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Christopher Hensley, RICP®, CES™

Specializing in TRS, ORP, and state employee retirement planning.

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Houston First Financial Group Christopher Hensley, RICP®, CES™
Bellaire, TX

Serving Clients Nationwide

Specializing in TRS, ORP, and state employee retirement planning.

(713) 804-5886

Website

Areas of Focus

  • Caregiving for Parents
  • Direct/Personal Indexing
  • Employee Benefits
  • Estate Planning
  • Financial Life Planning
  • Health Care Planning
  • High Net Worth
  • Inherited Wealth
  • Investing
  • Investment Management
  • Loss of Spouse or Partner
  • Retirement Planning
  • Socially Responsible Investing
  • Tax-Smart Accumulation Planning
  • Tax-Smart Distribution Planning
  • Taxes

About Christopher Hensley, RICP®, CES™

For over two decades, I’ve helped Texans navigate the complex transition from saving for retirement to living in retirement—with confidence, clarity, and control.

As a Retirement Income Certified Professional® and Certified Estate and Trust Specialist™, I specialize in guiding state employees, healthcare professionals, and higher-ed faculty through key decisions involving TRS, ORP, Social Security, Medicare, and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Whether you're planning around a buyout, early retirement, or navigating tax-efficient drawdown strategies, I meet clients where they are and help them get where they want to be.

What sets me apart is my active management approach. Many of my clients are transitioning from passive “buy and hold” investing to a more responsive, total return or absolute return strategy—especially as market conditions and income needs shift. They no longer want to be agnostic to market risk in retirement. I help them develop smart, intentional portfolios and custom indexing solutions that adapt with them.

My practice also integrates estate planning, Medicare coordination, and multi-year tax planning into every Retirement Roadmap we build—because it's never “too late” to get organized and make meaningful improvements.

Outside of one-on-one client work, I’ve hosted over 330 episodes of the “Money Matters” podcast, contributed expert insights to Newsweek, Financial Planning Magazine, and The Houston Chronicle, served on the leadership team for Houston Money Week, and was the former president of the Houston Midtown chapter of the Society for Financial Awareness.

Professional Designations

  • Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CES)
  • Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP)

Primary Location

6300 West Loop South, Suite 406, Bellaire, TX 77401

Video

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone
Book Intro Call

Compensation Methods

  • Commissions
  • Fee Based
  • One-time Financial Plan
  • Percentage of Assets Managed

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the ‘Book Intro Call’ button above to schedule your complimentary Virtual Financial Roadmap Meeting. In this 60-minute session, we’ll get to know each other, discuss your retirement goals, and explore how our Retirement Roadmap System might benefit you. After scheduling, you’ll receive a confirmation email with suggested documents to submit beforehand so we can make the most of our time together. I look forward to helping you take the next step with confidence.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About Houston First Financial Group

At Houston First Financial Group, we specialize in helping educators, healthcare professionals, and public employees transition into retirement with confidence. We believe in active, responsive portfolio management—because today’s markets demand more than passive patience.

Our investment philosophy is simple: Preserve first, grow second — especially when the market turns.

When signs of market trouble appear, we don’t wait and hope for the best. We act quickly to shift your portfolio to more secure ground, reduce exposure to unnecessary risk, and keep you fully informed every step of the way.

We closely monitor market trends, economic developments, and global events with the goal of helping you make well-informed decisions about your retirement strategy. It’s not about chasing returns. It’s about being proactive, adjusting as needed, and aiming to reduce the kind of risks that can disrupt long-term financial plans.

Because most of our clients—especially those nearing or in retirement—can’t afford to wait years for the market to bounce back.

Retirement Has Changed — And So Have the Rules.

Planning for retirement is no longer just about saving enough—it's about making smart, informed decisions in a complex and changing environment.

For decades, many educators, healthcare workers, and government employees had to plan around harsh Social Security reductions due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). That’s now changed.

As of January 2025, WEP and GPO have been repealed—removing a major roadblock for thousands of public sector workers. But while that’s good news, it also means the rules around Social Security claiming, spousal benefits, and pension coordination just got more complicated.

Meanwhile, market volatility continues to threaten retirement savings. The steep declines since January—and the sharp downturn in April—are causing many to rethink their retirement timing. And with rising layoffs and early retirement buyouts at the state and federal level, the pressure to make the right decision is more intense than ever.

