Ben Smith, CFP®, CSRIC™
FOUNDER & FINANCIAL PLANNER
The Work Stuff
My name is Ben Smith, and I am the Founder of Cove Financial Planning. I believe that everyone, regardless of age, occupation, net worth, and investment experience, deserves a customized financial plan and the peace of mind that comes with it.
Before starting Cove, I worked for several investment companies and saw just how boring, complex, and off-putting investing can be for many people. Traditional advisors also have a reputation for specifically catering to high-net-worth individuals with a singular focus on account size.
My mission is to provide access to high-quality advice to a broader range of people who want to take control of their financial lives (and maybe have some fun in the process!) I also passionately believe in helping people blend their personal values into their long-term financial plans and investments. I’m here to prove that you can Do Well While Doing Good!
Work History:
Board Member, The Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Wisconsin
Wealth Advisor, Strategic Wealth Partners
Associate Regional Director, Russell Investments
Regional Sales Manager, Ameriprise Financial
Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial
I am a member of the following professional organizations:
The Fun Stuff
I’m originally from Minneapolis and have since lived in Milwaukee and Chicago. My wife Kotryna works in investment banking, and while we aren’t at the office, you can find us hanging with our daughter Frances (“Francie”) or debating nerdy investment topics over a home-cooked meal.
We are big believers in learning new things and staying active. Currently, she’s teaching me how to salsa dance (not going well) and speak Lithuanian (where she’s from), while we both sharpen our tennis skills. We’re proud owners of Apple Watches for the sole purpose of beating each other’s daily fitness activity (feel free to join the competition!)
We also travel as often as we can, and we’re always looking for suggestions on places to check out in Europe when visiting her family. Above all else, we both believe that life is about balance. I hope that I can help you find your balance with money, and maybe make the world a little better place in the process.
Jamie DePaolo
Client Service Associate
The Work Stuff
Jamie works hard to ensure that clients feel supported in their financial lives through a thoughtful, proactive, and top-tier service experience.
Whether helping a new client get started, assisting with account updates, or following up on action items after a planning meeting, she brings a calm and service-minded approach to each interaction.
Jamie helps coordinate many of the important administrative and operational matters such as account forms and updates, client onboarding, meeting preparation, scheduling, follow-up items, document requests, etc. Her work helps make the planning process smooth, efficient (and enjoyable!) for our clients.
Jamie earned her bachelor’s degree in 2022, and she has accumulated several years of paraplanning experience since then.
She’s passionate about helping clients feel confident in their financial decisions and has a knack for making complex topics easy to understand.
The Fun Stuff
When she’s off the clock, you’ll find Jamie exploring new restaurants with her wife, hanging out with her two cats, or diving into a good horror movie. She also loves a competitive game of Mahjong!