Cassaday & Company, Inc., Founder, Chairman & CEO Steve Cassaday has been named to Virginia’s 500 Power List for 2025. Now in its sixth year, the Virginia 500 is an annual directory of the commonwealth’s most powerful and influential leaders according to Virginia Business. 

Cassaday is one of only 40 individuals listed in the Finance & Banking category. This category includes banks, venture capitalists, and other various financial and investment firms in addition to wealth management. Due to the breadth of this category, only 1% of the list are wealth management professionals, making Cassaday’s place on the list an exclusive achievement. 

Publishing this directory fits neatly into Virginia Business’ mission to be Virginia’s leading source of business intelligence. This listing answers the question: Who are Virginia’s most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics, and education this year? 

About this Award 

In assembling this annual list, Virginia Business considers a variety of factors, including but not limited to, position, career achievements, company revenue, number of employees, scope of responsibilities, personal wealth, community and industry impact, and philanthropy. Some leaders on this list are well known and have decades of experience, while others may be brand-new to their roles but are on the list due to the prominence of their positions. 

Executives are divided into 21 categories and are listed in alphabetical order within each category. 

The Virginia 500: The 2025 Power List is a recognition of a person’s influence and importance in their field as compiled by Virginia Business. Inclusion in the Virginia 500 is not an endorsement by Virginia Business. For more details on award criteria, click here. 

What Makes Cassaday Stand Out 

When Virginia Business asked Steve what his best advice to others would be, he said, “Invest in people, practice radical inclusion, and empower them to think like owners.” These values have been at the core of Cassaday’s practices since 1993. 

Cassaday has created a culture where employees feel valued and empowered, and each person has the opportunity to provide input on major decisions within the firm. As a result, employees are motivated to work collaboratively with the central goal to always do what’s right for clients while providing unparalleled dedication and service. When asked about this employee-centric approach, Steve said, “Saying employees are our greatest resource is a slogan at most businesses, but here, it’s part of our ethos.” 

By not only investing in personnel, but also in infrastructure, training, and technology, Cassaday has been able to ensure clients receive a boutique-style of service, without missing out on the capabilities of larger firms. 

Cassaday is honored to have previously been named to Virginia’s 500 Power List in in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.  

The entire Virginia 500 Power List can be found here: Virginia 500 – Virginia Business 

Award Disclosures:

Virginia Business 500 Power List (2021–2025) – The 500 Power List issued by Virginia Business on September 3, 2025 is based on editorial research conducted by Virginia Business staff, with consideration of data covering a trailing 12-month period. Selections were not nomination-based, though suggestions may be accepted, and were determined based on factors including leadership role, company revenue, number of employees overseen, scope of responsibilities, newsworthiness, industry and community prominence, board memberships, and philanthropic involvement, with a focus on identifying influential leaders across major sectors. Cassaday & Co. did not pay a fee for nomination, receipt, or promotion of the award.