Mission Wealth Announces the Retirement of Co-Founder Seth Streeter After 26 Years of Leadership and Impact
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Mission Wealth Announces the Retirement of Co-Founder Seth Streeter After 26 Years of Leadership and Impact

After more than 26 years of visionary leadership, Mission Wealth celebrates the retirement of Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer Seth Streeter. From helping build one of the nation’s leading independent wealth management firms to championing life-centered planning, community impact, and meaningful relationships, Seth leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire our team, clients, and communities for generations to come.

A Legacy Built on Purpose, Relationships, and Service

What began in 2000 as a shared vision between Seth Streeter and me (Brad Stark) has grown into one of the nation’s leading independent Registered Investment Advisory firms. Today, Mission Wealth serves more than 5,250 client families nationwide, employs more than 225 team members, and manages over $16.8 billion in assets under management and advisement.

While the firm’s growth has been remarkable, Seth’s legacy extends far beyond the firm’s success. Over the years, he became widely recognized as a champion of purpose-driven leadership, life-centered financial planning, and community impact, helping shape conversations within both the wealth management profession and the communities Mission Wealth serves.

Throughout his career, Seth became a respected voice on life-centered planning and the idea that true wealth extends beyond financial assets. For more than a decade, he has shared these ideas through keynote presentations, industry conferences, podcasts, television interviews, and his TEDx talk on redefining wealth.

Seth’s passion for creating impact extended well beyond Mission Wealth. He served on numerous nonprofit and community boards while launching collaborative initiatives that brought together businesses, nonprofits, schools, government organizations, and community leaders to address important social and environmental challenges.

Among those efforts were founding the Fast Pitch SB nonprofit venture competition and the Sustainable Future initiative, fundraising events such as the Tea Fire Relief Concert at the Music Academy, multiple Channel Swim campaigns benefiting environmental organizations, and years of volunteering in local schools and coaching his children’s youth athletics.

During Mission Wealth’s 2026 annual retreat in Chicago, Seth announced his retirement to team members and reflected on the philosophy that guided both his career and his life. He shared what he calls the five “vowels” of fulfillment: Achievements, Experiences, Impact, Overcoming challenges, and “U“—the relationships that give meaning to everything else.


Seth Streeter Retirement Internal Image


Building a Different Kind of Wealth Management Firm

When Seth and Brad founded Mission Wealth, they envisioned a different kind of advisory firm—one that combined exceptional fiduciary financial guidance with a deeper commitment to improving lives.

Over the years, that vision expanded beyond wealth management.

Under Seth’s leadership, Mission Wealth launched and expanded numerous initiatives focused on community engagement, philanthropy, sustainability, volunteerism, and educational opportunities through programs such as Inspired Living and Mission Scholars. His passion for impact became woven into the firm’s identity and has inspired countless team members, clients, and community partners to do the same.

Colleagues often describe Seth as Mission Wealth’s cultural architect. His emphasis on purpose, optimism, collaboration, and servant leadership helped create an organization where caring for one another is valued just as highly as caring for clients. Those principles continue to shape how Mission Wealth recruits, develops, and supports its team members today.

A Message from Our Leadership

For Co-Founder Brad Stark, the retirement marks the closing of a remarkable chapter and the beginning of a new one. “When Seth and I started Mission Wealth, we had no way of knowing how extraordinary this journey would become. Through every challenge, milestone, and opportunity, Seth remained deeply committed to our people, our clients, and our purpose. He brought vision to every conversation and heart to every decision. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and grateful for the friendship and partnership we’ve shared over the last 26 years.”

“Seth helped create the foundation upon which Mission Wealth stands today,” said Matthew Adams, CEO of Mission Wealth. “His vision, optimism, and commitment to making a meaningful difference have influenced every stage of our growth. Beyond building a successful firm, Seth helped build a culture that attracts exceptional people and inspires them to do their best work. We are deeply grateful for his leadership, friendship, and the example he has set for all of us.”

Mission Wealth President Dannell Stuart reflected on Seth’s influence across the organization. “Seth has always encouraged us to think bigger—not just about business growth, but about our impact on clients, communities, and one another. His energy, creativity, and genuine care for people have shaped Mission Wealth in countless ways. While we will miss his daily presence, his influence will continue to guide our culture and mission for years to come.”


Seth Streeter Retirement Internal Image 2


Continuing the Mission

As Mission Wealth enters its next chapter, the firm remains committed to the values that Seth helped establish: putting clients first, investing in meaningful relationships, supporting communities, and helping families achieve lives of purpose and fulfillment.

Seth leaves behind an enduring legacy—not only as a founder, but as a leader who challenged others to think beyond financial success and focus on significance, purpose, and meaningful relationships. While Seth is retiring from his day-to-day responsibilities, Mission Wealth’s experienced leadership team and partner group remain well-positioned to continue building upon the culture, vision, and client-first philosophy he helped establish.

On behalf of our clients, team members, partners, and friends, thank you, Seth, for your vision, your service, and the countless lives you have touched.

Congratulations on a remarkable career and best wishes for the adventures ahead!

This article is a 5-minute read, or you can watch our video

Mission Wealth is a Registered Investment Adviser. This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Mission Wealth employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Mission Wealth or performance returns of any Mission Wealth client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Mission Wealth manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Michelle Winkles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

Michelle Winkles is an innovative marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations grow through strategic marketing, brand development, digital transformation, and AI-forward innovation. As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, she leads the firm’s enterprise marketing strategy, supporting both organic and integration-driven growth while expanding the company’s national reach.

Michelle is known for building modern marketing organizations that combine data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and authentic storytelling to create meaningful client experiences. She has developed a sophisticated marketing technology ecosystem that strengthens brand visibility, improves engagement, and helps transform prospects into long-term client relationships. Today, she is leading Mission Wealth’s AI-forward marketing initiatives, integrating artificial intelligence across content strategy, advisor enablement, digital experiences, and marketing operations to drive scalable growth while keeping the human connection at the center.

Passionate about advancing the marketing profession within wealth management, Michelle is the co-founder of the CMO Collective, the RIA industry’s first peer community dedicated to bringing marketing leaders together to share ideas, challenge one another, and elevate the profession. She also hosts a monthly virtual Marketing Leaders Meetup, where chief marketing officers and senior marketing executives from leading wealth management firms collaborate on emerging trends, best practices, and the future of the industry. In addition, she authors The State of Wealth Management Marketing, a thought leadership series highlighting the evolving strategies, technologies, and conversations shaping the next generation of marketing in the RIA space.

A respected voice in the industry, Michelle is frequently invited to speak at national conferences, participate in executive leadership panels, and join podcasts focused on AI, growth strategy, digital transformation, advisor enablement, and innovation in wealth management.

Michelle’s leadership has earned national recognition. She was named RIA Chief Marketing Officer of the Year at the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards and has been honored by the Pacific Coast Business Times as both a Top Woman in Business and a 40 Under 40 recipient.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Nonprofit Social Business from Antioch University, Santa Barbara.

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