

Starting in 2010, Stephen began his career as a financial advisor in Boston, MA. Throughout his early career as a financial advisor for two of the largest financial firms in the country, Fidelity Investments and TIAA-CREF, Stephen has helped hundreds of clients build comprehensive financial plans to grow and protect their wealth.

Outside of his work as an advisor, Stephen writes and speaks on the fundamentals of personal finance. He has appeared on national broadcasts, including NBC, CBS and Fox Business, and has been quoted in leading digital publications. Stephen’s in-depth financial planning and fintech business experience have made him an in-demand resource for other advisors, retirees and first-time savers alike.

Stephen currently lives and works in Charlotte, NC, with his wife Kate and son Theodore. He is a passionate Boston sports fan, but still relishes the local football and baseball games in his adopted home. Stephen is an avid traveler and enjoys collecting local artwork while traveling with his family.