Forvis Mazars’ Rhonda Christopher Blends Financial Insight with Personal Connection

From her very first job at age 13—adding up time cards on an old-school adding machine for the company where her  dad worked—Forvis Mazars’ Rhonda Christopher knew she was drawn to numbers and the world of business. 

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That early fascination led her into public accounting, where she began her career in auditing. Over time, though, Christopher felt a pull to take her work beyond the business side and focus more on helping individuals. That desire to make a more personal impact ultimately inspired her move into private client practice, where her love of finance and people naturally come together.

Biz 417: What was the biggest mindset shift you had to make when moving from audit to a more client-centered practice?

Rhonda Christopher: The biggest thing was learning that it’s okay to ask personal questions and really get to know someone. Because in the accounting side of the profession, it's about business. You get to know clients, but not in the same way. In the Private Client side of our profession, the deeper discussions are what is really important. We have  to know people well enough to know what their goals are, what they want life to look like, when they are going to retire, what they are afraid of and what we can do to help in that process. That was the biggest shift—just getting comfortable with having those really personal discussions. 

Biz: What do you enjoy most about working directly with clients now?

R.C.: I love the fact that clients just let me be a part of their lives, and I get to experience the things they do, the great trips they go on and all the fun things, and also be a part of life when it doesn't go quite as planned. One of my favorite things, though, is when we get to really collaborate as a full Private Client team, and we're focusing more on the business side of life. We get to sit down and work with our wealth advisor team and with the tax preparer, coordinating tax strategy and investment management. We also work with their estate attorney to collaborate and make sure we're following through on what they are wanting to accomplish from an estate planning perspective. That team approach, that collaboration, is really helpful, and it's fun to be a part of. 

Biz: How would you describe your approach to client relationships—what makes them successful and rewarding for you?

R.C.: Having the connection is super important. Understanding client’s goals and what we can do to help, and keeping that  purpose front of mind.  The relationship is successful if clients feel like we are their trusted advisor. Whatever needs to be done, our team will do their best to take care of it from a wealth advisory perspective and just be there to support them with whatever happens in their lives. 

Biz: What advice would you give to someone considering a similar shift within the firm?

R.C.: It is a shift. It's going from a business focus to an individual focus. Just be ready, because it is a change of mindset; you have to really like people. You have to enjoy getting to know people and want to help, and it can be very rewarding to do that. And I'm learning all the time. How can I do what I do better? 

Biz: Who or what has been most influential in your professional growth within Forvis Mazars?

R.C.: I have been very blessed throughout my career to have some wonderful role models to look up to. Women in the firm who have succeeded, when there weren't a lot of women in public accounting, and I have watched what they have gone on to accomplish. I’m just blessed that I've worked for a firm that’s allowed me to work with those women and all of the team that has supported me in my career along the way.