Ben Smith
CFP®, CSRIC™®
Cove Financial Planning, LLC
Founder & Financial Planner
Ben Smith
CFP®, CSRIC™®
Cove Financial Planning, LLC
Founder & Financial Planner
As a fiduciary, fee-only financial planner, I provide holistic financial planning and socially responsible investment management to help you “Do Well While Doing Good.” - Ben Smith, CFP®, CSRIC™®
Fee-Only financial planner with offices in Milwaukee, WI, Evanston, IL and St Louis Park, MN, serving clients locally and virtually across the country with no account minimums.
Ben Smith is a fee-only financial advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Professional with offices in Milwaukee, WI, Evanston, IL and St Louis Park, MN, serving clients virtually across the country. Cove Financial Planning provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to individuals and families, regardless of location, with a focus on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI).
As a fiduciary for his clients, Ben does not sell financial products or take commissions. Simply put, Cove Planning sits on your side of the table and always acts in your best interest. Learn more how Cove Planning can help you Do Well While Doing Good!
Ben currently sits on the board of directors of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Wisconsin.
He has been featured in national publications including The New York Times, USA Today, CNBC, Business Insider, NerdWallet, Investment News, Financial Planning Magazine, Investor's Business Daily, ThinkAdvisor, MarketWatch, The Star Tribune, and Bustle.
Visit www.coveplanning.com to learn more.
Click here to schedule your free Initial Consultation Call. Evening and weekend times are available.
The Work Stuff
My name is Ben Smith, and I am the Founder of Cove Financial Planning. I believe that everyone, regardless of age, occupation, net worth, and investment experience, deserves a customized financial plan and the peace of mind that comes with it.
Before starting Cove Planning, I worked for several investment companies and saw just how boring, complex, and off-putting investing can be for many people. Traditional advisors also have a reputation for specifically catering to high-net-worth individuals with a singular focus on account size. My mission is to provide access to high-quality advice to a broader range of people who want to take control of their financial lives (and maybe have some fun in the process!) I also passionately believe in helping people blend Socially Responsible Investing into their long-term financial plans.
Work History:
- Board Member, Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Wisconsin
- Wealth Advisor, Strategic Wealth Partners
- Associate Regional Director, Russell Investments
- Regional Sales Manager, Ameriprise Financial
- Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial
The Fun Stuff
My wife Kotryna and I originally met in Minneapolis, and we now live in Whitefish Bay, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. She works in investment banking, and while we aren’t at the office, you can find us debating nerdy investment topics over a Blue Apron meal and a glass of wine.
We are big believers in learning new things and staying active. Currently, she’s teaching me how to salsa dance (not going well) and speak Lithuanian (where she’s from), while we both sharpen our tennis skills. We’re proud owners of Apple Watches for the sole purpose of beating each other’s daily fitness activity (feel free to join the competition!)
We also travel as often as we can, and we’re always looking for suggestions on places to check out in Europe when visiting her family. Above all else, we both believe that life is about balance. I hope that I can help you find your balance with money, and maybe make the world a little better place in the process.
Ben Smith is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Cove Financial Planning is a fiduciary, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor focused on comprehensive financial planning and socially responsible investment management. Cove Planning has offices in Milwaukee, WI, Evanston, IL and St Louis Park, MN and works with clients virtually across the country. Their mission is to help individuals and families align their financial plan and investments with their future goals as well as their core values. Ultimately, they’re here to help you Do Well While Doing Good!
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
- Cash Flow and Budgeting
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
- College Education Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
Ideal Clients
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Pre-Retirees
- Retirees
- Recent Inheritance
Working Together
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
- Evening and Weekend Availability
- Virtual Meetings
- In-Person Meetings
- Latest Tools and Technology
- Transparent Fee Structure
- No Product Sales
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Ben Smith is a NAPFA-Registered Financial AdvisorThe National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Ben Smith is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
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Ben Smith is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for VerificationCFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Ben Smith is a Member of the XY Planning NetworkThe XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Ben Smith is a Chartered SRI Counselor™ (CSRIC™)Individuals who hold the CSRIC™ designation have completed a course of study encompassing the history, definitions, trends, portfolio construction principles, fiduciary responsibilities, and best practices for sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investing. This program was developed in partnership with US SIF, The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment -- the leading voice advancing sustainable, responsible, and impact investing across all asset classes in the United States. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations. All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct and are subject to a disciplinary process.
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Ben Smith is on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of Wisconsin
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Ben Smith is Quoted in the New York Times: "What Is a Good Reason for a Personal Loan?"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in the StarTribune: "What's a good reason to get a personal loan?"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on FinancialAdvisorIQ: "More Top Advisors Are Allocating Client Assets to ESG"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on Business Insider: "5 Things the Ultra-Wealthy Are Doing to Prepare Their Portfolios for a Possible Recession, from Ditching Bonds to Stockpiling Cash"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in ThinkAdvisor: "Advisors’ Advice: Clients’ Biggest ESG Investing Questions"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in MarketWatch: "Why Facebook’s Libra coin could become a big pain in your wallet"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on CNBC: "Here’s whether it makes sense to ditch stocks and move to cash"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in MarketWatch: "Why some ESG-friendly financial advisers are careful about mixing politics and portfolios"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in USA Today: "Forget these 5 myths you’ve heard about debt consolidation"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in InvestmentNews: "New sources for data on model portfolios could help increase adviser adoption"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on NerdWallet.com: "How to Get Your Partner On Board With Travel Rewards Cards"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on Bustle.com: "11 Surprising Ways Couples Tend To Waste Money"
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Ben Smith is Quoted in Financial Planning Magazine: "5 Innovative Strategies to Scale a Practice"
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Ben Smith is Quoted on CNBC: "Here’s whether it makes sense to ditch stocks and move to cash"
Contact Ben Smith
Office Locations:
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342 N. Water Street
Suite 600
Milwaukee, WI 53202 -
1603 Orrington Ave
Suite 600
Evanston, IL 60201 -
1650 West End Blvd
Suite 100
St Louis Park, MN 55416
