R. Deaton Smith III
CFP®, ChFC®
Thayer Financial, L.L.C.
President & CCO
R. Deaton Smith III
CFP®, ChFC®
Thayer Financial, L.L.C.
President & CCO
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - R. Deaton Smith III, CFP®, ChFC®
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 and objective financial planning to help clients organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. 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.
Thayer Financial is a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. I provide holistic and transparently priced financial 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 is a full service financial/insurance business serving Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota and Maryland. We pride ourselves on educating and helping people make guaranteed no loss investments! Offer Life Insurance (Indexed Products with Living Benefits!), Health Insurance, Annuities and 401k rollovers. Also offer Property and Casualty Insurance for Home, Auto and all lines of Commercial Insurance through 20 different companies in Colorado! We offer all the upside of investing with no risk and no fees!!
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
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 NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
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.
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Deaton Smith is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® 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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Deaton Smith III is a Member of the XY Planning Network
The 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.
Contact R. Deaton Smith III
Office Locations:
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439 4th Street SW
Hickory, NC 28602