Erik A. Smith

President & C.E.O.

AIF®

FINRA Series 7

FINRA Series 66

Life & Health Insurance

About Erik

Erik has been helping people reach their financial goals since 2008 where after spending three years with Edward Jones, he founded Erik Smith Investment in Jackson. In 2014 he and Loren Rex formed a partnership at which point he re-branded the Jackson location under the Generations name. In 2023 together with his team, he assisted another advisor into retirement resulting in the opening of the Kalamazoo office.

He is now the President and C.E.O. of Generations Financial Planning & Wealth Management. His interest and passion for investing started in high school when he wanted to start his career on Wall Street working at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

He currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licensing along with life and long-term care insurance licenses. He has also obtained AIF Accreditation (Accredited Investment Fiduciary). A client may benefit from using the expertise of an advisor with the AIF designation, as the advisor will be held to a standard of excellence to which others may not adhere.

Today, he and his team work closely with his clients to develop a plan and ensure they understand the strategies selected to achieve their financial goals, recognizing the importance of periodic “check-ups” on their financial plan and investment portfolios. His individualized, unique approach causes/allows him to get to know his clients on a very personalized level.

Erik grew up on a small farm in the Hillsdale area, served in the U.S. Air Force right out of high school, helping him understand the value of work and what it takes to earn a dollar. He has lived in the Jackson area for the past thirty plus years and is an asset to his community. Erik (a Paul Harris Fellow) has served as President for the Battle Creek Rotary Club, President for the Jackson Breakfast Rotary Club as well as President for the Jackson Rotary Foundation. He is still an active member of the Battle Creek Rotary Club.

Both of his children and their families live in the local area so when he is not out searching for the next best trail to hike with his wife (Taryn), he is spending it with them.

What is an AIF®?

An Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, or AIF®, is a professional designation awarded by Fi360 to financial professionals who complete specialized training in fiduciary responsibility and the prudent practices for managing and overseeing investments. The AIF® designation requires candidates to complete a comprehensive course of study covering fiduciary standards of care, due diligence, and risk management, then pass an exam and agree to abide by a code of ethics. To maintain the credential, AIF® holders must complete ongoing continuing education. Working with an advisor who holds the AIF® designation means working with someone who has committed to a standard of excellence in acting in their clients’ best interests, a standard that not all financial professionals are held to.

Life Outside the Office

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