James E. Smith

Jim SmitFor 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.

Our Location

Gateway Financial Advisors Inc.
1801 N. California Boulevard #106
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Mike: 925.322.8067
Jim: 925.322.8064

Latest News

Financial and Economic Brief - August 4, 2020

• A Q2 Economic Evaluation - Now that the American Economy has gone through at least one quarter of Covid-19, we have an opportunity to glance back at the equity markets to see how they performed.

• International Monetary Fund’s Latest Update - Countries around the world share the same apprehensions about financial health of economies as well as physical health of the people.

• Top 10 Technology Trends of 2020 - The rapid growth of technology is paving the way for career growth in 10 different but connected areas.

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Financial and Economic Brief - July 3, 2020

• The Trend in Wage Growth and Spending - The country’s unemployment rate has leveled off and Americans have shown remarkable resilience in the face of high unemployment numbers.

• Mortgage Rates are the Lowest in Years - For individuals and families who are looking to buy a new home, interest rates are low and expected to potentially go lower.

• Where are Oil Prices Headed? - Decades ago no American would have believed that the price of a barrel of oil would drive a wedge between OPEC oil producing nations.

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Financial and Economic Brief - June 2, 2020

• Payroll Protection Program Gets Necessary Adjustments - Businesses that have secured a Payroll Protection Program loan from Uncle Sam may be looking at legislation to ease the requirements for loan forgiveness.

• What’s Ahead for Treatment or Cure of Coronavirus? - Americans are eager for one of the many drug companies to develop a vaccine for the Coronavirus.

• The Fed’s Latest Cash Infusion - The future of the US Economy has been bolstered by the efforts of the Federal Reserve Bank to smooth-out the disruptions caused by the Coronavirus.

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Financial and Economic Brief - May 6, 2020

• Here are Important Social Security Changes for 2020 - For today’s retired Americans, it frequently represents a healthy amount of their monthly income.

• Did the SECURE Act Kill the Stretch IRA? - Individuals who have successfully used IRA’s as an estate tax planning tool may be trying to find new ways to leave assets to named beneficiaries in a way that minimizes the long-term effects of the estate tax.

• Warren Buffett has Sold Berkshire Hathaway’s Position in Airline Stocks - The Oracle of Omaha doesn’t always get it right (but so far his track record has been mighty impressive!)

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Financial and Economic Brief - May 5, 2020

• The Real Estate Front - The Coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected the housing market.

• Understanding the Impact of Inflation - When governments, for whatever reasons, inject huge sums of currency into an economy, repercussions will be felt at some point in the future.

• The UK is Recognizing the Benefits of Trading with the US - With the world currently reeling from the economic slowdown essentially caused by Covid-19, our friends in the UK are seeking to step up trade talks.

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Financial and Economic Brief - March 3, 2020

• Potential Rate Cuts Coming - In response to the coronavirus scare, there’s a chance that the Fed could take policy back to where it was during the financial crisis of 2008.

• Britain’s Mandate for Trade Talks - Britain unveiled its mandate for trade talks with the U.S., with Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowing to drive a hard bargain in negotiations.

• Stock Market Plummets - U.S. stocks fell as fears escalated over the fast-spreading coronavirus, with Wall Street capping its worst week since the global financial crisis of 2008.

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Older borrowers rush to lock in rock-bottom mortgage interest rates

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