About Michael Smith
I'm proud to be a Thrivent financial professional. I provide personalized financial guidance to people at all stages of life. At Thrivent, we view money not as a goal, but as a tool — one that can afford you a life rich in meaning and gratitude. We believe humanity thrives when individuals make the most of all they've been given. I'm here to help you do just that.
The RICP® designation
Retirement Income Certified Professional®
The purpose of retirement financial planner is to help individuals who are at or near retirement build a plan to ensure they meet their retirement income and other financial goals throughout their nonworking years and manage the many risks they may face. As coordinated planning and better decision making can improve retirement security, retirement income planning is increasing complex and important area of retirement planning.
The RICP® designation provides comprehensive instruction on building integrated and comprehensive retirement financial plans. A key focus is understanding, choosing, and executing a sustainable retirement income strategy from available resources—whether that means using systematic withdrawals from a portfolio, building an retirement income floor with bonds or annuities, or using a bucket strategy.
The program, developed by more than 45 of the nation’s top financial retirement advisors, provides advisors with best practices in areas including:
- Social Security claiming
- Evaluating and addressing risks faced in retirement financial planning
- Choosing distributions from employer sponsored retirement financial plans
- Medicare and other health insurance choices
- Planning for long-term care needs
- Choosing appropriate housing
- Retirement income tax and legacy planning
To Receive the RICP professional designation candidates must successfully complete the RICP coursework and pass the closed book proctored exam. 15 hours of continuing education must be completed every two years to maintain the designation.
Issuing Organization: The American College
Accredited by: The issuing organization (The American College) is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Agency
The BFA™ Designation
Behavioral Financial Advisor™ - BFA™ 07/2020
This specialized program, offered through Kaplan Financial and Think2Perform®, trains advisors to mentor and coach clients in their financial decisions through a rational, values-based approach; better preparing clients for unplanned life events; and understand how traditional financial practices are driven by psychology and neuroscience. The program provides training to demonstrate how traditional finance practices are influenced by psychology and neuroscience to help financial professionals offer a holistic approach to strengthen the advisor -client relationship.
To receive the BFA™ certification, candidates must successfully complete the BFA™ education program and pass the final exam. Continuing education requirements to maintain the BFA™ designation must be satisfied every two years.
Developed by Kaplan and think2perform®,
Certification granted by Kaplan Financial Education.
Meet My Team
Bridge Street Financial Advisors
- Title
Team Practice
- Website
- https://connect.thrivent.com/bridge-street-financial-advisors
