R. Deaton Smith III
CFP®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CEPA®, AIF®
Thayer Financial, L.L.C.
President & CCO
R. Deaton Smith III
CFP®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CEPA®, AIF®
Thayer Financial, L.L.C.
President & CCO
As a fee-only financial planner, I want to help give you the confidence to spend your retirement years pursuing the things most important to you - R. Deaton Smith III, CFP®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CEPA®, AIF®
Fee-Only financial planner located in Hickory, NC, serving clients locally and across the country
Deaton Smith is a Hickory, NC fee-only financial planner. Thayer Financial, L.L.C. provides comprehensive retirement planning to help clients lower their taxes, invest smarter, and optimize their income. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Deaton Smith is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
I’m Deaton Smith, CFP®, AIF®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CEPA® 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.
Thayer Financial is a fee-only retirement planning and investment management firm. I provide holistic and transparently priced retirement planning and investment management services. As a fee-only RIA firm, I always work as a fiduciary for my clients.
R. Deaton Smith III 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.
Thayer Financial, L.L.C. (“Thayer Financial”) is a registered investment adviser offering advisory services in the State of North Carolina and in other jurisdictions where exempted.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
- Estate Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Sudden Money Situations
- Business Owners and Executives
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Deaton 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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Deaton Smith is a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)Chartered Financial Consultant® designations are granted upon completion of seven required courses and two elective courses. Those who earn the designation are understood to be knowledgeable in financial matters and to have the ability to provide sound advice.
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R. Deaton Smith III is a Wealth Management Certified Professional®Advisors who earn the Wealth Management Certified Professional® designation have been educated to utilize a goals-based approach to personal wealth management. WMCP® designees are capable of creating efficient investment portfolios, evaluating financial instruments, assembling a wealth management strategy, and providing solutions for complex wealth management needs. They must also uphold The American College’s Code of Ethics.
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R. Deaton Smith III is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®)The Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) designation is obtained by financial professionals upon completion of a five-day in-person credentialing program. Advisors who earn this credential are specially trained to help business owners create an exit plan for selling their company for maximum benefit. The CEPA Program integrates exit strategy into business, personal, and financial goals of the business owner. Using this holistic approach, Certified Exit Planning Advisors® guide business owners to decide when’s the best time to sell their business and how to minimize taxes from the sale.
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Deaton 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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Deaton Smith III 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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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted in Next Advisor: "The Best Places to Save Your Money Right Now: 6 Account Types to Consider"
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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted in US News and World Report: "The Best Places to Retire in North Carolina"
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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted in ThinkAdvisor (Slide 2): "9 Advisors Show What Their Client Meeting Rooms Really Look Like: Advisors' Advice"
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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted on NerdWallet.com: "Want to Buy Gold? Here’s What You Should Know"
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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted in InvestmentNews: "Advisers weigh in on SECURE Act, approved by House and on way to Senate and the White House"
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R. Deaton Smith III Authored a Guest Blog Post "Social Security and Medicare Integration" for Broome Associates
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R. Deaton Smith III Authored a Guest Blog Post: "“Suitable” or In Your Best Interest: What Is Your Financial Advisor’s Standard of Care?" for Broome Associates
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R. Deaton Smith III is Quoted in The Hickory Daily Record: "Thayer Financial moves to a new location"
Contact R. Deaton Smith III
Office Locations:
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439 4th Street SW
Hickory, NC 28602
