A Message From Our New CEO
Written by Brian Shepler
I am grateful and humbled by the Board of Directors’ invitation to serve as the next CEO of Blue Trust―just the fourth CEO in the company’s 45-year history. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity before us to maximize the firm’s mission and continue providing trusted, biblical financial counsel to help clients make wise financial decisions, live generously, and leave a lasting legacy.
As I near my 24th anniversary at Blue Trust, I am thankful for the years of witnessing God’s faithfulness as He has provided leaders specifically gifted to guide the firm through each season of growth and expansion. God has also faithfully provided strategic partners to enhance our advisory offering, produced incredibly talented team members who fully embrace the firm’s mission, and brought amazing clients with generous hearts to intentionally steward the resources God has entrusted to them.
I am especially grateful for my predecessor, Nick Stonestreet, and his capable leadership over the past seven years. Nick led our transition to a trust company platform, enhanced our investment offering, established our institutional advisory and complex trust/estate capabilities, and introduced a new firm-wide operating system (EOS), all while consistently reinforcing Blue Trust’s core values and promoting increased diversity among teams across the country. He made a significant impact on the firm and we are blessed he will continue to be engaged as Chairman of the Board.
As I take on this new role, I am thankful for the support of our majority owner and capital partner, Casey Crawford, whose experience as a client and passion for our mission makes him the perfect advocate for Blue Trust. In addition, Casey’s investment in key strategic partners, namely Vident Financial and Sovereign’s Capital, has created a complementary team committed to working closely with Blue Trust to develop bespoke Kingdom-focused solutions for our various client segments.
Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (KJV). I’m grateful for the dedicated leadership team at Blue Trust and the clear vision they have established. By 2030, we anticipate that our growing clientele (targeting 25,000 households) will have cumulatively contributed $2 billion to worthwhile causes, and our advisor base will grow to over 300. Our aspiration is to be the Advisor of Choice for Christian individuals, families, and Kingdom-aligned institutions and the Employer of Choice for team members seeking to fully integrate their faith into their daily work.
To achieve that compelling vision, Blue Trust leadership is implementing strategies to attract outstanding, like-minded talent at all levels of the organization, create capacity through the implementation of innovative tools and resources, and expand our philanthropic advisory platform and capabilities, among other exciting initiatives. Technology is rapidly changing the financial-services landscape, and we are committed to keeping pace and embracing exciting opportunities to enhance the client experience.
The fields are ripe for harvest and Kingdom impact, and I am grateful and humbled to be engaged in this work! Trillions of dollars will transition generationally over the next 20 years, and Blue Trust is perfectly positioned “for such a time as this” to help clients experience peace of mind and fulfillment on their stewardship journey.
1 Timothy 6:17-19