James E. Smith

Jim Smit For forty years, Jim has served the financial planning, insurance and investment advisory needs of a select group of clients, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, Oregon and Washington. Prior to beginning his financial service career, Jim received his MBA from the University of California at Berkeley and his B.S. from San Jose State College in Business and lndustrial Management. While attending San Jose State, Jim was invited to join Tau Delta phi, an honorary fraternity. Although born and raised in Southern California, Jim has lived and worked in the BayArea since 1960. He says he feels more a native of the Bay Area.

Today, Jim is an independent financial planner and investment advisor representative with Gateway FinancialAdvisors, lnc. in Walnut Ceek. Cambridge lnvestment Research is his broker dealer and Registered lnvestment Advisor for compliance purposes. Cambridge is a member of the Financial lndustry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities lnvestor Protection Corp. (SIPC).

Jim's professional designations include the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Jim served as President of the East Bay CLU & ChFC Chapter and board member for six years. Also, Jim worked on behalf of the san Francisco chamber of Commerce in various capacities for four years. His volunteer work included fund raising for the San Francisco YMCA. Recently, Jim signed up to audit another investment course at the Haas School at UC Berkeley in order to stay current with the latest academic thought and better serve his clients.

Jim has resided with his wife, June, at the crossings in Concord since the mid-1980s. Jim will tell you how fortunate he is in being married to the woman of his dreams. Moreover, June assisted Jim in his business, took care of their home and helped raise his son, James. Jim and June enjoy spending time with James and his wife, two children, and two dogs on weekends.

Jim views his business as a small exclusive club. His ideal clients are members of that club. These clients appreciate the advice he offers and are willing to act, once they are convinced it is in their best interest. Jim says "you aren't buying anything from me--you are buying into something with me. All I have of offer is my advice to help \ you accomplish your goals-personal and financial." In order to do this, he must know your values, priorities, goals and objectives, what makes you run. Without that knowledge, understanding and mutual trust, Jim will not be able to help you. With 40 years of experience in financial and estate planning, insurance and investment management, Jim believes he can help you achieve your goals.

"I am interested in 'transformational', not purely 'transactional' relationships", according to Jim. He wants you to feel that you are a better person for knowing him and that he's meant something in your life's journey. How many assets a person has accumulated isn't as important as his/her values and priorities. Is your wealth serving your life or the other way around? Concentrating on building wealth for its own sake is not fulfilling.

Jim's best clients are concemed about their legacy-to the persons (or organizations) that count in their lives-and will succeed them. Jim's efforts are focused on helping you, your family and friends accomplish their objectives. Jim will be your confidant and expects you will introduce him to these other people who are imporlant to you and would benefit from knowing him.

Gateway Financial Advisors of Northern California

Developing Comprehensive Financial Strategies of Individuals, Families and Businesses
Our Mission: To provide superior financial services, investments and insurance planning for business owners, their key employees and successful individuals.
Our Goal: To help our clients create, protect and preserve their net worth through creative and cost-effective fi nancial strategies.
Our Promise: To listen, understand and respond to the concerns of our clients through long-term relationships.
Our Distinctiveness: To offer experience as strategic partners in alliances with attomeys, accountants, insurance and investment professionals to provide synergistic solutions for our clients.

Latest News

Financial and Economic Brief - January 7, 2020

• Consumer Confidence Dips - According to The Conference Board, U.S. consumer confidence “dipped slightly” in December. The metric came in at 126.5 for the month, down from 126.8 in November.

• Oil Prices Rising - Oil prices rose over 1% on Monday, pushing Brent above $70 a barrel.

• Gold Highest in 7 Years - Global investors are going into safe haven assets as fallout continues from the U.S. killing of Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani.

Financial and Economic Brief - December 3, 2019

• Moderate Growth in Q3 - The U.S. economy grew at a moderate 2.1% rate over the summer, slightly faster than first estimated.

• OPEC to Deepen Cuts - OPEC and its allies plan to deepen oil cuts and have the deal in place so it runs at least until June 2020.

• Tariff Threat Renewed - President Trump announced that the U.S. will “restore” steel and aluminum tariffs on Brazil and Argentina, citing a “massive devaluation of their currencies.”

Financial and Economic Brief - November 5, 2019

• Consumer Confidence “Dips” - U.S. consumer confidence fell slightly in October to 125.9 from a September reading of 126.3 as worries over business conditions and employment prospects rose.

• Gannett and New Media Investment Group - Gannett reported its third-quarter earnings noting a continued decline in overall revenue but pointed to an increase in its marketing services & digital subscriptions.

• U.S.-China Trade Optimism - Technology stocks pushed the three main indexes to record highs, as hopes of a U.S.-China trade deal and an improving domestic economy raised risk appetite.

Financial and Economic Brief - October 8, 2019

• Unemployment Rate Falls - Unemployment hit a 50-yr. low in September even though nonfarm payrolls rose by just 136,000 as the economy nears full employment.

• Impeachment and the Stock Market - The launch of an impeachment inquiry into President Trump tosses another wild card into a volatile stock market.

• Trade Talks Underway - U.S. & Chinese deputy trade negotiators launched a new round of talks on Monday aimed at resolving the 15-mo. trade war, with neither side showing any signs of giving ground.

Financial and Economic Brief - September 4, 2019

• Recent Jobless Claims Fall - Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped to 209,000 for the week ended August 17, 2019, falling sharply from the week before.

• Brexit Crisis Still Uncertain - British lawmakers will try to stop Boris Johnson from pursuing what they cast as a “calamitous no-deal Brexit”.

• New Wave of Tariffs in Trade War - The new tariffs are a sharp escalation in the trade war, and could cost U.S. households $800 a year.

Financial and Economic Brief - August 6, 2019

• Economy is Steady - The economy added 164,000 nonfarm payrolls in July, as expected. Wages rose 0.3% in July, or 3.2% year over year.

• Yuan Falls - The yuan fell 1.4% which breached the key 7-per-dollar level for the first time since 2008.

• HSBC CEO Out - HSBC chief John Flint is stepping down after less than two years on the job.

Gateway Financial Advisors Inc.