Dr. Margaret Smith found her passion in coaching and created a vocation for herself that combines her belief in the transformative power of optimism + planning + compassionate guidance. She is a straight-shooting, authentic and caring coach who inspires her clients to live to their fullest potential. From an academic background, she perceived a need for straight-talking, honest, financial advice. She knew there were many who did not want to be sold a bill of goods nor wanted to turn over their asset management to others, but were instead looking for a trusted guide who could advise them, explain issues in sensible terms, and help them plan, and make effective transitions in their lives. This is how she came to create Smith Financial Place.

She is uniquely qualified to work with clients not only as a planner, but also as an educator, coach, and advisor. Dr. Margaret Smith is President of Smith Financial Place. She is a Certified Financial Planner, a Registered Investment Advisor, a member of the Financial Planning Association, a Certified Integral Coach, and an adjunct professor of Economics and Finance at Claremont McKenna College. She is a certified integral coach, certified by an accredited coach training program,New Ventures West, one of the country’s premier coach training institutions. She serves as a financial neutral in collaborative divorces (see LA Collaborative Family Law Association). Additionally, she is an active member of the International Enneagram Association. She gave a talk at the IEA conference in Aug 2008 on the relationship between people's enneagram types and their relationship to money.

She graduated from Harvard University with a PhD in Business Economics, graduated summa cum laude, with a simultaneous BA/MA in Economics from Yale, and has published various articles on real estate and finance.

She was recently named in the 2008 Guide to America's Top Financial Planners as one of the nation's top financial planners.