HERE'S MY STORY

Javarne Smith, Thrivent Financial Advisor

Javarne serves families and business owners — holistically, he says — “to protect their investments and grow their wealth via tax-efficient strategies.”

He chose this work “to protect families & help people who hate taxes, especially in the faith-based & non-profit space.” That focus carries through to what he wishes more people in South Orange and Maplewood knew: “We manage church & non-profit monies & regularly host financial-literacy workshops.”

What he loves most is working alongside other fiduciaries — CPAs and estate attorneys — “to safeguard a household/enterprise's wealth from life's untimeliest, unforeseen events.”

A moment he's most proud of: “Delivering a beneficiary cheque to a grieving local family: knowing a gap was plugged due to an estate plan.”

His advice for someone just starting out: “Just START, don't wait! Some protection & legacy/retirement planning is better than none.”

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