Deaton Smith, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, WMCP®
Fiduciary Wealth Management and Retirement Planning
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Serving Clients Nationwide
Fiduciary Wealth Management and Retirement Planning
Areas of Focus
- Estate Planning
- High Net Worth
- Investment Management
- Owning a Business
- Retirement Planning
About Deaton Smith, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, WMCP®
Hi, I’m Deaton Smith, CFP®, and I am the founder of Thayer Financial, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a West Point graduate, and an OEF Veteran.I named Thayer Financial after the founding father of West Point (he’s a big deal there, and his legacy has had a lasting impact on my life) because I envision my company as something bigger than me. Firstly, it embodies the same values and principles of my time at West Point and in the Army: Duty, Honor, Integrity, and Loyalty. Secondly, these values are at the very core of everything I do and stand for.
✅ Benefits of Being Independent
Unfortunately, the existing business model is drowning in a sea of “trust me” salespeople riddled with major conflicts of interest. To illustrate, the complicated financial products that pay exorbitant commissions that are rarely, if ever, in the client’s best interest.
Consequently, that’s why I created my own firm. My values and beliefs did not line up with any major firms, and I knew that there had to be a better way to serve my clients.
In fact, creating a fee-only Registered Investment Adviser legally obligates my firm to work as a fiduciary 100% of the time… without exception.
✅ Offering Transparency
In contrast, the only way I get paid is through a direct and transparent fee for my services. Thus, allowing me to work solely in my client’s best interest instead of selling products to figure out how I will be paid. Above all, working as a fee-only advisor provides transparency to the true cost of advice and the service they are receiving.
Professional Designations
- Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
- Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP)
Affiliations
-
CFP Board
- Fee Only Network
- Financial Planning Association
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
- XY Planning Network
- Fee Only Network
Primary Location
439 4th Street Southwest, Hickory, NC 28602, USA
Video
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
- In-Person
- Phone
Compensation Methods
- Fee Only
- Percentage of Assets Managed
- Subscription
What to expect in the first meeting
Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a free 20-minute phone call to discuss our process. This will give us both a chance to make sure your situation matches our expertise. After all, you wouldn’t go to a dermatologist if you needed heart surgery. If it sounds like we could be a fit for each other, then we’ll set up an in-person (or virtual) meeting to take a deeper dive into what you are looking for help solving. We will also share our educational process to help you determine what you are looking for in a wealth management firm. If we aren’t a good fit for each other, we will gladly introduce you to a firm that is better suited to your needs.Offers Investment Management
Yes
About Thayer Financial
You have spent your life building your hard-earned assets. Now, you want not just a financial advisor but an independent CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ that will help give you the confidence to spend your retirement years pursuing the things most important to you. No matter what your dream is, Thayer Financial is here to help. When you work with us, you’ll know that you are on track to achieve your retirement, tax reduction, and estate goals through our customized planning process, which we call “The Thayer Method.”To accomplish this, Thayer Financial starts with ongoing financial planning and in-depth tax planning strategies. Then we integrate our fiduciary investment management strategies and process using Nobel prize-winning economic theory to provide clients the best chance of success.
What Makes Us Different:
Not all financial advisors are created equal. Thayer Financial is a fee-only Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), which means that we have no hidden fees and are fully independent. Firstly, we don’t sell a high-commission investment or insurance product, and we never make a commission… ever. Secondly, the only way we are compensated is through a transparent price structure which aligns our interests; this mean we only do better when you do better.
As a Fee-Only RIA, Thayer Financial is legally held to a FIDUCIARY standard 100% of the time.
Benefits of Using Thayer Financial:
✅ Objective Advice: Fee-only financial planning and investment management by a fiduciary financial advisor
✅ Flexible Meetings: Convenient consultation with your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ – whether in-person, on the phone, or virtual
✅ Tailored Plans: Expert guidance from your financial advisor designed to help you achieve what’s important to you, your family, and your business
✅ Transparent Strategies: Straightforward understanding of where your money goes and the “why” behind every decision
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Geospatial Information Sciences, Environmental Engineering
Languages
- English
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- Baby Boomers
- Business Owners
- Corporate Executives
- Gen X
- Living in Retirement
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