Daniel Smyth is a Lead Advisor for North Berkeley clients. He is well versed in financial strategy and works with clients to develop financial plans and implement investment strategies to reach their long-term goals.
Before joining North Berkeley, Daniel worked in institutional sales at Litman Gregory Asset Management. There he developed an understanding of mutual funds and alternative investments. Daniel transitioned into personal finance because he wanted to have a more impact on a personal level.
Daniel is a Los Angeles native and moved to the Bay Area to attend Saint Mary’s College of California. Soon after moving, he fell in love with the Bay Area and its melting pot of community, culture, and food. Daniel is an avid car enthusiast, athlete, and foodie; and is committed to his family that stretches from Los Angeles to Mississippi.
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Education, Certifications, & Affiliations
- CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) certification
- CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor®) certification
- B.S. in Business and Administration & Economics, Saint Mary’s College of California
- Study Abroad Freie Universität in Berlin
- Graduate, Yale School of Management Executive Education Program, Investment Management Theory & Practice
- Board Member, Angel City Aerospace Foundation
- Member, Financial Planning Association (FPA)
- Member, Association of African American Advisors (AAAA)
The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
More About Daniel
I became an Advisor to be a thought partner with my clients and community. By having a dedicated resource and sounding board for their goals, our community can free themselves of financial stresses to pursue the opportunities that are most meaningful to their lives.
I serve my local community by volunteering to speak to teens and young adults about saving and good money habits. As an active member of the NAACP since childhood, I have seen several powerful people of color come in and advise our group on various topics of interest, and I always knew that one day I would have a topic of value to bring my community.
In my free time, I like tooling on classic cars and going on long drives along the coast. Growing up, my grandfather and I used to work on cars in his garage together. I can remember going from being the tool boy, to “here, you want to take it for a spin?” Although he is no longer here, I can still feel him smiling down on me every time I am backing out of the driveway with that smooth deep rumble.
Articles by Daniel Smyth, CFP®, CPWA®
New Frontiers for Energy Resilience
The future of energy production, especially with the demands of AI and cloud computing, hinges on a balanced and sustainable mix of sources. As established technology companies partner with nuclear startups, new sustainable solutions could help meet the rising demand without further exacerbating climate concerns.
Homeowners Insurance: Repricing Risk
In response to recent years of high payouts, particularly for wildfire losses, insurance companies have declined to renew policies at a rapid clip and stopped underwriting in high-risk areas of California. This has led to much higher rates of enrollment in the FAIR Plan, which is only meant as a bridge until other insurance solutions became available.
Legacy Planning for Digital Assets
As we continue to rely on technology to make our lives more convenient, our digital asset landscape is becoming more relevant than ever. Including language in your estate plan that covers digital assets is an increasingly common practice to provide clarity over who has legal authority.