Stephen Horstmann is an Associate Financial Planner at RTD Financial. Prior to joining the RTD team, Stephen was a Wealth Advisor at BlueSky Wealth Advisors in North Carolina where he worked directly with clients of all types, from business owners and young accumulators to those making the transition into retirement. Stephen looks at the client-planner relationship like a partnership. Everyone has different circumstances, goals, and aspirations, so getting to know each client on a deep level is paramount. Stephen helps navigate the waters of personal finance so that families can not only reach, but maintain financial independence, while never feeling alone in the process.
Stephen had 3.5 years of experience as a financial planner before coming to RTD. Since entering the industry in 2018, he has been emphatic that the client’s interests come first, no matter what. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and NAPFA Genesis and has two degrees from Texas Tech University. He received a B.A. in English before working towards and receiving an M.S. in Personal Financial Planning. He believes that his degree in English has served him well in communicating with clients and being able to simplify complex financial planning topics. Stephen’s specialties are estate planning, tax planning, and private real estate investing.
In his free time, Stephen can be found playing guitar, working out, reading books, riding horses, or hanging out with his mut, Buddy. Now that he’s back in the neighborhood, he likes to catch up with friends and cheer on Philly sports teams, too. Go Birds!
Getting to Know Stephen
What do you enjoy most about working at RTD?
My colleagues. Everyone is not only incredibly talented and smart, but humble. Everything we do is for the good of our clients, and when the culture is like RTD’s, everyone can better serve them while always striving to improve.
What makes you good at what you do?
I’ve always been very empathetic. That, coupled with my listening skills, helps me better step into the client’s shoes so I can better understand and serve them.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.