Anthony Stewart

Anthony Stewart

CEO

Stewart Financial Services Inc.

The diamond industry has the four C’s. As the CEO of Stewart Financial Services Inc. in Lanham, Anthony Stewart has five.

He said he looks for five traits in building a staff: They should be committed, coachable and competent, and they must have character and courage.

Courage, he said, refers to the times when a decision is right, but not necessarily popular.

“Sometimes, leadership can be lonely,” he said.

Stewart Financial Services, which began in 2000, is a full-service financial institution, offering mortgage protection, disability income, life insurance, tax-free retirement accounts and college planning.

The company does financial workshops in the community. Twice a year, it holds client appreciation nights.

Stewart Financial Services has grown to have more than 100 employees.

Stewart grew up on the Eastern Shore, the ninth child out of 10.

He worked for Xerox Corporation before getting into the financial services field, which became his full-time career in 1993.

Stewart said that as his business expanded, it was an adjustment to step back from personal selling and concentrate more on the overall enterprise.

“But you transition,” he said. “You have to think long term. You have to find other leaders.”

He said he divides his time among several commitments, including his family, Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church and his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.

The fraternity has a college preparatory program, organizes college tours and helps students improve their math skills.

Last year, Stewart was inducted into the Bowie State University hall of fame for baseball. He is the co-author of a book called “Saving Middle America — Securing Financial Dreams.”