About Us

Our story only happens because of ones like yours.

A man and woman sitting at a desk looking at a laptop and smiling, in a modern office setting with a brick wall, bookshelves, and potted plants.

There are already too many people telling you how to spend your money.


When we started Silicon Beach Financial, we asked the question “Does the world really need another financial advisor?” And the answer, honestly, was no. Money advice isn’t necessarily cheap, but wealth advisors are a dime a dozen.

For every Fortune 500 company that had dozens of financial firms lining up, there were countless entrepreneurs and startups that were left to figure it out. To us, that just didn’t seem right.

The visionaries of today shape the world of tomorrow, well before they ever break seven figures of revenue or make headlines in The Wall Street Journal. These are the kinds of people we want to serve.

Passionate people are our people. And empowering your dreams is why we do what we do.

A smiling man in a blue suit and light blue shirt standing outdoors on a city street with blurred buildings and trees in the background.

Meet Christopher Stroup

Christopher Stroup, MBA, EA, CFP® is the founder and President of Silicon Beach Financial.

Guided professionally by the quote, “The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock,” Christopher was recognized as a future leader in the financial planning industry by being named to the 2021 InvestmentNews Class of 40 Under 40. In 2022, he found himself on LGBT Great’s Top 100 Gamechangers list, which recognizes 100 inspiring people who are helping to change the game for LGBTQ+ diversity, equity, and inclusion across the global financial services ecosystem.

After working as a petroleum engineer in the oil and gas industry, Christopher used his MBA from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to pivot into wealth management. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community that is passionate about the intersection of startups, entrepreneurship and wealth management, Christopher serves as the strategic financial partner trusted to navigate the financial planning complexities of executive leaders across both startups and Fortune 500 companies, as well as to many LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

Inspired by those clients who dared to dream and their infectious entrepreneurial spirit, Christopher created Silicon Beach Financial specifically to help those visionaries in underrepresented communities get the resources they need to thrive.

A native of the East Coast, he now calls Santa Monica home and spends much of his free time playing beach volleyball and catching up with his four older siblings and their seven children.

Featured In

Forbes logo in black text on a white background.
The Washington Post logo in black Gothic font on a white background.
Logo of U.S. News & World Report with black background and white text.
Nerdwallet logo with a black capital 'N' followed by the word 'nerdwallet' in black lowercase letters on a white background.
The cover of Reader's Digest magazine with the title in black font on a white background.
Consumer Affairs logo in black and white, featuring a star inside a hexagon.
CBS News logo in black and white.
Black and white logo with the text 'FOX BUSINESS' in bold capital letters.
Nasdaq logo in black and white.
Yahoo Finance logo in black text on a white background.
Black text reading 'BUSINESS INSIDER' on a white background.
USA TODAY logo with a black circle and bold black text on a white background.
The word 'Bankrate' in black text on a white background.
Black and white ABC News logo with the ABC circle on the left and the word 'NEWS' on the right.
Black and white CNN logo with bold letters.
GO Banking Rates logo with black and white text.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Silicon Beach Financial is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning practice. This means we don’t get paid a commission for recommending specific investments or financial products. We work for you and are paid only by you.

  • We partner with ambitious entrepreneurs that would consider themselves the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

  • We’re looking to work with collaborative and intentional individuals who want to be engaged in their financial planning process. Our clients are laid-back, family-oriented and want their money to reflect their values. We aren’t stock-pickers and believe in sticking to an investment plan over “timing” the market.

  • We don’t have a formal office. With the technology of today, we’re able to meet our clients wherever it’s most convenient for them. This could be via phone, email, video conferencing or in person at their home or office.

  • Yes. Christopher Stroup holds the CFP® designation from the CFP Board. This designation comes from a rigorous certification process and regular continuing education to maintain the CFP® professional mark. To learn more about the CFP Board, click here.

  • Yes. Christopher Stroup is an Enrolled Agent and certified to practice by the IRS. This means he can prepare and file tax returns for his clients.

  • Silicon Beach Financial is a fee-only financial planning and wealth management firm, which means that our compensation comes directly from the clients we serve. We do not receive commissions from companies by selling products. To learn more about our services and pricing, click here.

  • No. In fact, for many of our entrepreneurs, their wealth is tied up in their business. If you can afford our fee, you’re one step closer to being a fit for our services.

  • Silicon Beach Financial is virtual in nature, which enables us to assist clients beyond California. Although we are located in Silicon Beach, we are able to work with clients in other tech communities like Silicon Valley, Seattle, Boulder, Denver, Salt Lake City, Austin, New York, Boston, among others.

  • Schedule a Discovery Call. If you aren't quite ready to meet but you would like to keep in touch, please feel free to sign up for our monthly newsletter.