Background & Experience

Christopher Righi’s path to financial advising was not a straight line, and that is part of what makes him good at it. He worked as an administrative assistant for Anthony when the company was first started as A.J. Righi & Associates from 2011 through 2016, earned a BS in Health Sciences from Oakland University, and spent five and a half years working in health insurance and pharmacy benefit management at Meridian Health and MeridianRx, eventually becoming a supervisor with responsibility for more than twenty staff members. He learned structure, documentation, and how to carry real responsibility at a young age. He also learned that the work did not feel like his.

When Anthony presented him with a path into financial planning in 2022, Christopher resigned from his role, studied for and passed his licensing exams, and has not looked back. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, is a licensed Life and Health Producer and Variable Annuity Producer. He runs Artisan’s in-house investment strategies: a hands-on, research-intensive responsibility that allows him to sit across from any client and explain exactly what they own and why.

Approach & Philosophy

Christopher’s deepest expertise is with the Artisan Next audience: young professionals and anyone early in their financial journey who needs education, patience, and a space free of judgment. He knows the stress and anxiety that surrounds money from the inside, and he approaches every client conversation with the goal of making that space feel safe. He has actively sought feedback from clients’ mental health professionals on how to better support the psychological dimensions of financial decision-making: something he considers a genuine differentiator, not a talking point.

He believes that most advisors get most things right on the technical side. What separates Artisan, and Christopher specifically, is the willingness to do the harder work of running customized, in-house managed investment strategies for each client, and the commitment to being present in a way that builds real relationships. When clients call during a market downturn, he starts by validating the fear before addressing the facts. He reminds them that volatility is built into the strategy, not a surprise to it.

Personal

Christopher’s perfect Saturday involves his dog Lola, a motorcycle track, a hockey game (he plays goalie), a session of windsurfing on one of the Great Lakes, a snowboard run, and a show with his band, preferably all in one day. He has played violin since age two and was classically trained; music is not something he does but something he considers part of who he is. He has been watching Shrinking on Apple TV and recommends it. He is an avid fan of fitness training and approaches health and fitness with the same rigor he brings to financial planning. On first impressions, people are always surprised that he plays violin. He has come to enjoy that.