David Smith
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Why I Became a Financial Advisor
Most people start out working in a large organization, and somewhere in the middle, they go out on their own. I was on my own early. I started my professional career in financial services as a career life insurance agent with MONY in the mid 1980s. By 2010, I had started my own firm. Now, rather far along in my career, I have found a group at Forum where experiences and new ways of doing things come together.
My job is to listen and find out what someone really needs and then take care of it. Some people don’t know what they need, so it can take time to talk about everything: their money, their children, their businesses, their legacy and how to take care of the next generations. I don’t think that new clients start out understanding why a financial plan is important, but they are relieved after plans are in place. I believe in working with other professionals, so things make sense when we put everything together. The most effective plan is one where there is nothing in isolation.
THE DETAILS
David Smith has had many opportunities to test the theory that before investors leap, they should take a close look at what is important to them. In 2010, he founded David Smith Advisory, an independent Registered Investment Advisor firm in Miami. His firm joined Forum Financial Management in January 2021.
David’s approach to helping clients is to be the one who listens instead of the person who does all the talking. He advocates having a cohesive financial plan that incorporates retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, risk management, education planning and charitable giving, made possible by collaborating with clients’ other professionals such as accountants and attorneys to bring it all together.
David is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He holds the Charter Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. David earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania.
He lives in Miami with his wife, Marsha. David values fitness and meditation as an important part of his daily routine. David and his family spend time in Dorset, Vermont enjoying the year-round activities available there.
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A PERSONAL APPROACH
Tell Us About Your Financial Life and Aspirations
Your experience begins with an initial meeting to identify your financial vision for the future and risk tolerance levels. We review our investment philosophy and approach with you so that you fully understand each milestone of our process and how our relationship will evolve over time.
PREVIOUS 
Discuss Topics Crucial to Your Financial Success
Over the course of the next few meetings, the content and breadth of each meeting is defined by your personal needs. We can review your estate planning and risk management needs, discuss retirement accumulation or distribution planning, evaluate educational funding needs, review your tax situation, and go over any other items crucial to your financial success.
PREVIOUS Develop a Strategic Plan Unique to You
Once you select an allocation, we put together a strategic implementation plan that will coordinate investment of your portfolio between qualified (tax-advantaged) assets and non-qualified assets in order to maximize tax efficiency. The topics we address during our time with you vary depending on your unique needs and situation.
Putting Your Plan Into Action
We establish your Forum account based on the portfolio allocation we discussed and what we learned about your risk tolerance and financial goals. With your new Forum account now in place, you will have the opportunity to access your Forum Client Portal for the first time and connect with members of the Forum Client Service team.
Review Goals and Plans When Your Life Changes
You will receive reporting that will clearly show your performance net of all fees and compared to applicable market indexes. Additionally your assets are held at a reputable third-party custodian that furnishes independent monthly reports so you can feel confident about the safe handling of your money.
