Chris J Gaddis is no newcomer to the ever-changing business world – he made his first foray into entrepreneurship at eleven. His company, “Kids at Work,” provided lawn maintenance and snow removal for his neighborhood, using flyers to market the company. Working for himself at such a young age solidified his desire to own his own business in the future.
Chris began his financial services career after graduating from Keuka College with a bachelor’s degree in Management and an Entrepreneurial concentration. Specifically, he was and continues to be a Financial Planner.
Working with individuals and business owners, Chris prides himself on an innovative, holistic, and personalized approach to Financial Planning. He begins every client relationship with a blank page and no preconceived notions about the outcomes. Most importantly, his insightful, client-centric planning enhances his clients’ financial security, allowing them to focus on more essential aspects of their lives.
The entrepreneur bug Chris caught back at age eleven remains. While serving his financial planning clients, specifically the business owners, Chris uncovered a pain point. His clients were struggling with rising healthcare costs for themselves and their employees. From this discovery, Shokunin Benefits was born. As a result, Chris saved his clients 20% in healthcare costs.
During his time at MetLife, Chris gained the attention of his peers when he developed and implemented an intuitive sales prospecting tool. At the request of his colleagues, he consulted on tailoring a personalized version of the sales tool for their client acquisition efforts. Chris formed another business to share his prospecting and marketing tools with a broader group of advisors.
Consulting continues to be a cornerstone of Chris’s business structure. While Chris has since sold this business, he continues to offer marketing consulting to financial advisors. And through Shokunin Benefits, he offers benefit consulting to business owners.
Chris is a multi-faceted professional who enjoys sharing his expertise, ingenuity, and talent with others across multiple owned businesses. While he has developed many skills since his first foray into business ownership, his passion for Financial Planning and Consulting remains at the forefront. This realization led Chris to establish an agency, Shokunin Financial, in 2017. His own financial services business ensures that individuals and companies receive top-notch service, trustworthy guidance, and innovative planning.
Outside of the office, you will find Chris and his family traveling to remote areas immersing themselves in different cultures while enjoying nature together.
Chris and his childhood sweetheart, who met at ages 13 and 14, call Central North Carolina home. They share their 17-acre farm with four children, pigs, chickens, bunnies, and cows. You will also see the neighbors’ pot-belly pigs wandering around but unlike George Clooney, Chris does not allow them in the house.
When at home, Chris and his family enjoy using their mostly wooded property for four-wheeling, hunting, and other outdoor activities. Chris is active in coaching and participating in sports such as baseball, soccer, and Tae Kwon-Doe with his kids.
The Gaddis family is always in search of new adventures and opportunities to spend time together. In 2021 they rented an RV and caravanned across the United States visiting National Parks, experiencing activities such as white water rafting, and visiting other cool attractions. The family frequently travels to faraway places like France, Italy, and Costa Rica.
Chris’s favorite hobbies and passions are basketball, listening to podcasts, reading books, and hot-tubbing with the family while watching movies on a big screen.
- Bachelors Degree in Management, concentration in Entrepreneurship, from Keuka College
- MBA, Empire State College
- A seasoned veteran with 16 years in the Financial Services industry
- An entrepreneur who has founded multiple small businesses
- Associates Degree in Banking and Finance from Alfred State University
- Graduate of National Bankers Association National Trust School
- Past President of the Greater Stamford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Executive Board member and Finance Committee Chair of the Otshedela Boy Scout Council
- Past Board of Trustees of the Catskill Mountain Educational Center
- Past Town of Stamford Board Member
- Past host of FM radio show “Money Train.”
- Series 7 – Securities and Exchange Commission Securities License
- Series 66 – NYS regulatory and laws license
- Life, Accident, & Health Insurance – life, disability, and LTC insurances
Schedule a fast and free chat
- gaddis.chris@gmail.com
PHONE NUMBER
- 803-818-7661