Steve Callaghan’s path to wealth management was anything but linear. Long before advising clients on financial strategy, he pursued a series of careers rooted in service and high-stakes decision-making—from the U.S. Navy to the New York Police Department, where he served as a bomb technician.
As a New Yorker who once dreamed of becoming both a firefighter and a member of the military, Callaghan followed opportunities as they emerged, navigating unexpected detours along the way. Along that journey, he also began teaching himself finance—an interest that started with personal budgeting and eventually grew into a passion for helping others, particularly members of the military and first-responder communities, to better understand and manage their financial futures.
After years in uniform, Callaghan decided to formalize that interest by enrolling in the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. While in the program, he joined six classmates at the BNY INSITE Conference, where he gained exposure to the industry and built key connections—including one with Kevin Corbett of Mariner, a relationship that ultimately led to his current role. The conference serves as a powerful networking platform for students seeking to advance their careers in wealth management.
Now a senior wealth consultant at Mariner, Callaghan is bringing financial education and advisory services to the communities he knows best.
In the conversation below, he reflects on his unconventional career path—from accounting student to Navy Special Operations trainee and NYPD bomb technician to wealth manager—and shares what he has learned along the way.
Can you tell us about your background and unique career trajectory? What brought you from accounting to the U.S. Navy to the NYPD as a bomb technician and then finally to wealth management?
I’ll admit my career path has been pretty unorthodox. Early in life, after I realized I wasn’t going to be playing center field for the New York Yankees, my passion shifted to becoming a New York City firefighter and serving in the military.
In 2008, I was at Sacred Heart University. With the recession in full swing, I was advised that jobs would be scarce—and accounting seemed like a safe bet. After graduation, I landed a position at a midsize accounting firm in White Plains, N.Y. But I absolutely hated it.
I took the FDNY entrance exam, scored a 104 out of 100, and was set to join the second hiring class—until a federal injunction led to a hiring freeze. I was feeling stuck, and my father suggested joining the NYPD. The pensions were linked, so if FDNY hiring resumed, I could transfer with some time already vested. That’s how I became a New York City police officer.
Working a foot post in Harlem, I still felt a strong pull to serve my country at a higher level. I decided to join the Marines, but a shoulder injury disqualified me. When I shared my military ambitions with an acquaintance, he suggested I try out for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. That became my next big pivot. I trained hard, secured a Special Operations contract (which gave me a shot at BUD/S), and was fortunate enough to graduate with BUD/S Class 322. But life threw another curveball: During underwater training, I sustained a heart injury. Because of the injury I was ineligible to remain in special warfare.
While navigating medical appointments and fighting to reach a SEAL platoon, I began teaching myself finance. It started with basic personal budgeting and quickly grew into options trading and macroeconomic trends. Ultimately, I lost my fight to stay in the military, and I was on my way back to New York.
After returning to the NYPD, and with my Navy demolition training, I applied to the Bomb Squad. I was truly blessed to be selected and completed Hazardous Devices School to become a federally certified bomb technician. After being promoted to detective and settling into the team, I felt the desire to start a business providing financial education and advice to first responders. I began helping teammates from the military and the Bomb Squad, and I quickly realized there was a real, unmet need for quality financial services in this community.
What made you decide to join Columbia's M.P.S. in Wealth Management program?
Most of my finance knowledge was self-taught, so I knew I needed formal education to serve this group properly. I applied to the best program I could find—and that’s what led me to Columbia University.
When I started searching for a program that would give me the knowledge I needed to truly serve individuals, Columbia’s M.P.S. in Wealth Management rose straight to the top. The curriculum looked like a combination of what I had already been reading and studying for fun and the areas of weakness that I knew I needed to learn.
But most important, for me as a New Yorker born and raised, Columbia has always been the most prestigious school in my eyes. I never imagined I’d have the chance to attend an Ivy League institution, so when the opportunity came, I jumped at it. I’m incredibly grateful I did.
What skills from your previous jobs and as a veteran carry over into your current work? Have there been any surprising areas of overlap?
You can learn an incredible amount from adversity. I actually consider it the best teacher. It builds a strong, focused mindset. I’ve learned to set the bar high in any endeavor, knowing there will be pain and confusion before progress begins. That way, when the inevitable challenges hit, you’re mentally prepared.
Stay calm, figure it out, seek help when needed, and always offer help to others. I’ll always believe in the team-over-individual mindset.
Congrats on starting your current position as senior wealth consultant at Mariner. What lessons or experiences from the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program have been most applicable or helpful for this role?
Thank you very much! This might sound odd, but the program first prepared me for … Zoom! After 14 years in military and law enforcement, I had never used it before. I had a couple of early mishaps that gave my classmates plenty of laughs at my expense.
More seriously, the program equipped me to work effectively with individuals across different time zones, skill sets, and backgrounds—all pulling toward one shared objective. Before this, most of my work had been physical. Sure, it involved planning and critical thinking, but execution was ultimately hands-on.
The program delivered real-world scenarios where collaboration was key. There was no rank structure, so we had to stay humble, realistic, and willing to establish roles that played to our strengths while sometimes building up our weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to look stupid or make mistakes—that’s how real progress happens.
Can you share your experience as a career changer? What advice do you have for potential future wealth managers who are currently in a very different field?
For those coming from the military or first-responder communities, the transition isn’t easy. Even though I’m genuinely excited about my new role at Mariner and my ambitions ahead, I still feel like I’m leaving a brotherhood behind. The camaraderie in the military, police, or fire service is unique and irreplaceable. These careers can’t last forever, so recognize when the timing is right and when you’re truly ready to start your next chapter.
Overall, plan your exit from your current career and your entry into wealth management strategically. It will feel scary, you’ll have doubts, and you’ll say or do the wrong thing sometimes, but that’s all normal and part of the process. Seek advice from everyone, throw out the bad, absorb the good. Stay positive and aggressive. When it’s time to make the change, execute fully and don’t look back. Plan B is just a distraction from Plan A.
What are your priorities as a wealth manager? And what’s next for you?
My top priority as a wealth manager is my clients. In my previous life, we lived by the words “Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you.” Now I’ve simply replaced “gear” with “clients.” If I take care of my clients, they will take care of me.
With the knowledge and confidence Columbia gave me, combined with the grit and determination I developed in the Navy and NYPD—and backed by the resources and team at Mariner—I believe we can build a truly impactful initiative for first responders and military members. We’re working to deliver financial education and advice to these communities in ways that have never been done before. That’s what’s next, and I’m incredibly excited about it.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management program is a 16-month online program with asynchronous instruction specially designed to accommodate working professionals. It is taught by distinguished faculty with deep applied experience in their respective fields. Additionally, it is a CFP Board Registered Program designed to help students meet the educational requirement for CFP® certification.
The application deadline for the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program is May 1. Learn more about the program here.
