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Michael Smith

Advisor Image
Michael Smith
Financial Consultant
.
RICP®, BFA™
Part of the Bridge Street Financial Advisors practice
12600 Deerfield Parkway Suite 125
Alpharetta, GA 30004
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 CollegeAccredited 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.
My qualifications
  • Retirement Income Certified Professional®
  • Behavioral Financial Advisor™
  • Series 7 - General Securities Representative
My state licenses
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia

Insights

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Interest rates are shifting. Understanding the purpose and timeline of your cash can help you decide whether and how to invest it for optimal returns. Ask yourself two questions. ⬇️ See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
The cost of cash: Where to invest when interest rates shift
The cost of cash: Where to invest when interest rates shiftWhether you’re saving for something big, looking to generate a steady income, or seeking flexible access to your cash, there are smart ways to keep your money productive and there for you when you need it—regardless of shifting interest rates. Explore your options below and let’s connect to keep your goals on track as interest rates change.
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Sequence of returns risk: What it means for your retirement
Sequence of returns risk: What it means for your retirementThe market can shift at any time, and big drops early in retirement could affect your savings. The right approach can help keep your savings resilient. Check out this article, then reach out to talk through ways to help protect your savings.👇
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Office location
Alpharetta Location
12600 Deerfield Parkway Suite 125
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Phone678-628-5793Hours
M – F: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Licensing is available through your State Insurance Department’s website, which can be located through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.

Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.

Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.

Designations
For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations