The Financial Planning Team:

 

Brien Smith, CFPÒ
Owner/Partner 

Brien has twenty years of experience in financial services and fifteen years practicing financial planning. He is partner at Traditions Wealth Advisors, LLC.  As a practitioner of Comprehensive Personal Financial Planning, Brien specializes in retirement, estate, and income tax planning as well as financial planning for business owners. He has experience in college education planning, insurance consulting and planning, and managing lump sum retirement plan distributions. 

He achieved his Certified Financial Planner designation in 1994. Brien is also Series 7 Licensed through the National Association of Securities Dealers, Series 63 Licensed through the Texas Securities Commission, and Group I Insurance Licensed through the Texas Insurance Commission.  

Brien served as Vice President and Chief Financial Planner for Carter Financial Management’s Bryan/College Station location for ten years. Prior to his position with CFM, he worked for IDS/American Express Financial Advisors as a financial planner and training manager for five years.  

Brien received his BBA in from Texas A&M University in 1981 with concentrations in Business Management and Economics and completed Economic Graduate studies at the University of Houston.

 Commitment to Professional Organizations:

• Financial Planning Association- Practitioner Division
• Licensed Practitioners of the Institute of CFPs
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum
• Brazos Valley Estate and Financial Planning Council -active member (past Board of Directors and past president)
• Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce - selected for the Leadership Brazos program
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

Texas A&M Affiliations:

Brien is a proud member of the class of 1981. While at A&M, he was actively involved as president of the Married Students Apartment Council, served on the Student Government and was granted a scholarship as one of the top student leaders.

Continuing University Involvement:

Active member of Association of Former Students –Texas A&M University

County A&M Club – Board of Directors 2000. 

Bryan/College Station Community Involvement:

Brien resides in College Station with his wife, son, and two daughters where he is a dedicated member of the community. He volunteers considerable time to his position on the Leadership Advisory Council at St. Mary's Texas A&M Student Center. Brien served on the church financial council with the responsibility of a $1.4 million facility and a $0.5 million annual operating budget. Brien also serves as a Volunteer Hospice for Brazos Valley and has newly been elected Scoutmaster for his son's scout troop, of the National Eagle Scout Association, Brazos Valley Chapter.

Lois has ten years of experience as a financial analyst. Her duties include portfolio analysis, research, and general client service work. She has completed the course work for her CFP designation.  

Lois graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA with a BA in Mathematics. In addition, she has a M.Ed. from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA and an MBA from Texas A&M University.

She has been a key partner in the team at Traditions Wealth Advisors and she has been working with Brien Smith long before its inception in March of 2003. Lois joined Carter Financial Management in March 1994 on part time basis.  

Previously, she taught mathematics at the middle school and high school level in Belmont, MA. In addition, she served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Nigeria for two years. After a two-year leave of absence from Carter Financial, Mrs. Scogin returned to work with Brien in June 1999. 

Tom
Financial Analyst Intern

Tom assists in the due diligence process by researching potential money managers and mutual funds to ensure the quality of the fund/manager. He also researches various issues with tax and market implications as the issues arise. Lastly, Tom analyzes client situations and helps determine how to most efficiently invest their money (tax efficient investments, diversification, etc.)

He is apart of the PPA program with a Bachelor's degree in accounting and will graduate with his Master's in finance in May 2009. Tom is originally from Fort Worth, Texas and will be working in Houston post graduation.

Kara
Accounting Intern

Kara is the accounting intern for our team. She is responsible for balancing our books and payroll taxes. She is a senior Ag Economics major from Jacksboro, TX and will graduate in May 2009.

Connie
Financial Marketing Intern 

Connie is responsible for all marketing involved with Traditions Wealth Advisors. She creates and helps edit the quarterly newsletter as well as website maintenence.

Originally from Houston, Connie is currently a senior Finance major who will graduate in May 2009. She is in the process of obtaining a Certificate in Retailing in hopes of finding a career working with the finances of a corporate retailer.

She is currently a M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar, an active member of the Student Retailing Association, and was a former member of MSC LEAD, a sophomore leadership organization.

Traditions Wealth Advisors, LLC.

2700 Earl Rudder Frwy. S.

Crystal Park Plaza, Suite 2600

College Station, TX 77840

Phone: (979) 694-9100

Email: ContactUs@traditionswealthadvisors.com