A Distinct Approach to Financial Advice.

Built on trust, driven by purpose.

As an independent, registered investment adviser with a nationwide presence and offices in Tallahassee, Florida, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, Smith Bruer stands apart from many in the financial services industry. Unlike others, we do not sell products or earn commissions. Our team of fee-only fiduciaries is dedicated to providing objective financial advice, always focused on your best interests.

Meet the Smith Bruer Team

Our team is composed of committed individuals with diverse experiences, educational backgrounds, and financial credentials. Each team member at Smith Bruer is dedicated to professional excellence, upholding the highest standards of ethics, objectivity, and transparency.

George Smith, CIMA®
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Financial Advisor
René Bruer, CFP®
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Financial Advisor
Steven Hiraga, CFP®, CPFA®
Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Institutional Retirement
Hannah Lyons, CFP®, CPFA®
Financial Advisor
Joseph Sunday, CFP®
Operations Manager
Beth Bruer 
Financial Planning Associate

Advisor Credentials & Affiliations

  • Advanced degrees in finance, economics, and business
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
  • Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®)
  • Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®)

We are proud members of:

  • CFP Board
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
  • Investments & Wealth Institute
  • National Association of Plan Advisors

A Message from Our Founders

We founded Smith Bruer with a singular purpose: to make a lasting, meaningful impact on the lives of our clients. From day one, we chose to break free from the traditional financial services model — one that often prioritizes commissions, product sales, and conflicts of interest.

We’ve witnessed far too many investors being steered toward solutions that benefit their advisors more than their long-term goals. At Smith Bruer, we set out to change that. Our mission is simple: to be your true advocate, an advisor who is always bound by fiduciary duty. Here, our advice is our product — focused solely on your best interests.

Our firm’s purpose statement is clear: Empower People to Make Decisions. We believe that when individuals have access to objective advice, straightforward information, and a clear financial plan, they gain the confidence to take meaningful action. And that confidence doesn’t just shape their future — it influences the generations that follow.

Equally important to our mission are the people we work with. We are proud to have a team of professionals who share our values and are fully aligned with our client-first approach. Their integrity, expertise, and unwavering commitment are at the heart of everything we do.

In a world where many face complex financial decisions alone — or feel lost in the impersonal, transaction-driven world of large firms — we remain steadfast in our commitment to offer guidance that is transparent, meaningful, and always in your best interest.

This is the foundation of Smith Bruer, and it continues to drive every decision we make.

We invite you to experience a different kind of advisory relationship.

George Smith

CIMA®, Co-Chief Executive Officer

René Bruer

CFP®, Co-Chief Executive Officer

Experience the Smith Bruer Difference

Begin the Conversation