Stephen J. Peterson
Founder & Principal
Stephen is the Founder and Managing Partner of Elevate Financial Partners and serves as the business planning, high net worth, and estate planning financial advisor for the team. Stephen brings a plethora of leadership & production experience as well as financial planning success formulas for clients. Stephen has achieved national & global success at major financial institutions and within the MDRT. Stephen has attained the highest honor for MDRT, Top of The Table three times, the next highest honor, Court of the Table twice, and third level of MDRT many times. Stephen has been a featured speaker at three major mutual life insurance companies for other financial advisors around financial planning strategies, client acquisition processes, and sharing his experiences around career growth and success. Stephen has also attracted, developed & mentored many successful financial advisors.
In his role as such, Stephen offers comprehensive financial analyses and services to a range of clients (including individuals, families, small business owners, larger corporations, high net-worth individuals, and professional athletes) and helps develop the firm partners, advisors, employees and consultants.
Stephen also oversees all of the systems, processes, procedures, client acquisition, client experience, and growth of Elevate. Stephen is very passionate about clients of the firm receiving top notch service, recommendations, and over all pleasant experience. Stephen is always looking toward the future and wants Elevate Financial Partners to continue to grow by attracting and consulting with the brightest minds in the industry that want to become a part of the firm. He has a passion for mentoring and developing financial advisors.
Stephen grew up in Pasadena, California before moving to Newport Beach in High School. While attending the University of Montana (Go Griz!), Stephen had an experience that altered the course of his life. He suffered a severe stroke that would have a lasting impact and put an end to his promising football career. This was a challenge that Stephen was determined to overcome, learning along the way the importance of overcoming challenges and being open to new possibilities in life. It was this experience that opened him to pursue a career helping people with their financial futures.
Connecting with clients and building long-lasting relationships is what Stephen enjoys most about his work. He strives to be a trusted partner that clients can turn to for whatever they may need. He says it is all about helping people feel safe, secure, and accomplished because of the work we have done. He also loves knowing we have a team of genuine, hard-working advisors who would do anything to help our clients. Stephen gets filled up emotionally when he can help people and believes he is alive today to be of service to others.
Stephen’s favorite quote is: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky.