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Meet Our Leadership Team

Our leadership team brings decades of experience to Smith Moore. Having served as financial advisors and in other key roles within the industry, they provide unique services for our clients. Read more about our leadership team below.

Board of Directors

Matthew E. Bragg, CFP®, RFC® Executive Vice President
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Registered Financial Consultant®

Matthew E. Bragg, CFP®, RFC®

Executive Vice President
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Registered Financial Consultant®

Matt is energized by the educational aspect of his work. It is his passion to teach, coach, and encourage others along their financial journey. He loves bringing the daunting or intimidating aspects of financial planning down to a “kitchen table” level when working with individuals, families, and small business owners. He is also passionate about expanding financial knowledge in the community and hosts various public speaking events at schools and universities where he coaches financial planning and personal financial health throughout the year.

With over 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 with confidence. He does so through guidance, 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.

Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Consumer and Family Economics from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Matt proudly holds two designations, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Registered Financial Consultant®, that 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 his association with the Jacksonville Cairo Unity Christian Church. Matt is also a former board member of the Randolph County United Way and served on the Northeast R-IV School District board for 15 years as a member and former president in Jacksonville/Cairo.

Matt was born and raised in Randolph County, Missouri, and now lives in Cairo with his wife, Deidre. They have three children, Bethany (Coty), Jacob, and Paten, and two granddaughters, Adelyn and Emily. Matt spends his free time with his family, exercising, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors with his Labrador retriever, Motley. 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.
Jim Deutsch, CFP® President and Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Jim Deutsch, CFP®

President and Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

As a financial advisor with over two decades of experience helping clients, Jim Deutsch views himself as a holistic financial planner who creates plans to help clients achieve their life goals. He leverages his extensive financial services experience and a network of competent teammates, including attorneys, CPAs, and insurance professionals, to help his clients answer their financial concerns and questions. Jim is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a BS in Consumer and Family Economics. He earned a master’s degree in Finance from Webster University and is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at Wharton School of Business.

As President and CEO of Smith Moore, Jim leverages almost 30 years of industry experience with a significant record of results relating to organizational development, process improvement, audit performance, portfolio management, compliance, and client service. He is a bold, decisive leader with a proud reputation, strong work ethic, and a passion to improve performance at all levels of the organization.

Jim re-energized the organization and raised business standards by bolstering leadership, tightening financial controls, hiring new talent, and always striving to ensure regulatory compliance. His vision has driven broader utilization of improved technologies while consolidating two St. Louis offices into one central, prestigious location. Jim became a shareholder in 1999, was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2001, and was named President and CEO in 2003. Under his leadership, the firm has experienced revenue growth each year and has seen client assets increase from $400 million to over $3 billion. The firm has also expanded its footprint under Jim’s tenure, with eleven branch offices in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Mississippi. Jim also manages a book of business with over $200 million in client assets.

Jim was a 2008 recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s prestigious “Forty Under 40” award and received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2016. Jim concurrently serves on the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Private Client Group, the Advisory Board for the Personal Financial Planning Department at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and on the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Jewish Federation. Jim is also an adjunct faculty member at Washington University – Olin School of Business. Jim formerly served as the Chair of their Board for Covenant Place and was the Co-Chair of the 2016 St. Louis Delegation for Maccabi Games.

Jim lives in St. Louis with his wife, Lisa, their four children, Ryan, Max, Sam, and Molly, and their dog, Oscar. He enjoys spending his spare time in Keystone, Colorado, skiing, boating, and hiking. Jim is a “hair band” and 80’s rock enthusiast who plays electric guitar in his own band, Hyper Ambition.

Christi Hake, AAMS™ Executive Vice President
Financial Advisor

Christi Hake, AAMS™

Executive Vice President
Financial Advisor

Christi admires Smith Moore’s focus on outstanding client service, a tight-knit and welcoming team environment, and the enduring strength and stability of the firm with roots dating back to 1913. She was named to the Smith Moore Board of Directors within her first four years and leveraged her outside experience to provide a fresh set of eyes and a unique perspective that matches her high energy and relational-focused management style.

