Vista Q&A with Regan Smith

What drew you to wealth management?

Initially, I thought my career track would be in education, but by chance I enrolled in a basic personal finance course during college and found myself immediately immersed in the subject. For over a year I was torn between callings until one day my professor spoke directly to my conflicted heart as he described the clear parallels between financial advisors and teachers. Ultimately, it excites me to help people, and I’m fortunate to do that in a way that allows my analytical and restorative qualities to shine through.

What do you enjoy most about Vista?

Vista has amassed a team of advisors with diverse strengths and backgrounds, all unified under the common goal of providing the best possible solutions to our clients. That drive to find the best solution is embedded in our culture, and does not bend to pride, seniority, or other variables that can cloud judgment. I’m proud to work for a company that will never respond to my inquiries with “because we’ve always done it that way."

What do you feel is the biggest value Vista brings to its clients?

A financial advisor helps people navigate and develop a balance between their goals and their money, but there are often several ways to go about this. At Vista we take the time to understand our clients on a deeper level at the start of the relationship, learning about their goals, relationships, values, interests, other advisors, and financial accounts. Knowing our clients on this level allows us to curate the most appropriate, personalized financial solution.

How should people think about their wealth?

Wealth is the freedom to live your life on your own terms.

What personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

After growing up, attending college, and starting my career all within an hour drive of where I was born, in the summer of 2015 I made the decision to start anew in the Bay Area.

What do you love to do outside of work?

I love spending time with my dog. Whether it’s a road trip, a day at the beach, jogging through Golden Gate Park, or reading dystopian science fiction novels, she’s always by my side.

What's the most influential book you've read and why?

There are so many, but my answer comes down to one literary character I admire above all others: Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. His upstanding morals and stalwart conviction in the face of opposition are the epitome of goodness.

Regan Smith joined Vista in 2015 and has over seven years of finance-related experience. Prior to joining Vista he worked as a Financial Planning Specialist at the fastest growing firm in the Milwaukee area (all industries from 2012-2014). In 2015 he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for exposure to a more diverse and complex financial planning environment.

Regan works with clients in each of the Vista offices, but spends the majority of his time in our Palo Alto office.

Regan graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a BS degree in Personal Finance. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.