JASON STEELE

Founder & CEO, Echelon Sports and Wealth Management

Jason Steele is a visionary wealth strategist and the driving force behind Echelon Sports and Wealth Management, a Raleigh-based firm dedicated to empowering student-athletes and young professionals with the financial literacy and success principles they need to thrive beyond the field. After founding Weston Banks Wealth Partners in 2010 and establishing it as a cornerstone of comprehensive wealth management in the Triangle, Jason launched Echelon to tackle a critical gap: talented athletes graduating without the tools to turn their NIL earnings into lasting prosperity.

A proud Raleigh native and NC State alumnus, Jason jumpstarted his career as a top sales agent for the Southwestern Company while still in college, sharpening his knack for goal-driven planning. At Morgan Keegan & Co., he pioneered College Funding Resources, offering tax-smart strategies for affluent families and financial aid guidance for those in need; a clear sign of his passion for accessible, impactful planning. Frustrated by rigid, one-size-fits-all investment models, Jason broke new ground with innovative solutions like the Weston Banks Focus Directive Portfolios, the Tactical Growth IRA Enhancer Strategy, and the Financial Investing for Life and Legacy philosophy. His expertise in 1031 Exchange planning and Opportunity Zone legislation has helped countless clients build wealth through strategic real estate moves.

Mentoring college athletes on navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, sparked the vision for Echelon. “We were seeing incredible advantages go untapped,” Jason says. “Student-athletes often miss the compounding power of sound financial principles, the kind that build real momentum in life.” At Echelon, he’s redefining “going pro” by teaching budgeting, investing, and legacy-building from the start, so graduates leave with a degree, money in the bank, and a playbook for independence. “This is the head start 99% of athletes never get,” he adds.

Jason holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses, and is a Certified College Planning Specialist (CCPS). He also serves on the Chairman’s Club Council for Prospera Financial Services. When he’s not strategizing for the next generation, you’ll find him on the tennis court, hitting the slopes with his family, or relaxing at the beach with his wife, Amanda, and their three sons, cheering them on at High Point University, NC State, and St. Davids. 

With sharp expertise and genuine heart, Jason and Echelon are committed to helping you (or your athlete) step into a future where financial confidence is the ultimate win.