“Treat Everyone the Way You Want to Be Treated.”
Christopher Waters is a seasoned financial executive, respected advisor, and accomplished board leader whose four-decade career has been defined by integrity, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to helping individuals and organizations achieve long-term success. Throughout his professional journey, Christopher has built a reputation as a trusted financial expert who combines analytical expertise with genuine relationship-building, allowing him to guide clients, institutions, and leadership teams through both opportunity and adversity. His leadership style is rooted in authenticity, accountability, and a deep understanding of human connection, qualities that have distinguished him across every stage of his career.
Born with a competitive spirit and a natural inclination toward leadership, Christopher developed an early appreciation for discipline, teamwork, and perseverance during his years as a student-athlete at Missouri State University. While earning his Bachelor of Science degree in General Business and Marketing, he spent four years playing collegiate football, an experience that helped shape the resilience, work ethic, and strategic mindset that would later define his professional career. His education in business and marketing provided the foundation for his understanding of organizational growth, client engagement, and financial strategy, while athletics taught him the value of preparation, communication, and leadership under pressure.
Christopher’s professional journey began in the financial services industry during an era of significant market evolution and economic transformation. Early in his career, he quickly demonstrated a unique ability to connect with clients while navigating the complexities of investment management and financial planning. His talent for building trust, understanding people, and identifying strategic opportunities positioned him as a rising leader within the financial sector. Over time, he became known not only for his technical financial expertise but also for his ability to provide thoughtful guidance during critical financial and business decisions.
Over the course of his career, Christopher held senior leadership positions with several highly respected financial institutions, including George K. Baum & Company, Stifel Nicolaus, Oppenheimer & Co., Wells Fargo Advisors, and Robert W. Baird & Co. At each organization, he steadily advanced into increasingly influential executive and advisory roles, earning recognition for his professionalism, leadership capabilities, and ability to cultivate lasting client relationships. His experience spans wealth management, investments, equity research and trading, retirement planning, executive advisory services, and strategic financial oversight, providing him with a broad and well-rounded perspective on the financial landscape.
One of Christopher’s greatest strengths has always been his ability to lead through relationships. While many financial professionals focus solely on numbers and performance metrics, Christopher built his career by understanding the human side of business. He possesses an exceptional ability to evaluate character, identify underlying challenges, and help individuals and organizations uncover solutions that create long-term value. This combination of financial acumen and interpersonal intelligence has enabled him to earn the trust of executives, business owners, institutional leaders, and clients throughout his career.
Christopher spent more than a decade serving as Vice President and Financial Advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co., where he advised clients throughout the country on investment strategies, retirement planning, and financial growth initiatives. In this role, he became a valued resource for individuals and organizations seeking stability, strategic guidance, and financial clarity. His leadership and advisory capabilities helped clients navigate market fluctuations, economic uncertainty, and long-term wealth planning with confidence and discipline.
Before joining Baird, Christopher served as First Vice President and Investment Officer with Wells Fargo Advisors as part of the Gollier, Henning & Waters Financial Consulting Group. During this period, he further expanded his expertise in high-level financial consulting, executive advisory services, and investment management. Earlier executive positions with Oppenheimer & Co., Stifel Nicolaus, and George K. Baum & Company allowed him to refine his leadership style while deepening his knowledge of capital markets, financial operations, and organizational strategy. These experiences collectively gave Christopher a comprehensive understanding of business development, client management, and financial leadership across multiple economic cycles.
In addition to his extensive corporate experience, Christopher has demonstrated a deep commitment to governance and public service through his involvement with Missouri State University’s Board of Governors. Serving on the Board from 2020 through 2026, including a term as Chair of the Board in 2023, Christopher played a meaningful role in helping guide the institution’s strategic direction and governance priorities. His experience in board leadership strengthened his understanding of institutional oversight, executive collaboration, and long-term strategic planning. It also reinforced his passion for helping organizations build sustainable futures through strong governance and principled leadership.
Now retired from full-time financial advisory work, Christopher remains energized by the opportunity to contribute his expertise through board service, advisory roles, and strategic consulting opportunities. With more flexibility in this stage of his life, he is focused on helping organizations solve problems, identify opportunities, and strengthen leadership effectiveness. He brings a calm, thoughtful presence to complex situations and is particularly passionate about uncovering critical information, evaluating challenges objectively, and helping leadership teams arrive at solutions that benefit all stakeholders. His experience taking companies public and navigating complex financial environments positions him as a valuable resource for organizations seeking growth, stability, and operational insight.
Christopher’s professional interests extend across several industries, including finance, sports, restaurant and hospitality, and the automotive sector. His broad perspective, combined with decades of leadership experience, allows him to adapt quickly to different organizational environments and leadership cultures. He is also open to travel and values opportunities to engage with organizations that are mission-driven, growth-oriented, and committed to long-term excellence.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Christopher leads an active and balanced lifestyle centered around health, fitness, and personal connection. An avid golfer, swimmer, and sports enthusiast, he enjoys staying active and engaged while maintaining lifelong passions that reflect his competitive nature and appreciation for teamwork. He is also a dedicated fan of major sporting events and regularly attends the local Chiefs and Royals professional team games, combining his love of sports with opportunities to build meaningful personal and professional relationships.
At the core of Christopher’s life and career is a simple but powerful philosophy: “Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.” This guiding principle has shaped the way he leads, advises, and interacts with others. Whether working with clients, colleagues, board members, or executives, Christopher believes success is built on trust, fairness, respect, and honest communication. His legacy is not only reflected in the organizations and individuals he has helped over the years, but also in the relationships he has built and the lives he has positively impacted along the way.
Character:
Christopher Waters consistently demonstrates integrity, humility, and professionalism in every aspect of his career and personal life. He believes in treating people with fairness and respect, which has allowed him to build strong and lasting relationships throughout his professional journey. His reputation for honesty, accountability, and principled leadership has earned the trust of clients, executives, and board members alike.
Knowledge:
He possesses more than four decades of expertise in financial services, investments, wealth management, and strategic advisory leadership. His broad experience across multiple financial institutions has given him a comprehensive understanding of capital markets, organizational growth, and executive decision-making. He combines technical financial knowledge with practical business insight, enabling him to provide meaningful guidance across a variety of industries and leadership environments.
Strategic:
Christopher has a strong ability to analyze complex situations, identify opportunities, and develop solutions that support long-term organizational success. His experience serving in executive leadership and board governance roles has strengthened his understanding of strategic planning, institutional oversight, and sustainable growth initiatives. He is highly skilled at uncovering critical information, evaluating challenges objectively, and helping organizations move forward with confidence and clarity.
Communication:
Known for his approachable communication style and ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and professional levels. He communicates with clarity, sincerity, and professionalism, helping individuals and organizations feel understood and supported throughout important decisions. His leadership presence, combined with his ability to listen thoughtfully and build consensus, has made him an effective advisor, executive, and board leader.
