CKBlog: Inside CastleKeep
Friday, June 13, 2025
CastleKeep Investment Advisors LLC Celebrates 25 Years
by The CastleKeep Team
June 13, 2025
Westport, CT
CastleKeep Investment Advisors LLC, an independent SEC Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Westport, CT announced the celebration of its 25th anniversary.
Founded by Charlie Haberstroh in 2000 after serving in Private Banking roles for four of the leading global banking institutions, CastleKeep now works closely with over 200 families delivering wealth management and financial planning services for high-net-worth clients.
Today CastleKeep has nearly $1 billion in investments under management to clients in Fairfield County, throughout the greater Tri-State Area and across the globe.
Remembering the startup’s humble beginnings, Charlie reflected, “At the time in 2000 the Private Bank I was working for had down-sized its New York offices and given me a severance package, I had four college-aged children and the dot-com era was crashing. So what better time to start a new wealth management firm!”
Charlie envisioned a small firm that served clients with a clear focus.
“In truth, I had found the private banks that I had served had a serious flaw. It is impossible for a large institution to truly ‘care’ for its clients. Of course, financial advisors in general care for their clients as I did. However, when the institutional objectives do not align with client goals, there is potential for a conflict of interest.”
Being a client-focused advisor, Haberstroh decided to put his personal beliefs to the test.
“I got to know clients very well—inside and out—and leverage my experience and contacts to give them the very best, unbiased advice possible, period. I believed to my core that honest advice is what was most important to clients.
“Treat them like family. Make sure that they know we always have their backs. The same is true for people who work with me at CastleKeep.”
Looking back at 25 years, Haberstroh expresses gratitude to having two international estate lawyers, who have since retired, as minority partners from the start.
“They were instrumental in CastleKeep’s early success, and, in fact, they chose the name of the firm. I was also fortunate that among my first employees were two of my sons.”
Son Chuck, now partner, who joined CastleKeep right out of college, said, “At the time, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, except I wanted to succeed Theo Epstein as GM of the Boston Red Sox. I knew my father needed help at CastleKeep and I was willing to do whatever he needed. I had seen what my family had done for each other and for others. I really wanted to treat colleagues and clients as family, which, to me, means going above and beyond.”
Son Steve, also now partner, joined CastleKeep in 2008 having spent the previous 5 years at a publicly traded financial planning firm. He recollects, “My father required that I work for a large firm prior to joining the family business. While the large institution offered me invaluable experience and leadership training, the family aspect of CastleKeep had always intrigued me. I feel like it gives me a leg up when approaching people who are interested in working with us. Clients appreciate that we have real skin in the game.”
As to why clients join CastleKeep and tend to stay, Steve explains, “It all starts with relationships. Most of our new clients today have come in through my efforts. And I believe those clients are first drawn in because they trust and value our relationship and second because they know that due to our ownership structure and experience, they will be taken care of and never taken advantage of. Whether it be clients or colleagues, we view the people we work for and with as family. And that started with my father.”
Charlie recounted, “The business navigated good times and bad yet continued to grow, supported by our clients. We appreciate each one of them for their trust and confidence.”
Over time, CastleKeep added some wonderful and valued employees, who made a real impact on the firm. Lauren Quesada, a tenured employee who joined CastleKeep in 2011 as an intern and is now partner, states “Being part of CastleKeep’s growth story has been incredibly rewarding. My journey from intern to partner has shown me that while many things change, our core values—integrity, innovation, and trust, continue to guide our success with clients and our team. I am deeply proud of all that we’ve accomplished together, and I look forward to the next chapter as we continue to build on that foundation”.
Charlie wants to continue building CastleKeep for the future.
“Perhaps what makes me most proud,” Charlies says, “is the growth of our employees and partners over the years. It underlines the growth and success of the firm. In fact, each one of our partners today started as interns. Our exceptional team and clients have become an extension of our families which is why we care very deeply about client outcomes.
“With this as our guiding mission, I am excited for the firm’s next 25 years.”
CastleKeep celebrated its anniversary at The Bridge in Westport, announcing long-term financial support to two local non-profits; The Department of Human Services for the Town of Westport which serves those in need in the community and Staples Tuition Grants, providing scholarships to deserving graduates of Staples High School in Westport.