2020 Trusted Advisers Wealth Manager: Justin Setser

Justin Setser is all about connections when it comes to helping his financial clients achieve the best long-term results.

As vice president and relationship manager at Central Trust Co. for the past four years, Setser recognizes no two clients are alike. Therefore, every financial plan crafted for them is different, he says.

“When they begin to think of me as an extended member of their family, that is when they are the most open, honest and transparent about all aspects of their financial lives,” he says. “I have always found that trying to provide clients the highest level of service is not only rewarding, but necessary.”

In his short time at Central Trust, Setser has grown his assets under management to $162 million in 2019 from $123 million in 2017, an increase of nearly 32%. His over 90 clients have a combined net worth of roughly $325 million.

“My clients have trusted me to help manage their life savings, and to offer advice and planning opportunities that are always in their best interest,” he says. “This is something I do not take for granted, and they deserve nothing but the highest level of care. The greatest days of my professional career have come when clients told me the service or advice I provided them helped shape their future.”

Prior to landing at Central Trust in 2016, Setser’s professional career started in 2008 at State Bank of Southwest Missouri, where he served eight years as accounting manager and assistant vice president. In 2014, while maintaining his assistant vice president title, he became a financial adviser at the bank.

In his relationship manager role, Setser helps clients identify their financial strengths and weaknesses as he guides them through such services as investment management and estate planning. He fully anticipated a strong reaction from clients in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic in March, noting the S&P 500 was down nearly 34% in 33 days.

“As I made client calls to check in and see how everyone was doing, I quickly heard a resounding theme of calmness,” he says.

Setser says his clients were confident in their portfolios and the financial plan he helped craft for them. Only one of his 90-plus clients decided to reduce their stock allocation significantly.

“I knew that the hard work to prepare these financial plans had really paid off because it was making such an obvious impact on their mindset, comfort level and overall lives,” he says.

Outside the office, Setser is an active member of the Greene County Estate Planning Council and The Network, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s group for young professionals. He also serves as the membership chair of the ABC Networking group.

As a graduate of Leadership Springfield Signature Class 36, Setser is taking a leading role in Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks, for which he serves as board vice president.

“It is the organization’s goal to continue to offer support to worthwhile projects that educate, impact and empower not only those at end of life, but our community as a whole – both here in the Ozarks and beyond,” he says.