Christopher Schumacher, CFP®

Partner

EMAIL: c.schumacher@asendowealth.com

As partner and co-founder of Asendo Wealth, Chris is deeply committed to guiding his clients through complex financial challenges, and to championing the firm's mission “to do good” for clients and the community alike.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, international business, The Ohio State University

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

• Invest in more than a dozen organizations committed to fighting human trafficking and those that serve at-risk children.

• Serve as a very enthusiastic announcer for my daughters’ high school varsity soccer games.

• Participate with my family in a number of volunteer service and fundraising projects. Together, we’ve packed backpacks with school supplies, assembled holiday gift baskets for child trafficking survivors, served meals to unhoused families, attended and contributed to countless fundraising events, and led community-building events in our neighborhood.

• Previously served as a board member for Freedom A La Cart, a social enterprise that empowers survivors of sex trafficking with job readiness skills and wrap around services; and as board member for Kids ‘n Kamp, an organization that served as a lifeline of support for families facing childhood cancer.

• Honored to have received several awards in recognition of professional achievement and community service including Business First 40 Under 40 award, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business’ Alumni Award for Community Service and the Childhood League’s Schoedinger Family Service Award.

Q&A

What part of your work gives you the most satisfaction?

The client relationships that mean the most to me are the ones that span decades, where I have the privilege of walking alongside clients through life's milestones, from building careers and raising families to retiring with confidence and purpose. There is no greater professional satisfaction than seeing clients living the life they envisioned and knowing I played a small part in helping them get there.

What do you hope clients remember after working with you?   

I hope my clients remember me as someone who always acted with integrity, earned their trust, and genuinely cared about their well-being. More than anything, I hope they feel that I was a steadfast partner in helping them achieve financial security, peace of mind, and the freedom to pursue their dreams while supporting the people and causes that matter most to them.

What’s something about you that might surprise current or prospective clients?

I used to write market analysis articles for TheStreet.com, published two books about financial markets with McGraw-Hill, and formerly served as a frequent guest on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and “Bullseye,” and the local NBC-4 morning news.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My number one joy in life is spending time with my wife, Tara and our daughters, Ella and Kate. Whether it’s cheering for my daughters on the soccer field, watching our favorite TV shows and movies together, planning special vacations to experience the world together, or watching our daughters achieve their dreams, spending quality time with my family has always been my top priority. (And in full transparency, when my wife and daughters are busy, and when the weather cooperates, I also really enjoy spending time on the golf course!) 

If you weren’t in your current career, what would you be doing?

Financial advising has given me the opportunity to help people improve their lives and create lasting impact through their resources, and I find tremendous fulfillment in that work. But if I could do anything else professionally, I would devote my life to serving vulnerable children, following the example of my personal hero, Ralph Borde, founder of As Our Own. Ralph has dedicated his life to rescuing girls in India from some of the most desperate circumstances imaginable and providing them with not only safety and education, but also a family, a future, and the support to become leaders in their own right. I've met many extraordinary people in my lifetime, but no one has demonstrated a more profound commitment to serving vulnerable children than Ralph. 

Much of my volunteer and philanthropic work has centered on supporting survivors of human trafficking and those at risk of exploitation. I've had the privilege of participating in anti-trafficking outreach efforts in the United States and abroad, supporting survivors, helping fund educational initiatives, building a school for impoverished children in Cambodia, and establishing a scholarship for future social workers dedicated to combating human trafficking. Those experiences have reinforced a simple belief: every child deserves safety, dignity, opportunity, and at least one person who refuses to give up on them. I can think of no greater purpose than helping children who have endured unimaginable trauma find healing, hope, and the opportunity to build a future far brighter than their past. To me, that would be a life exceptionally well lived.

What are some fun facts about you?

I’m a lifelong hot dog aficionado, never pass up an opportunity to enjoy fresh oysters, and firmly believe that J. Alexander’s prime rib is among the best in the world. I’m also a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. Over the years, my fandom has expanded to include a Cubs-themed golf cart and a Cubs-themed basement. My favorite Cubs souvenir, however, is Anthony Rizzo’s fifth-inning home run ball from Game 6 of the 2016 National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, which I was lucky enough to catch in person during the Cubs’ unforgettable run to their 2016 World Series championship.