Stephen A. (Tony) Batman is the Chairman of SVB Interests, a Single-Family Office (SFO) engaged in the management of various business, investment, and philanthropic affairs of Tony and Vicki Batman. These activities are administered through affiliated organizations, SVB Ventures, SVB Charities, and others.

SVB Ventures, Inc., a diversified investment firm formed in May 2019, engages in capital formation and investment in a variety of industries including technology, manufacturing, retail, and real estate.

Through SVB Charities, Tony and Vicki are very involved in charitable and philanthropic endeavors. Their charitable interests are focused on four important pillars: Faith & Worship, Knowledge & Education, Business & Commerce, and Civics & Patriotism.

Tony is a member of the SVB Interests Investment Committee that establishes and approves all investments for SVB Ventures and for accounts related to SVB Charities. He is also a member of the Grant Selection Committee for SVB Charities.

Previously, Tony served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1st Global. Inc. from 1992 to 2019. 1st Global was sold in 2019 and is now operating under a new name, Avantax Financial Services, a division of Cetera Holdings. 1st Global/Avantax provides comprehensive wealth management and financial services to emerging affluent and affluent families, businesses, foundations, and other institutions. With Tony’s leadership, 1st Global created effective educational programs, advanced professional support services, and cutting-edge technology that cater to CPA-centric wealth management firms.

Tony served as the steering committee chairman for the formation of the Financial Services Institute (FSI) and was its board chairman for its first two years 2004 and 2005. FSI is a member organization advocating solely on behalf of independent financial advisors and independent financial services firms. Though advocacy, education, and public awareness, FSI has successfully promoted a more responsible regulatory environment for its 80-member financial services firms and their 130,000 affiliated financial advisors – which comprise over 60% of all producing registered representatives in America.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) identified Tony as a visionary entrepreneur whose accomplishments have profoundly impacted the accounting and financial services professions. He has been repeatedly identified by several journalistic and professional organizations as one the most influential people in the financial services and accounting professions.

Prior to 1st Global, Tony was a Vice President with HD Vest Financial Services. He was also a Vice President of Finance for a technology division of a large commercial real estate firm. He began his professional career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1979 to 1984. Professionally, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.

He has a unique ability to effectively communicate complex ideas about the global economy, capital markets, entrepreneurship, leadership, and professional and personal development.

Tony is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Business where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1979. In 2008, Tony was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni of the KU School of Business.

Tony has served on numerous advisory boards, including the Journal of Investment Management, the National Center for Policy Analysis, and the Laffer Center for Supply Side Economics.

He was born in the famous wild west cowboy town of Dodge City, Kansas. Tony loves hiking in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and is a former instrument-rated private pilot. He is also an antique British sports car enthusiast. He is a passionate student of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, European enlightenment philosophers, world history and scholarly works in Judeo-Christian theology.

Tony is a collector of rare, first edition books published in English that he believes comprise the most important ideas and events that have shaped America’s culture, politics, economy, and history.

A fun fact is that, in 1976 at age 20, Tony suspended his college studies for a semester to travel alone 5,000 miles on a motorcycle from his home in Western Kansas through the Midwest and New England to Florida and southern states, enjoying the bicentennial celebrations of America’s founding.

Tony steadfastly lives and teaches by example, beginning with living a life of total personal responsibility — seeking practical wisdom while demonstrating consistent moral courage to act on that wisdom — to boldly advocate for the nobility of commercial enterprise and for the protections of liberty and justice.

Tony and Vicki were married in 1982 and make their home in Dallas, Texas where their two grown sons, Nick and Brock, also live with their families.