Her prior experience in management, recruiting, training, and practice management has made her an integral part of Smith Moore. Her involvement in recruiting financial advisors and promoting the firm has proven instrumental in growing the company.

Christi earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois. She went on to obtain her MBA from Webster University. She brings over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry to Smith Moore and holds Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 licenses in addition to her Life and Health Insurance license.

Prior to joining Smith Moore in December 2018, Christi was the managing principal and founder of Wealth Management Partners (WMP), LLC. She formerly held various roles at Waddell and Reed, Edward Jones, Hancock Securities Group, Irwin Union Bank, Smith Barney, and Mercantile Bank including District Branch Manager, Branch Manager, Financial Advisor, Trust Officer, Private Banker, Human Resource Specialist, and Recruiter.

Christi has been married to her husband, Darrell, for over 20 years and they have two children together. Brie is a nurse, and Ryan studies finance and accounting at Truman State University. Christi enjoys spending time with family, hiking, boating, and water sports like wakeboarding and skiing.

Juli Niemann, CFA® Executive Vice President
Chartered Financial Analyst

Juli Niemann, CFA®

Executive Vice President
Chartered Financial Analyst

Juli Niemann has worked in the financial services industry for over 50 years. Her extensive experience has given her the perspective and skill to manage the risks in investing. Investors cannot control the range of the returns available, nor can they set the markets. Through careful analysis and proper balancing, however, they can mitigate the risks in their individual portfolios. It is Juli’s task to understand her clients’ unique needs and concerns, to monitor changing circumstances, and to build and maintain a portfolio that satisfies her clients’ objectives.

Juli is a Chartered Financial Analyst® professional who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fontbonne College and obtained her MBA in Finance from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. She is a current member and former president of the CFA Institute in St. Louis.

Juli remains active in the community as a member of many organizations. She serves on Fontbonne University’s Trustee and Investment Committee, the Archdiocese of St. Louis’s Finance Committee, the St. Louis Financial Analysts Society, and the Rotary Club 11 of St. Louis. She is also involved in Parents as Teachers, Marian Middle School, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, and the Mary Ryder Home.

Juli and her husband enjoy going to concerts, traveling, catching baseball and basketball games, and taking in the theater. When they are not out in the community, they enjoy spending time with their 80-pound “lap dog.” Juli also frequently gives interviews for radio, television, and newspaper to talk about current economic events and markets.

Randall Rhyner Executive Vice President
Branch Manager
Financial Advisor

Randall Rhyner

Executive Vice President
Branch Manager
Financial Advisor

At Smith Moore, we provide financial guidance for every stage of life through an integrated financial strategy that evolves as our clients move through all phases of wealth planning: Accumulation, Distribution, and Legacy.

Having worked in banking and financial services for over 35 years, Randall Rhyner can assist his clients with the various aspects of their financial lives. In addition to asset management, Randy reviews liabilities, risk management, and estate plans. He emphasizes long-term, risk-appropriate wealth management strategies to grow and preserve clients’ wealth to meet their goals.

Randy graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a BA in Economics. He holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, 31, 63, and 65 securities licenses and is insurance licensed in Kansas and Missouri. Randy has served on the Smith Moore Board of Directors since 2014.

Randy and his wife, Karen, reside in Leawood, Kansas, and they have a daughter, Rachel, who lives in Boston. Randy is a member of Church of the Nativity, the MU Alumni Association, and Blue Hills Country Club. Randy enjoys golf, racquetball, pickleball, bird hunting, and being outdoors when he is outside the office.

