What are 3 words people use to describe you?
Optimistic, driven, and kind.
What are you most grateful for?
Sunshine, family, and the Georgia Bulldogs!
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Helping clients hit their goals is JUST as important as helping them find financial peace.
What gets you excited about life?
It’s all about the small, simple moments of contentment. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee with my dog, seeing the joy on my daughter’s face as she succeeds, or a road trip with my favorite people, life is so good.
How do you define success?
A thoroughly checked-off “to do” list. Even with the most complex of events, plans or projects, you can get it all done with exceptional organization and perseverance.
What is your proudest achievement?
Happy clients. Everyone has a skillset and using mine to help others feel more confident about their financial decisions is infinitely rewarding.
What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
Life is short.
What was the best book you’ve read and why?
My favorite is “All the Light You Cannot See.” Set in WWII, two exceptional children find a way to make the world a better place. It’s powerful!
Leigh Smith CLU, ChFC joined Cypress Wealth Services in February 2022 as a Senior Financial Advisor. Leigh takes a thoughtful and caring approach to help clients build a comprehensive financial plan. Leigh wants to help remove the stress and anxiety that can sometimes surface when building a plan and dealing with financial matters. The core of her approach and passion centers around financial education, so she founded the Wealth Academy of Georgia. Through the academy, Leigh offers multiple classes each year on a variety of topics. Leigh is a proud educator with COFE, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on financial literacy.
Leigh is a connoisseur of the financial services industry, having worked in it from almost every vantage point. Her start in financial services came from working in multiple CPA firms, doing both personal and corporate tax work. She enjoyed the tax work enough to earn and retain her Certified Tax Preparer certificate. Leigh went on to head up marketing for a Top 10 Life Insurance company, working out of their corporate headquarters in Montpelier, VT. She then spent many hours traveling the country, learning the inner workings of over 40 Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs).
During her career, she’s been the Chief Marketing Officer, the Chief Operations Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer and holds both the CLU and ChFC, advanced designations in the financial services industry. From creating entire marketing systems, to helping author a book, to driving technology strategy, she's a compassionate leader, focused on results.
Born and raised in Athens, GA, Leigh is a proud graduate of the Honors Program at the University of Georgia. Having literally lived from coast to coast, she’s spent years honing the skill of taking very complex topics and making them easy to understand. If you’ve ever found financial decisions to be overwhelming or confusing, then you’ll enjoy spending some time with Leigh.
When Leigh’s not leading classes, you can find her with an excellent book, riding bikes on the Firefly Trail, in a kayak, or spending time with family.