Stefan is a lead advisor and is the President and CEO of Blankinship & Foster. He has been helping clients with their personal financial matters for over 20 years.
Stefan is a believer in giving back to the community through active participation. He has served on volunteer committees for several local organizations, including the YMCA, KPBS, and the United Way. He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation and has been a member of the Foundation’s Grant Committee.
Stefan is an active member of the Family Wealth Advisors Council, a national network of nine independent wealth management firms that collectively manage over $12 billion in assets. It’s a group of thought leaders that share ideas, strategies and lessons learned.
Stefan and his family live in Carlsbad. He enjoys biking, hiking, coaching, and spending time with his wife, three kids and the family dog.
What was your first job?
I had a paper route as a kid. I delivered the paper seven days a week, riding a bike through the neighborhood in the early mornings. Lots of lessons learned: how to keep the customer happy by delivering the paper in the most desirable location (under cars or in vegetation was not one of them), collecting payments door to door, and having a reliable backup person to deliver the paper when I was away.
What brought you to San Diego?
I originally came to San Diego for college. Shortly after graduation, I moved to the Washington DC area and that’s where I began my career as an advisor. After 10 years in DC, my wife and I returned to San Diego for good to raise our family. San Diego brings our family great joy, lots of smiles, and love of life — I would not want to be anywhere else.
What makes you proud to be part of the Blankinship & Foster Team?
The people! Any kind of joy, success, and fulfillment comes because of the people you team up with. We have bright, thoughtful, and caring team members that always look to help other people — it’s in their DNA. It’s a joy to see our team members grow, to learn, and to use their talents to help clients.