Charles Smith, J.D., has been in the retirement planning industry since 2003. He began his career as an ERISA attorney. Charles dealt with clients’ defined contribution, defined benefit, nonqualified deferred compensation and employee stock ownership plans. In 2007 he moved to First National Bank of Omaha, to work in their retirement plan recordkeeping group. He headed up Compliance and then transitioned to client relationship management. In 2014, Charles developed a separate retirement plan investment advisory group at First National Bank. He led that group until 2021 when it was acquired by Qualified Plan Advisors.

When working with clients, Charles believes his primary role is to help plan fiduciaries comply with the fiduciary standards imposed by state and federal authorities and enforced by the courts. Having worked as an ERISA attorney, recordkeeper, and financial advisor he is able to assist plan sponsors in nearly all aspects of their retirement plan; from complicated plan design issues, plan compliance and correction procedures to recordkeeping issues, vendor searches, and investment review and selection. This is all coupled, of course, with the need for proper documentation.

Charles earned his Bachelor degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1997. He then earned a Law degree from the University of Nebraska in 2001 and a Masters of Law (LL.M) in taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2003. In addition to his law license, he currently holds a Series 65 license.

Personally, Charles is an avid runner and has done over 30 marathons, and several ultra-marathons. He has been teaching himself to speak German for the past 6 years. Charles enjoys spending time with his wife Debra, and their daughter Emma.

Advisory services offered through Prime Capital Investment Advisors, LLC. (“PCIA”), a Registered Investment Adviser. PCIA: 6201 College Blvd., 7th Floor, Overland Park, KS 66211. PCIA doing business as Qualified Plan Advisors (“QPA”) and Prime Capital Wealth Management (“PCWM”).

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