Kent Schmidt, CFP® Executive Vice President
Branch Manager
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Kent Schmidt, CFP®

Executive Vice President
Branch Manager
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

The Effingham office of Smith Moore is centered around trust, honesty, integrity, and commitment. With over 35 years of industry experience, Kent Schmidt works diligently to provide sound and consistent advice to his clients, while building a well-diversified investment portfolio to help meet their goals and dreams. Whether clients are looking to accumulate wealth, protect wealth, or create income during retirement, Kent can help.

Kent graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BS in Accounting and received his MBA in Marketing and Finance from Northwestern University. In addition, Kent has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. He remains active in the community as the Vice President of the Effingham County Opportunity Foundation and formerly served on the Catholic Charities Advisory Board of Effingham.

Kent and his wife, Elizabeth, reside near Effingham, Illinois. Together, they have three grown children and one granddaughter. Kent enjoys golf and traveling in his free time.

Tim Schulte Chairman
Financial Advisor

Tim Schulte

Chairman
Financial Advisor

At Smith Moore, Tim provides financial guidance for every stage of life through an integrated financial strategy that evolves as his clients move through all phases of wealth planning: Accumulation, Distribution, and Legacy. Tim has loved helping his clients achieve financial success as they have worked toward their goals for over 30 years.

Since the inception of Smith Moore in 1913, the company has maintained its focus on excellent client service. Tim has worked in the financial services industry since 1991, and Smith Moore’s exceptional client service has been constant during his time here.

Tim earned a BS in Business Administration from Quincy University and holds the Series 4, 7, 24, 65, and 66 licenses. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute sponsored by the Wharton School of Business.

Tim and his wife, Kathy, live in St. Peters, Missouri, with their children, Bridget and Patrick. He enjoys playing golf and pickleball, and he loves attending his kids’ sporting events. He also remains active in the community, serving as the Chair of the St. Patrick’s Day Foundation of Cottleville, the Parade and Green Tie Gala Chair, the St. Peters’ Board of personnel, and is a member of the SIFMA Roundtable.

Executive Management

Amy Brody, CPA Chief Financial Officer

Amy Brody, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Amy Brody has over 20 years of financial management experience and is responsible for the overall financial management and related governance of the firm. She oversees the controllership, financial and regulatory reporting, human resources, and firm-level insurance risk functions. Amy is one of the seven Executive Committee members responsible for setting the strategic direction for Smith Moore and works closely with the Board of Directors on leading initiatives.

Prior to joining Smith Moore in 2015, she held senior leadership roles in corporate finance at MasterCard and Monsanto. She was also an external auditor early in her career. Amy is a Certified Public Accountant and obtained her BS degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from San Diego State University. She holds the Series 7, 24, 27, and 66 licenses.

Outside of work, Amy lives in Ballwin, Missouri, with her husband, David. They have five adult children and a spoiled house cat named Koda. Amy likes to stay busy watching movies, listening to music, and taking high-intensity interval and strength-training classes.

Jim Deutsch, CFP® President and Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Jim Deutsch, CFP®

President and Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

As a financial advisor with over two decades of experience helping clients, Jim Deutsch views himself as a holistic financial planner who creates plans to help clients achieve their life goals. He leverages his extensive financial services experience and a network of competent teammates, including attorneys, CPAs, and insurance professionals, to help his clients answer their financial concerns and questions. Jim is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a BS in Consumer and Family Economics. He earned a master’s degree in Finance from Webster University and is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute at Wharton School of Business.

As President and CEO of Smith Moore, Jim leverages almost 30 years of industry experience with a significant record of results relating to organizational development, process improvement, audit performance, portfolio management, compliance, and client service. He is a bold, decisive leader with a proud reputation, strong work ethic, and a passion to improve performance at all levels of the organization.

Jim re-energized the organization and raised business standards by bolstering leadership, tightening financial controls, hiring new talent, and always striving to ensure regulatory compliance. His vision has driven broader utilization of improved technologies while consolidating two St. Louis offices into one central, prestigious location. Jim became a shareholder in 1999, was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2001, and was named President and CEO in 2003. Under his leadership, the firm has experienced revenue growth each year and has seen client assets increase from $400 million to over $3 billion. The firm has also expanded its footprint under Jim’s tenure, with eleven branch offices in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Mississippi. Jim also manages a book of business with over $200 million in client assets.

