The founding Director of Aspire Wealth & Protection, Chris Hale was announced Business Person of the Year at the Port Stephens 2022 Local Business Awards held at Soldiers Point Bowling Club on 22 November 2022.

Selected from a field of 15 nominees, Chris said the honour is a proud chapter in the firm’s history.

“After growing up in England I arrived back to my birthplace, Hobart, in 1979 as a young man with a suitcase, a cardboard box of belongings, and a bank account holding $100,” Chris said.

“Self-employed from 1982, twelve years on my wife and I chose Nelson Bay as the ideal place to build our financial services firm and young family.

“Today we employ a team of seven skilled professionals who are committed to growing and protecting people’s wealth and setting them up for their best retirements.”

Building the business has had its challenges. After successfully managing to keep afloat during the Global Financial Crisis from mid-2007 to early 2009, the Banking Royal Commission in 2017 brought greater scrutiny across the wider financial sector. In 2020, the global pandemic and lockdowns caused economic rifts and share market volatility.

“The onset of the pandemic created uncertainty no one had ever experienced,” Chris said.

“It was a very sudden jolt into an uncertain and changing world which made many people very nervous and worried about their financial security.”

After four decades Chris said keeping his business small and personal has been crucial in developing the high levels of trust needed to advise people about their superannuation and investment opportunities, self-managed superannuation funds, life, trauma, and income protection insurance.

More recently Aspire has expanded to offer locally sourced finance, loans, and mortgages to new and existing clients.

“Decisions around money are some of the biggest we will ever make as they can have a huge impact on how we might be able to enjoy our future years,” Chris said.

“We may be small, but we’re big on delivering tailored support.”

Aspire Wealth & Protection was also nominated as a finalist in the Local Business Professional Services category.

Chris’s longstanding support of many regional community groups and charities was also recognised in his leadership award.

“Winning Business Person of the Year has been a wonderful professional and personal acknowledgement.

“The business is my team. I’m extremely fortunate to enjoy their support and loyalty – sharing the same goal in mind.”

IMAGE | Port Stephens 2022 Business Person of the Year, Chris Hale