Chris Kyle

ckyle@smithrichardsgroup.com
206.275.3900 x123

Advisor

With a background in institutional asset management, Chris offers clients the best of both worlds: deep technical expertise and a genuine interest in people. He helps families and individuals make thoughtful, well-grounded financial decisions that reflect what matters most to them.

Outside of work, he can often be found running Seattle’s hills, experimenting in the kitchen, or spending time in the San Juans with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter.

What drew you to financial planning?

After nearly a decade in the institutional space—a phenomenal training ground for sharpening my investment abilities—I felt a steady pull toward the more personal side of the industry. Working with corporate and non-profit clients brought plenty of complex, fun challenges, but planning for families and individuals seemed like the logical next step for my professional identity, especially here in Seattle. I’d even considered running for local public office, but realized I’m most drawn to the intimate, focused, trust-based work that happens in a more concentrated space. That’s also why my role at SRG feels like more than a job; it’s a vocation that fits who I am and who I’m becoming

What does “better” mean to you?

Anything that feeds my curiosity and helps me grow in empathy is my “better.” I’ve always been hungry to learn, and finance isn’t just numbers and formulas—it’s a window into psychology and how people interact with systems. I’m lucky to work in a space where when I’m not engaging with people I genuinely enjoy, I’m residing in carved out time to read, reflect, and bring new ideas back to my clients.

To the latter, I believe empathy is the bedrock of emotional intelligence, which in my view matters just as much as technical knowledge. It’s what helps clients feel heard and understood, a path that almost always leads to better outcomes.

What’s something people are surprised to learn about you?

My education isn’t in finance or economics! Rather, I have degrees in theology and communications. Despite my unusual path to this profession, I’m grateful to my professors and mentors who taught me how to think rather than what to think. In practice, this helps me bring a more holistic approach to the conversations I have with clients, allowing us to step outside of strictly financial topics and into the desires of what often informs our decisions: what we want, fear, love, hate.

What’s your favorite travel memory?

I’m privileged to have many to draw from, but what comes to mind was how I spent my summer before high school. I was part of a student ambassador program, joining a cohort of other 14-year-olds across the US and spending a month in the United Kingdom where we had home stays with local families, met with dignitaries, or were simply given the freedom to explore historic cities at our own pace. The autonomy, discovery, and international exposure was immensely formative.

Where would we find you on a sunny Saturday?

Wherever my daughter has us running around! We’re on the young-family-circuit these days, fluttering around Seattle whether that’s the aquarium, children’s museum, or simply me trying to teach her the etiquette of sitting in a movie theatre (yes, even if it’s sunny). I love living in the city and am frequently looking for more ways to keep my family engaged with the sites, services, and fun Seattle has to offer.

ckyle@smithrichardsgroup.com
206.275.3900 x123