You shouldn’t have to navigate these high-stakes choices alone. At Houston First Financial Group, we help public sector professionals retire with clarity and control. Whether you're facing a TRS vs. ORP decision, planning around Medicare or IRMAA, or unsure how to coordinate Social Security with pension income, we’ll help simplify your retirement.

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Houston First Financial Group Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, OHIO, TEXAS, and WISCONSIN. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Houston First Financial Group are not affiliated. Cambridge does not offer tax or legal advice. Fixed insurance services offered through Houston First Financial Group.

Education

University of Houston, Philosophy, English

Hobbies and Interests

  • Exercising
  • Family
  • Music
  • Reading
  • Writing

SEC Lookup

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FINRA Lookup

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Who We Serve

  • Baby Boomers
  • Dual Income Family
  • Educators
  • Families
  • Gen X
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • Government Employees
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Intergenerational Families
  • Living in Retirement
  • Parents
  • Physicians
  • Widow

To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn a nominal monthly fee from financial advisors and firms in exchange for marketing services (including being featured on this profile page), subject to terms of use. This compensation creates a natural conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Wealthtender is not a client of these advisors or firms. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding the services offered by Christopher Hensley, RICP®, CES™ View Disclosures

FAQs

Can you help Texas teachers with their TRS pension benefits?
Yes, I specialize in providing financial planning services to teachers in Texas, including advice and guidance on strategies to optimize their TRS pension benefits. Beyond individualized planning services, I also offer video-based education, including the recent Money Matters podcast episode linked below discussing what Texas educators need to know if you contribute to TRS and are navigating the complexities of pensions and Social Security. Understanding the Teacher Pension WEP GPO: What Every Texas Educator Needs to Know
How does TRS vs ORP impact retirement income for educators?
I help Texas higher-ed employees evaluate the differences between TRS & ORP, balancing lifetime pension income against portability and tax flexibility.
What is a Retirement Roadmap Meeting?
The Retirement Roadmap System is our 3-step process designed to simplify retirement planning. Step 1: Discovery—We learn about your goals and finances. Step 2: Design—We create a personalized, comprehensive plan. Step 3: Deploy—We implement and monitor the strategy together, adapting it as life evolves. It’s a clear path to help you retire with confidence. A structured session where I analyze your TRS or ORP options, coordinate pension with Social Security, and align your investments & tax strategy. Retirement Roadmap System
Should retirees consider total return or absolute return investing?
Yes. As you transition into retirement, we’ve found responsive active investment models can offer better stability than passive ‘buy and hold’ in a market downturn. Active vs. Passive Management
Can you help with custom indexing and tax-efficient portfolios?
Absolutely. I design custom-indexed investment strategies that align with your income needs while optimizing tax efficiency and risk exposure. Custom Indexing & ESG Solutions
How do you work with clients in remote states?
I serve clients across Texas, California, Ohio, Nevada, and Wisconsin currently via secure video calls—95% of our planning meetings are done virtually. I may still be able to work with you. For the right client relationship, I’m happy to explore adding additional licensing to ensure we're fully aligned and compliant.
What fees and compensation models do you follow?
We offer flexible fee structures. New clients start with a $1,000 financial planning fee. Our minimum investable asset requirement is $250,000 (some 403(b) plans may count). Clients pay a 1.00% AUM fee, with reduced fees for those over $1M (0.85%). Ongoing planning fees range from $1,500 to $4,000 based on asset level or project scope. We occasionally use commission-based products when they better align with your goals. Everything is transparent and tailored to fit your needs. How We Charge
Do you specialize in estate planning and legacy coordination?
Yes—through my CES™ credential, I integrate trust and estate planning strategies into the Retirement Roadmap process when appropriate. HFFG Legacy
Do you offer tax planning as part of your financial services?
Yes! Tax planning is a key part of our financial planning process. We review your past returns, coordinate with your CPA, and create personalized strategies to reduce tax liability—through tax-efficient investments, retirement income planning, and proactive withdrawal strategies. Our goal is to help you keep more of what you earn and avoid tax surprises. Tax Planning Services
Do you help clients with caregiving challenges and financial planning?
Yes—managing a loved one’s care is often deeply intertwined with a client's retirement planning and can potentially disrupt a well-laid financial plan. Our Caregiver Planning service provides practical guidance on overseeing care, funding support needs, legacy coordination, and minimizing emotional and financial stress on your family. We treat caregiving as a critical component of the Retirement Roadmap process. Whether you're caring for a parent, spouse, or sibling, we help you plan ahead so your retirement goals stay on track—even when life throws you a curveball. Caregiver Planning
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