Stanley Smiley

As senior vice president of the Advanced Planning Group, Stan
Smiley is responsible for the development and implementation of
advanced planning strategies for Cetera Financial Group, a leading
network of independent broker-dealer firms. The platform is the
second largest independent financial advisor network in the nation
by number of advisors, as well as a leading provider of retail
services to the investment programs of banks and credit unions. Stan
was previously senior vice president, advanced markets for ING
Advisors Network.
Utilizing more than 30 years of legal and estate business planning
experience, Stan and his team provide consultative services for select
financial professionals, who are focused on tax planning for highly
compensated individuals, and estate planning and wealth preservation
strategies for high-net-worth clients and family wealth transfers.
A former partner of a Los Angeles-based law firm, Stan served as
counsel for small and multibillion qualified pension and welfare benefit
plans, private trusts and foundations. He also held positions within the
Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in New Jersey
and California. He was a part-time instructor of business law at the
University of Maryland and an adjunct professor for Golden Gate
University’s Masters of Taxation Program. He also had the opportunity
to serve as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force and has been a
featured lecturer and commentator for various legal subjects on the
Armed Forces Radio Network. Stan has been a platform speaker at
several events in his areas of expertise.
He is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trusts Section and
the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, and serves on
its committee of Tax Standards and Exempt Organizations. He is
licensed to practice law in New York and California and is admitted to
the United States Tax Court. He also maintains memberships in the
Los Angeles and San Francisco Bar Associations. He currently serves
on the CFP Board’s Business Model Council.
Stan earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New
York at Buffalo, and was a Dean’s List honoree and law review
associate editor while earning a law degree from St. John’s University
School of Law in New York. He maintains an insurance license and
holds Series 7, 24 and 63 securities registrations.