Chris Epakis has built a career at the intersection of elite sports and financial strategy, earning a reputation as a trusted advisor to athletes and entertainers navigating the complexities of wealth creation, business ventures, and long-term financial security. His deep understanding of the unique pressures of high-performance environments and individuals allows him to provide tailored financial guidance that extends far beyond traditional wealth management.
With a background in sports science and strength and conditioning, Chris brings a rare perspective to financial planning—one shaped by firsthand experience working with elite athletes at the highest levels of competition. Before transitioning into finance, he spent six years working with some of Australia’s most successful professional sports teams, including the South Sydney Rabbitohs (National Rugby League) and the Sydney Swans (Australian Football League). His expertise also took him to the United States, where he spent a summer with the University of Kansas Football Team (Jayhawks), further broadening his understanding of the physical, mental, and financial demands placed on elite performers.
During this time, Chris witnessed a recurring challenge among professional athletes—the difficulty of managing their wealth effectively amid fluctuating income streams, short career spans, and the ever-present risk of injury. Many athletes, despite their success, faced financial uncertainty due to a lack of structured planning and strategic guidance. This realization sparked his transition into wealth management during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he began advising some of Australia’s wealthiest families while leveraging his unique insight into the financial realities of elite performers.
Today, Chris specializes in crafting personalized financial strategies for athletes and entertainers, focusing on wealth preservation, cash flow management, and long-term financial planning. His approach is built on stability first—prioritizing financial security before pursuing aggressive wealth growth. He helps clients establish structured financial frameworks that provide predictable income, minimizes investment risk, and ensures that financial consistency is maintained regardless of contract fluctuations, injuries, or unexpected career changes.
Chris at Sydney Swans training in 2019
Chris’ investment philosophy centers on protecting and growing assets through diversified portfolios, real estate, and alternative investments. By implementing a proactive, disciplined strategy, he ensures his clients can maintain their lifestyle while building generational wealth for their families. Chris also ensures that he has the right team of experts around him. He understands that everyone’s needs are different depending on their individual situation, so he diligently assembles the right team around him to cater to specific needs of each one of his clients. However, his work goes beyond wealth management—he is deeply committed to preparing his clients for life after their athletic or entertainment careers. He collaborates with them to explore post-career opportunities while they are still active, whether in business, media, philanthropy, or other ventures, ensuring they have a financial roadmap that supports their long-term independence.
At the heart of Chris’s philosophy is empowerment through education. He believes financial literacy is just as crucial as physical and mental training for athletes and entertainers, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions. His mission is to help clients build a lasting legacy that extends well beyond the spotlight—reinforcing the idea that their careers define what they do, but not who they are.
Chris in 2024
Chris’s journy from the locker room to the boardroom is a testament to adaptability, vision, and the ability to bridge two seemingly different worlds. By combining his expertise in both sports and finance, he is redefining wealth management for those at the peak of performance, ensuring their financial futures are as strong and resilient as their careers.
