Christian Smissen
Lead Advisor, CFP®, CFA®
About
Christian’s mission is to make the sixties and seventies the best decades of life, one client at a time.
His best clients tried to figure out how to turn everything they’ve built into the right amount of reliable income. But they found that the spending phase is more complex than the building phase: stock market crashes, RMDs, estate planning, Medicare tax, and it’s all connected… What they want is clarity, guidance through decision making, and to stop wondering if they are doing everything right.
His background: Christian has been in the advisory industry since 2017 starting on the investment side of a Fortune 500 broker-dealer. A few years in, he realized the most important ingredients to a sound retirement had nothing to do with portfolio benchmarks and the S&P 500. To bridge that gap, he earned the widely recognized CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® mark. He also holds the rarely encountered Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which is arguably the most intensive series of exams in the industry.
Christian’s clients value that he is not afraid to challenge common advice in the industry with good reasoning. They appreciate that he independently thinks in their best interest rather than defaulting to general consensus.
How he helps: Christian believes that every successful retiree can clearly define their plan in 6 key areas:
- Lifestyle income
- Tax savings strategies
- Estate and beneficiary planning
- Healthcare (pre-65, long-term care)
- Market Downturn strategy
- Spousal protection and survivor income
Most people have done well focusing on investing and accumulating. What is missing is a clear, written, and coordinated plan that aligns these parts with their vision.
From Christian to you: Growing up in a middle-class blue-collar family, my dad frequently worked 80+ hour weeks. He never complained, but I knew it was exhausting. That shaped my belief that the real goal is to retire from work before work retires you.
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada with my wife, Stephanie, and our daughter, Sophia. Every summer, my brother and I fish in the Florida Keys or Alaska. A personal financial goal in the next five years is to send my newly retired parents on the vacation of a lifetime. But don’t tell them, it’s a surprise.
Are we a good fit? Use my “Schedule a meeting” link below to book a complimentary intro call. We will discuss how you are trying to prepare for your best decades and how I can help you.
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Connect with Christian
Book an introductory call with Christian to get to know one another and learn about how Lifeworks can help you achieve your financial dreams.