--- title: Join Vanderbilt | Steve Distante description: Stephen Distante is the CEO (or as Steve likes to be called, “Chief Entrepreneurial Officer”) of Vanderbilt Financial Group, which was founded in 1965. As the leader of Vanderbilt, Steve serves the advisors and clients by responsibly managing the firm and by instilling a culture of compliance, kindness, and helpfulness. His most impactful purpose is to ensure that all facets of the company are working effectively and efficiently while always looking for the next, smarter, and better way to do things. Steve keeps constant focus on the big picture and working on the business not in the business. He also holds the Vanderbilt Management Team accountable for preserving the vision and goals of the firm to ensure its success and longevity. A key ideal held among the Management Team is being in alignment. As Steve puts it—“We all have our oars in the water and rowing the same way!” --- [![Logo-nav-for-web](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Logo-nav-for-web.jpg?width=150&name=Logo-nav-for-web.jpg)](http://joinvanderbilt.com/) - [Home](http://joinvanderbilt.com/) - [About Us](http://joinvanderbilt.com/letter-from-our-ceo/) - [Welcome from our CEO](http://joinvanderbilt.com/letter-from-our-ceo/) - [Unique Culture](http://joinvanderbilt.com/unique-culture/) - [Meet Our Team](http://joinvanderbilt.com/meet-our-team/) - [Sustainable Wealth Management Firm](http://joinvanderbilt.com/sustainable-broker-dealer/) - [Our Services](http://joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investments/) - [Impact Investing](https://joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investments/) - [Investments Services](http://joinvanderbilt.com/investment/) - [Insurance](http://joinvanderbilt.com/insurance-services/) - [Advisory Services](http://joinvanderbilt.com/advisory-services-2/) - [Technology Platform](http://joinvanderbilt.com/tech-suite/) - [Join Us](http://joinvanderbilt.com/why-vanderbilt-independent-broker-dealer/) - [Why Vanderbilt](http://joinvanderbilt.com/why-vanderbilt-independent-broker-dealer/) - [Transition Process](http://joinvanderbilt.com/transition/) - [Timeline](http://joinvanderbilt.com/in-the-news/) - [Resources](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com) - [Blog](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com) - [Videos](http://joinvanderbilt.com/videos/) - [In The Press](https://joinvanderbilt.com/in-the-press/) - [Contact Us](https://joinvanderbilt.com/contact-us/) # Join Vanderbilt Blog ## Steve Distante Stephen Distante is the CEO (or as Steve likes to be called, “Chief Entrepreneurial Officer”) of Vanderbilt Financial Group, which was founded in 1965. As the leader of Vanderbilt, Steve serves the advisors and clients by responsibly managing the firm and by instilling a culture of compliance, kindness, and helpfulness. His most impactful purpose is to ensure that all facets of the company are working effectively and efficiently while always looking for the next, smarter, and better way to do things. Steve keeps constant focus on the big picture and working on the business not in the business. He also holds the Vanderbilt Management Team accountable for preserving the vision and goals of the firm to ensure its success and longevity. A key ideal held among the Management Team is being in alignment. As Steve puts it—“We all have our oars in the water and rowing the same way!” Find me on: ### Recent Posts ## [I HAVE A DREAM - Our first event towards SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/i-have-a-dream) Posted by [Steve Distante](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante) on 8/20/20, 4:51 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hubfs/Time%20Cover%20for%20Press%20Release.jpg)](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/i-have-a-dream)   When I first heard Stephon Ferguson perform a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I felt like I was transformed back into the era of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The richness of Stephon’s voice, his precise movement and the intentions of his words all perfectly match with the most famous orator of our time. I knew that we needed Stephon at this moment to bring us back to the days of Dr. King and allow his words to once again heal a nation reeling from issues of injustice, inequalities and inequities. His performance allows us to relive this historic moment viscerally and better understand how the context of Dr. King's words are still incredibly relevant today.    [On Juneteenth of this year, Vanderbilt Financial Group made a public commitment to UN Sustainable Development G](https://www.newswire.com/news/impactful-investment-firm-vanderbilt-financial-group-dedicates-a-year-21164232)[oal 10: Reduced Inequalities](https://www.newswire.com/news/impactful-investment-firm-vanderbilt-financial-group-dedicates-a-year-21164232). This event is the first in a series meant to further the conversation we as entrepreneurs, Financial Professionals, and humans can have in exposing and dismantling systemic racism. We felt an important first step was to look back on the words and dream of unification between all races that Dr. King preached. Stephon and his reenactment of “[I HAVE A DREAM](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-have-a-dream-tickets-116627952345)” lets us feel the significance of Dr. King’s words in the context of our current times. [Read More](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/i-have-a-dream) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/i-have-a-dream#comments-listing) ## [“ReUnited States of America” is my 2019 Wish](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/a-2019-wish) Posted by [Steve Distante](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante) on 12/31/18, 11:39 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hubfs/Earth2.jpg)](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/a-2019-wish)   * "Earthwise" 1968 vs. 2018 // Photo by Bill Anders* On Christmas Day 50 years ago, America was a divided nation. It was a tough year of troubled times and assassinations. We