Alumni Award Recipient

Award: 2011 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Achievements: A financial advisor who puts a passion for helping others above making money is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Young Alumni award. Casey T. Smith, founder and president of Wiser Wealth Management in Marietta, Ga., has consistently been guided by higher ethics in his business practice and in his service to others. “Casey has adopted a philosophy of serving his clients by educating them and implementing the golden rule – guiding clients to decisions that he would make if the resources were his own,” explains Stacey Spillers, Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer at Berry. He began his career with a larger brokerage firm, but soon found that the push for big commissions meant selling products that weren’t always in the best interests of the people he served. He opened his own firm a year later with the conviction to be a different kind of financial firm, one designed “to show God’s unconditional love to all who seek our advice.” As a result, he works with the clients who truly need him. And there have even been times when he receives no fee. Following the ideals he learned at Berry, he realized early on that his goal was to grow his business in an ethical way. His firm often works with single mothers who are not able to pay, and last year offered free tax preparation to those who had lost their jobs. Noticing that many of his clients were widows in need of emotional support, Casey began arranging lunches so that they could get to know each other. No business is discussed at the lunches. The Wiser Women, as they choose to call themselves, simply enjoy each other’s company and the time spent together. In service to Berry, Casey is on the board of the Campbell School of Business Executive Advisory Committee, the Berry College Board of Visitors, the Planned Giving Council Board and the Student Enterprises Advisory Board. He serves as the chairman of the Berry Investment Group Advisory Board. He receives numerous requests to speak nationally and internationally. His unique approach and knowledge of index funds and exchange traded funds have been in demand by well-known national media. Cobb Life magazine recognized him as one of Cobb County’s rising stars under the age of 40. In addition to his work as a financial advisor, he is a captain for Atlantic Southeast Airlines and serves on the board of three different companies. “Casey is very proud of the experience he received at Berry College and that experience is what has made Wiser Wealth Management the company it is today,” said Latrelle Allen, a former client who now works with client services at Wiser Wealth Management. Casey lives in Marietta with his wife, Angela, and two young children.