Interviewing the Experts: Jeff Thomas, Founder and CEO - Arkos Global Advisors
Jeff Thomas, Founder and CEO - Arkos Global Advisors
Jeff is the Founder/CEO of Arkos Global Advisors and author of Trading Up: Moving from Success to Significance on Wall Street. He is passionate about helping clients connect their money with their purpose. His mission is to assemble a team of like-minded advisors who share common values and collaborate to help as many clients as possible thrive across generations.
Jeff started out as a sole proprietor in the wealth management business in 1995. He quickly noticed the advantages of working as a team to serve clients. During his first 10 years, he led a team, with his head down, that built financial plans and investment strategies for clients.
In 2007, he woke up and realized that he did not want to have his epitaph read, “Here lies Jeff. He made rich people richer.” Jeff was inspired to go deeper in the planning process with clients. By putting clients’ narratives before their numbers, Jeff was able to help them uncover their families’ values and connect their resources to those values.
This focus led Jeff to new heights as a financial advisor. In 2008, he was named to Morgan Stanley’s Chairman’s Club (top 2% of Advisors). From 2009 to 2013, Barron’s magazine recognized him as “One of Texas’ Top Financial Advisors”. In 2013, the Financial Times named Jeff to their inaugural list of “America’s Top 400 Advisors”. Jeff Thomas is a five-year Five Star Wealth Manager award winner (2012-2016). Jeff is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Texas and a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA).
After 25 years of working for the biggest names on Wall Street, Jeff and his team concluded that they could only pursue their vision by starting their own firm. So, in 2017, they opened Arkos Global Advisors to provide a next-generation, fiduciary platform where advisors and clients can flourish.
Jeff and his wife, Dolly, live in Houston and have two daughters. Jeff and Dolly stay very involved in their church, as well as several non-profit endeavors. They are founders of the National Christian Foundation of Houston. Dolly has been on the Board of Child Advocates for many years. Jeff serves on the Executive Board of Lee Strobel Ministries and Chairs The Barnabas Group-Houston and the Mission Increase Houston Advisory Board. Jeff also serves on the Dubose Foundation Advisory Board and the Board of Stewards at West U. United Methodist Church.