“The single greatest edge an investor can have is a long-term orientation.”
 – Seth Klarman
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What We Do

Navigate 401k is an independent 401k Advisory firm based in Birmingham, Alabama with clients throughout the U.S.  We partner with privately held companies and their employees to provide the highest level of retirement plan guidance with the utmost fiduciary care.

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Advisory Team

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Chris Hussar
 Managing Partner
Business Development

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Chris is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Navigate 401k. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA and has 20 years experience in private wealth and institutional asset management. Chris began his career in Philadelphia with Northwestern Mutual, building a large practice with business owners and health care professionals over 9 years.

In 2011, Chris and his family moved to Birmingham AL, to join a 500 million asset management practice of private wealth and 401k clients. Chris focused primarily in the 401k space, providing leadership and counsel to investment committees and employees.

Prior to co-founding Navigate 401k, Chris managed 4.5 Billion in Institutional assets across 17 clients at Regions Financial.

His expertise allows him to serve Navigate 401k clients at all levels - executive leadership, investment committees, and employees. He has a deep passion & commitment to serving his clients and ensuring their participants are deeply cared for regarding the success of their retirement planning.

Chris, his wife and three children reside in Homewood, Alabama and they are active members at Third Presbyterian church.
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Caleb Hopkins
 Managing Partner
Investment Management

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Caleb is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Navigate 401k. He is a native of Jasper, Alabama, and has worked in multiple finance roles prior to private & institutional asset management.

Caleb began his career at First Commercial Bank in Birmingham as a credit analyst and AVP. After First Commercial, Caleb joined Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) as a Senior Treasury Analyst. He was directly involved in the $4.6 billion Florida Rock acquisition, which included debt issuance and interest rate hedging. In addition, Caleb helped manage Vulcan’s Foundation investment management account with over $500 million in assets.

Following Vulcan, he served six years on the investment committee for a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with over $500 million in assets under management. He jointly served on the three-member investment committee research sub-committee.

In 2015, Caleb formed Navigate Wealth Management (http://www.navigatewealth.com/) with Johan Grahs to provide investment advice & financial planning for high net worth individuals & families. As they built Navigate Wealth, his deep expertise in corporate finance and investments led Caleb to form Navigate 401k, where he serves as the firm’s institutional portfolio manager and coordinates mutual client relationships with Navigate Wealth Management.

Caleb is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Alabama, and he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional. Caleb, his wife and two daughters reside in Homewood, Alabama. He is a member and serves as Treasurer of Shades Valley Lutheran Church, and serves on the finance committee for Novus Way.
Justin Ladden
 Managing Partner
Client & Participant Management

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Justin is a Managing Partner at Navigate 401k. Justin joined the firm in 2024 after merging his practice, Kreativ Retirement Plan Solutions. Kreativ was founded in 2017 to provide high quality retirement plan services with an emphasis on employee support and education. He brings almost 2 decades of retirement plan experience with him to Navigate 401k.

After graduating from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Justin moved back to Birmingham to begin a career in the financial services industry. Early in his career, Justin recognized that he wanted to focus specifically on retirement plan clients, as he saw a vital need for supporting employees with their retirement goals and helping plan sponsors fulfill their fiduciary roles, both under a more simplified approach. Justin's favorite thing about his job, and something he believes is critical, is the steady interaction with employees.

Justin and his wife Stacy have three children. Justin enjoys spending free time with his family and in the outdoors. Justin involves himself with community service and participates in several non-profit organizations in the Birmingham area.