lost Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and the Vietnam War was in full swing with massive rampant protests. I can see the parallels between the issues we dealt with during that difficult year of 1968 and today, including moments and opportunities to bring us back together. [Read More](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/a-2019-wish) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/a-2019-wish#comments-listing) Topics: [ESG](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/topic/esg), [Blogging](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/topic/blogging), [sustainability](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/topic/sustainability) ## [Impact Investing – Is It Possible to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too?](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investing-is-it-possible-to-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too) Posted by [Steve Distante](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante) on 5/31/18, 10:39 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hubfs/gloria_nelund_trilinc.png)](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investing-is-it-possible-to-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too) Is it actually possible to create investments that offer impact while at the same time returning market-rate financial returns? We interviewed Gloria Nelund of [TriLinc Global](https://www.trilincglobal.com/about/industry-alliances/), an investment sponsor with the mission of doing exactly that. [Read More](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investing-is-it-possible-to-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/impact-investing-is-it-possible-to-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too#comments-listing) Topics: [sustainability](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/topic/sustainability) ## [The Winds of Change and their Impact on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/the-winds-of-change-and-their-impact-on-climate-related-financial-disclosures) Posted by [Steve Distante](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante) on 5/11/18, 2:56 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hubfs/climate%20action.jpg)](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/the-winds-of-change-and-their-impact-on-climate-related-financial-disclosures) The 2008 mortgage crisis marked a turning point in climate related disclosures. We interviewed Greg Rogers, founder of management consultancy [Eratothenes](http://www.era-tos-thenes.com/), global disclosure database [Envonet](https://www.envonet.com/landing/), and one of the pioneers of the movement to increase the level of climate-related disclosure. [Read More](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/the-winds-of-change-and-their-impact-on-climate-related-financial-disclosures) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/the-winds-of-change-and-their-impact-on-climate-related-financial-disclosures#comments-listing) ## [My Awakening: The Secret Behind How I Grew My Business by 815%](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/how-grew-business) Posted by [Steve Distante](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante) on 4/30/18, 5:26 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/hubfs/forbes_steve_distante.png)](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/how-grew-business) People ask me how I experienced so much growth in my business over such a short time given all the things I am involved with. The answer in a word is *passion*. [Read More](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/how-grew-business) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/how-grew-business#comments-listing) Topics: [Business Building](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/topic/business-building) [All posts](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/all) [Next](https://blog.joinvanderbilt.com/author/steve-distante/page/2) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts Copyright 2015 - All Rights Reserved - Vanderbilt Financial Group 125 Froehlich Farm Blvd, Woodbury, NY 11797 | Phone: [631.845.5100](tel:6318455100) Vanderbilt Financial Group is the marketing name for Vanderbilt Securities, LLC and its affiliates. Securities offered through Vanderbilt Securities, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC. Registered with MSRB.  Clearing agent: Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions Advisory Services offered through Vanderbilt Advisory Services & Consolidated Portfolio Review. Clearing agents: Fidelity  Clearing & Custody Solutions, Charles Schwab   Supervising Office: 125 Froehlich Farm Blvd, Woodbury, NY 11797 • [631-845-5100](tel:6318455100)   For additional information on services, disclosures, fees, and conflicts of interest, please visit [www.vanderbiltfg.com/disclosures](http://www.vanderbiltfg.com/disclosures)   VFG uses MSCI, an industry leader in driving ESG and Climate transparency through objective measuring and modeling of ESG characteristics. Learn more at [MSCI.com](http://msci.com/). VFG and its affiliates support and promote Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (“ESG”), Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”), and Impact Investing, but the Firm and its affiliates do not require or mandate that its financial professionals engage solely in related activities.  Clients of the Firm and its affiliates are not required to adopt or invest in any specific security, strategy, or portfolio. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the [California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)](https://www.caprivacy.org/) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: [Do not sell my personal information](https://www.joinvanderbilt.com/do-not-sell-personal-info). - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanderbilt-Financial-Group/162109927178504) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/VanderbiltFG) - [Instagram](https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanderbilt-financial-group)