Jim was a 2008 recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s prestigious “Forty Under 40” award and received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2016. Jim concurrently serves on the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Private Client Group, the Advisory Board for the Personal Financial Planning Department at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and on the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Jewish Federation. Jim is also an adjunct faculty member at Washington University – Olin School of Business. Jim formerly served as the Chair of their Board for Covenant Place and was the Co-Chair of the 2016 St. Louis Delegation for Maccabi Games.

Jim lives in St. Louis with his wife, Lisa, their four children, Ryan, Max, Sam, and Molly, and their dog, Oscar. He enjoys spending his spare time in Keystone, Colorado, skiing, boating, and hiking. Jim is a “hair band” and 80’s rock enthusiast who plays electric guitar in his own band, Hyper Ambition.

Barbara Kraft Chief Operating Officer

Barbara Kraft

Chief Operating Officer

Barbara Kraft joined Smith Moore in 2000 as Operations Manager and was named Chief Operations Officer in 2022. With over four decades of industry experience, Barbara brings vast experience and knowledge to Smith Moore operations. Her keen understanding of tax reporting, cost basis, managed account administration, and margin requirement calculations, as well as her extensive regulatory exam experience, make Barbara an integral member of the firm. Barbara holds the Series 99 securities license.

Barbara currently lives in the city of St. Louis with her dog, Lily, and loves walking around the Missouri Botanical Gardens in her free time. She has two daughters, Angela and Katlyn, and two grandsons, Jacob and Zachary. She is one of six siblings and loves spending time with her family.

Dan Moran Senior Vice President
Director of IT

Dan Moran

Senior Vice President
Director of IT

Dan Moran has over 20 years of experience in the industry and joined Smith Moore in April of 2008. He has extensive knowledge of network design, Citrix applications for desktop visualization, integrated Windows Operating systems, and multiple antivirus programs. Dan excels at managing the integration of hardware, software, and network structure. He also has a keen awareness of cybersecurity threats and implements necessary policies and procedures to protect the firm, its clients, and its employees.

Dan oversees the development and implementation of Smith Moore’s enterprise systems while continuously evaluating new technologies for the firm. He also administers the installation and maintenance of the firm’s software and hardware inventory. Dan utilizes his Series 7 and 63 licenses to work closely with the compliance department to better understand the industry compliance standards and ensure they are implemented.

Dan is an active member of FS-ISAC Broker Dealer Council, multiple SIFMA groups, and various advisory boards, in addition to serving as a member of Smith Moore’s Executive Committee.

Outside of the office, Dan enjoys bowling, golf, and softball. When they are not traveling to music festivals or camping in their upgraded trailer/camper, he lives with his wife, Chris, in Columbia, Illinois.

They are empty nesters except for their dog, Groot, who knows no strangers.

Jaret Perryman Chief Compliance Officer

Jaret Perryman

Chief Compliance Officer

Jaret Perryman is the Chief Compliance Officer of Smith Moore. He joined the firm in 2019 and assumed the role of CCO in 2022. Jaret has been in the industry for 25 years and has cultivated an interest in the capital markets since his teenage years. He previously served in senior level compliance, finance, and operations positions with Larson Financial Group and Millenia Investments before joining Smith Moore.

As the Chief Compliance Officer, he is responsible for overseeing the firm’s compliance department and ensuring that the firm is compliant with all securities laws, regulations, and ethical standards. Jaret holds the Series 4, 7, 24, 28, 53, 63, and 66 FINRA licenses.

Jaret is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a BA in Political Science. He lives in Clayton, Missouri, with his wife, three sons, and their pet dog that helps run the household. Outside of work, Jaret enjoys basketball, cycling, live music, anything outdoors, and being with family and friends.

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