Benjamin Kyle Smith

Advisor at Briarwood Financial — Gig Harbor, WA

Updated today

Credentials

CFP®, Series 65

Experience

7 years

Location

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Briarwood Financial logo

Briarwood Financial

Supported

Total advisors

2

Clients per advisor

14 Very Low

Avg AUM per client

$175,728 Very Low

HNW client ratio

0% Very Low

Why did you become a financial advisor?

Benjamin grew up watching his family struggle financially. Not from a lack of hard work — from a lack of guidance. The right advice, at the right time, from someone who actually understood the full picture, would have changed things. He decided early on that he wanted to be that person for others. He interned at a wealth management firm while studying at Seattle Pacific University and never looked back. More than a decade in the industry later, he founded Briarwood Financial — a firm built specifically around the belief that coordinated financial guidance across investments, taxes, accounting, and business strategy is not a luxury. For families trying to build something lasting, it is the difference. He became a financial advisor because of what he watched growing up. He built Briarwood so the next generation has a better story to tell.

About

Benjamin Smith, CFP®, is the founder and owner of Briarwood Financial, a comprehensive financial services firm providing wealth management, tax preparation, accounting, and business consulting for individuals and business owners nationwide.

Benjamin enjoys working directly with clients to help them navigate the complexities that wealth inevitably brings. His approach combines financial planning, tax strategy, and business advisory services—ensuring that every piece of a client’s financial picture works together efficiently and intentionally.

Before launching Briarwood, Benjamin served as a Financial Advisor at Cetera Investment Services, an independent broker-dealer. There, he specialized in developing customized investment portfolios guided by long-term strategic planning. His drive to offer clients more holistic, tax-integrated advice led him to expand his practice beyond traditional advising and establish Briarwood Financial as a full-service firm.

Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Seattle Pacific University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable experience in sales, operations, and management within the telecommunications industry—skills that helped shape his practical, results-oriented approach to leadership and client service.

At the heart of his philosophy are integrity, honesty, and competence. He believes true financial planning is built on trust, clarity, and a genuine commitment to helping clients make informed, confident decisions that align with their values and long-term goals.

Client services

Based on Briarwood Financial

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops

Expertise

Multi-generational wealth transfer Business ownership considerations Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses General estate planning guidance

Occupation focus

Executive Founder/Business Owner Educators, Teachers, and Academics Public Service Employee Engineering Professional

Demographic focus

HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals Young Families Married/Couples/Partners

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Fee options

Fixed

Upfront charge up to $3,000 for Ongoing Comprehensive Financial Planning based on hourly rate; up to $3,000 upfront fee for Plan Advice and Consulting Program; Project-based fixed fees also charged based on $300/hour rate with minimum two hours paid in advance.

Percentage

$0 - $1,000,000: 1.25% $1,000,001 - $2,000,000: 1.00% $2,000,001 - Negotiable: Negotiable

Project-based

Standard hourly rate is $300 per hour for financial planning and additional services.

Other

Fee-only: Ongoing Comprehensive Financial Planning services may be included free of charge for individuals with $100,000 or couples with $150,000 in assets under management.

Location

Gig Harbor, WA

2801 Hollycroft Street, Ste B #1

Gig Harbor WA 98335

Advisors at this office

2

Most active in

Washington

Work history

7 years of industry experience

Briarwood Financial Planning LLC

2020 - Present • 6 years

Gig Harbor, WA

Cetera

2019 - 2020 • 1 year

Renton, WA

Foresters Advisory Services

2019 - 2019 • 1 year

Renton, WA

Foresters Financial Services

2019 - 2019 • 1 year

Renton, WA

Foresters Financial Services, Inc

2018 - 2019 • 1 year

Renton, WA

Uber

2017 - 2017 • 1 year

Seattle, WA

Lyft

2017 - 2017 • 1 year

Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

2016 - 2018 • 2 years

Seattle, WA

C&C Communications, LLC

2016 - 2018 • 2 years

Federal Way, WA

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

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Vashon, WA

Fangorn Wealth Management

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CFP®

Lakewood, WA

Commencement Financial Planning LLC

Troy Sapp is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial planning and wealth management. He has been with Commencement Financial Planning LLC since 2010 and is based in Lakewood, WA. Commencement Financial Planning LLC provides fee-only comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services primarily to individuals and families. The firm emphasizes a collaborative, consultative process and manages client accounts on a non-discretionary basis, focusing on low-cost passive mutual funds and ETFs, periodic rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

General retirement planning Tax-loss harvesting Cash flow / budgeting
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Julie W

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Julie A. Wurst, CFP, LLC

Julie Wurst is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She has operated her independent advisory firm, Julie A. Wurst, CFP, LLC, in Tacoma, WA, since 2017. Her firm provides advisory services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as small businesses and trusts. The firm employs a globally diversified, low-cost investment approach primarily using index mutual funds and ETFs, and offers customized financial planning and consulting through various communication methods.

Passive / index investing Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General estate planning guidance
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Gregory M

Series 65

Tacoma, WA

Strategic Asset Management

Gregory Merrill is the sole advisor at Strategic Asset Management in Tacoma, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Strategic Asset Management since 1995. Strategic Asset Management serves individual investors across various account types, offering discretionary portfolio management and investment advice. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to guide investment decisions and incorporates private limited partnerships for accredited clients, along with operational practices aimed at fairness in trade execution.

Private / alternative investments Active portfolio management
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Jacy H

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Gig Harbor, WA

Crossroads Advisor Network LLC

Jacy Hixon is the president and chief compliance officer of Crossroads Advisor Network LLC and has 20 years of experience in the financial industry. He is also president and co-owner of Advisor Systems Inc., a technology company serving financial advisers. Prior to his current roles, he has been self-employed as a business consultant since 2015. Crossroads Advisor Network LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting services for pooled vehicles, institutional retirement accounts, businesses, trusts, and individual clients. The firm’s investment approach incorporates technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis and may include options strategies, margin, and derivatives in separately managed accounts.

Options & derivatives strategies College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy Cash flow / budgeting
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Laurence E

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Tacoma, WA

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Laurence Elvins is the sole advisor at Tacoma Investment Group in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 31 years of industry experience. He has led Tacoma Investment Group since its founding in 1995. Tacoma Investment Group provides discretionary portfolio management for individuals, trusts, retirement accounts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes fundamental and qualitative analysis, asset allocation, and long-term investment strategies tailored to client-specific considerations, and it uniquely serves both individual and institutional clients as an independent solo advisor.

Wealth management
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