Steven Bowles ’03 had dreams to work for himself and run a business of his own, but he didn’t rush to get there. Graduating with a degree in business administration in 2003, he spent several years in sales and business development before transitioning into a career of wealth transfer planning.
Five years into this new career, he mentioned to his wife, Christiana (Melillo) Bowles ’04, that this was the industry in which he wanted to strike out on his own, but he didn’t think he had the experience or credentials quite yet to do so. He decided to pursue additional credentials and broadened his responsibilities at his employer to gain the experience needed. After two years, his employer needed to suddenly close their doors, giving Steven the final push he needed to fly solo. He opened Catalyst Advisory in Fall 2022.
Catalyst is a life insurance advisory group that takes a personalized and collaborative approach to wealth transfer planning. As a Chartered Life Underwriter, Steven offers independent advice for advanced planning and life insurance to help clients choose the right policy based on individual needs, understand terms and conditions, and navigate the claims process. He also manages a number of high net worth clients and assists them with their wealth transfer planning.
While it is part of the challenge of business ownership, one thing that Steven enjoys the most about working for himself is the ability to make quick decisions. He’s the boss, which means that he has the opportunity to make business decisions as quickly and efficiently as he desires. The “power to say ‘yes’” is something he enjoys and has been good for elevating the profile of his business on several podcasts.
The strategic emphasis that he places on networking has only been further enriched by his growing circle of like minded clients and partners who share both a faith in Christ and a desire to do business well. This community of believers is something he had during his undergraduate studies but had been missing for the first few decades of his career, and he is very grateful to have these relationships supporting his work once again.
In an industry often “wrought with confusion,” Steven enjoys bringing clarity and peace to his clients as they make long term financial decisions. He desires to continue to build a business that honors the Lord and, one day, have the opportunity to pass his business on to his sons.
