Matthew E. Bragg, CFP®, RFC®

Matt is energized by the educational aspect of his work – it is his passion to teach, coach, and encourage others along their financial journey. Working with individuals, families, and small business owners, Matt loves bringing the daunting or intimidating aspects of financial planning down to a “kitchen table” level. He especially enjoys that moment during a consultation when a client’s hope to reach a specific goal transforms from doubt to confidence in being able to achieve. He feels strongly about crafting financial plans designed to help guide clients from where they currently are to where they want to be.

With nearly three decades of financial services experience, Matt focuses on helping his clients develop easy-to-understand financial plans that help them attain their life goals. He does so through guidance with asset and investment management, estate planning strategies, and retirement planning. As a SmartVestor Pro with Ramsey Solutions, Matt often refers to Dave Ramsey’s “7 Baby Steps” to walk his clients through reasonable and attainable investing goals.

He is also very passionate about expanding financial knowledge in the community. Throughout each year, Matt hosts various public speaking events, including at schools and universities, where he coaches on the subject of financial planning and personal financial health.

Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in consumer and family economics from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Matt proudly holds two designations as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional and a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), both of which enable him to create and implement cohesive plans that recognize a client’s full financial picture.

Matt remains active in the community by serving as a member of the advisory board for the Personal Financial Planning Department at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and as a member/former board member of the Jacksonville Cairo Unity Christian Church. Matt is also a former board member of the Randolph County United Way, and formerly served for 15 years as a board member and president of the board for the Northeast R-IV School District in Jacksonville/Cairo.

Born and raised in Randolph County, MO, Matt now lives in Cairo with his wife, Deidre. They have three children, Bethany, Jacob, and Paten, and two granddaughters, Adelyn and Emily. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors with his Labrador retriever. He is also a die-hard fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Mizzou Tigers.

_{SmartVestor is an advertising and referral service for investing professionals (“SmartVestor Pros”) operated by The Lampo Group, LLC d/b/a Ramsey Solutions (“Ramsey Solutions”). Pursuant to an arrangement between Ramsey Solutions, Smith Moore and this advisor, the advisor pays Ramsey Solutions a flat monthly fee to: (a) be a SmartVestor Pro, (b) advertise services through the SmartVestor website and (c) receive client referrals in the form of an initial introduction to interested consumers who are located in this advisor Pro’s geographic region.  Smith Moore does not endorse and is not affiliated with Ramsey Solutions, except with respect to the arrangement described above, and neither Ramsey Solutions nor its agents are officers or employees of Smith Moore. Further, neither Ramsey Solutions nor its agents are authorized to provide investment advice or act in any way on behalf of Smith Moore, except in connections with providing your contact information to this advisor.  Working with a SmartVestor Pro does not guarantee investment success, and no assurance can be made that working with a SmartVestor Pro will produce better results than working with a financial professional not affiliated with this program.}