Steve was born and raised in Salmon Arm. He returned to his hometown in 1984 and entered the life insurance industry with Manulife Financial. As the industry evolved, Steve continued learning and became increasingly involved in investment and comprehensive financial planning.

In 1988, Steve and two business partners founded Hammer & Associates and Kootenay Valley Financial Services. In 1998, the company rebranded as Salmon Arm Financial Ltd. SAF – a full‑service boutique for financial planning and group benefits. In 2018, SAF split into two divisions: the benefits arm retained the SAF name, and Steve re‑focused on personal legacy, wealth, tax, and protection planning by launching Safe Wealth Planners Inc. (SWP), a family‑office style firm.

SWP serves clients through Steve’s expertise and education, combined with long-term relationships with professional partners. He remains current on tax and estate planning by attending industry and CALU conferences.

Steve dedicates countless hours to tracking governmental updates in Ottawa and leads SWP’s Family Wealth Planning division. While he primarily assists corporate clients in wealth, legacy, tax, and succession planning, he also advises clients on charitable giving. Creative and solutions-driven, he aligns products and structures to meet clients’ financial and estate goals, while maximizing tax savings.

His philosophy: Discover what matters to each client and recommend the best solution to meet their needs and wishes.