Jim Deutsch, CFP®

April 2023 Investor Insight and Outlook

VALUE STATEMENT
In an increasingly uncertain and complex world, it is essential to work with skilled financial advisors who can help find a clear path toward your financial goals. We take the burden of managing the overall vision and day to day details of our clients’ financial lives from their shoulders. Through the creation of a holistic financial plan and focusing on our twelve wealth management puzzle pieces, we help remove the emotions of investing. We help our clients focus their time on what matters most to them, rather than worrying about their finances or the markets. We walk together with our clients throughout their lives and help them live the best financial version of themselves.

QUALIFICATIONS

Jim has been assisting individuals and families to achieve financial success since 1994, shortly after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in Consumer and Family Economics. In addition, Jim earned a Master of Arts — in Finance through Webster University, and he completed the CFP Professional Education Program from the College for Financial Planning, and obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification. Jim is also a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business. 

In 2008, Jim was honored as a recipient of the prestigious “Forty under 40” annual award from the St. Louis Business Journal. In 2016, Jim was also one of 20 participants from St. Louis in the Wexner Heritage program which promotes leadership and Jewish Study.

Jim enjoys time with his wife and four children at their home in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Jim gives back to the community by sharing his skills and expertise through the following charitable and professional organizations:
• Washington University — Olin School of Business — Adjunct Faculty Member
• Covenant Place — Board President
• University of Missouri, Columbia — Personal Financial Planning Board of Advisors
• Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RGCA) — St. Louis Regional Economic Development Strategy Committee Member
• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) — Private Client Services Committee

Kevin has been assisting clients achieve their financial goals since 2005. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certificate holder, he earned a degree in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Missouri — Columbia, Kevin is dedicated to providing our clients with the expertise and guidance needed to achieve their financial success. Clients have found Kevin to be a passionate problem solver in collaborating to reach their financial goals as well as an excellent resource for helping to understand their investments and the markets. Kevin actively volunteers his time at his church and with the South County Foster Closet. Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and four children at their home in St. Louis.

Debra joined Smith Moore in 2017 and brings over five years of client service experience. She assists with day to day tasks as well as handling client service issues, such as: scheduling appointments, requesting checks, resolving statement delivery problems, changing the address on accounts, completing and following up on necessary forms and account documentation, assisting clients with online access and much more. Debra is energetic and always happy to help. When she is not working, she does weekly volunteer work for the children’s group at her church and loves spending time with her family.

Wealth Management Approach

To accomplish this and ensure all areas of our clients’ financial lives are working together harmoniously, we help clients plan across the following twelve areas of their financial lives:

Banking And Lending

From daily cash management to purchasing a dream home, managing cash flow and how to pay for expenses are foundational to financial success.

 

Benefits and Compensation

We can help clients make sense and make the most of the benefits offered by employers to employees and help ensure business owners are offering employees the benefits needed to retain, reward, and recruit talent to their small business.

Business Succession

Creating a successful business is exceptionally difficult; creating a plan to ensure the business’s success through the business owner’s retirement or passing does not have to be. We can help provide guidance and expertise to help maximize the value of the business to the business owner’s family and continue the legacy of the business for generations to come.

Education and Family

Our families are often the most important aspects of our lives. We help our clients provide for their loved ones’ higher education expenses, plan for family members who need additional help, or simply help in leaving the gift of financial freedom to loved ones.

Estate Distribution

Our clients have worked hard and sacrificed to build their net worth; a well drafted estate distribution plan can help ensure that intended heirs and beneficiaries benefit in a tax efficient manner that also protects the assets effectively.

Insurance Blueprint

An insurance plan is essential to help ensure that the unexpected does not move our clients off the path towards financial success. We can help create an efficient plan to make sure our clients are adequately protected.

Investment Strategy

Growing and/or preserving assets is an important part of achieving our clients’ financial goals. We work with our clients to create a strategy specific to their needs and monitor the strategy to help provide for their goals effectively and efficiently.

Life Cycle Planning

Life is constantly changing. We help ensure our clients move through life’s stages with the proper protection and documents in place to help grow and protect what our clients have worked so hard to earn.

Philanthropy

Few things in life are as satisfying as giving to a special cause. Philanthropy means something different to everyone from creating room in the budget to give a little extra to achieving the financial freedom to spend time volunteering rather than working or formulating a large legacy gift plan.

Retirement Roadmap

Retirement is often not defined by a date or an age; most often it is about building the assets and income needed to make work optional rather than mandatory. This allows our clients to choose to spend their time how they want and when they want. We can help create a roadmap to get there.

Tax Planning

Taxes are a certainty. Not paying them is not an option; however, a well-constructed financial plan can help provide tax efficiency to keep more dollars in our clients’ pockets. In addition to assisting in planning, we work with a network of accountants, CPA’s, and attorneys to help ensure the implementation of sound strategies and to keep our clients adequately protected.

Titling and Beneficiaries

Often overlooked, the way in which our clients own their assets and the beneficiaries they have assigned to them can be a meaningful planning and protection tool. We help clients match their desires and needs with the correct form of financial asset ownership and the proper beneficiary designation.