Joseph Smith, CF2, LUTCF

About Joseph Smith

Joseph Conrad Smith II graduated from Central Michigan University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He began his career in financial services that year being hired by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. There he received superlative training at the New York city headquarters. In 1998 Joseph attained his Life, Health, Variable Contracts, Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses, and went on to lead his agency in client acquisition and management. This early success brought him to the attention of the Michigan National Bank, the second largest bank in the state of Michigan in 2000, where Joseph was recruited into the position of Vice-President in Private Banking. There through the bank’s Independence One Brokerage, Joseph refined his expertise managing complex portfolios of the institution’s wealthiest clients. During his tenure at Michigan National, Joseph completed the bank’s leadership development training, “Creating the Future.” He would go on to represent the bank in the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce annual yearlong leadership training “Leadership Detroit” (an alumni list which includes Mayors, CEOs, Senators, and many other regional luminaries), becoming part of the Class XXII the first class of the new millennium. Subsequent years brought increasing consolidation in the financial services industry, and through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Michigan National Bank was ultimately absorbed into Bank of America. During this process Joseph was offered an attractive severance and began his independent career. During his tenure in Private Banking, Joseph discovered the power of real estate in the creation and maintenance of wealth and thus availed himself of this opportunity while still an officer at the bank, acquiring several income producing properties during his tenure. This necessitated the creation of Clairmount Devlopment LLC, Gentrix Development LLC, and JCS Construction LLC. Joseph created and managed these companies to facilitate the purchase, rehabilitation, and sale of dozens of residential and commercial properties. This activated a need for further community engagement. Joseph held positions of leadership in the Corktown Economic Development Corporation from 2001-2007, culminating as President in 2006. During his tenure the Corktown EDC built 66 new homes in the greater Corktown community. Joseph has also served his alma mater as President of the African American Constituent Chapter of Central Michigan University from 2004-2008. The enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 was the catalyst for Joseph to establish his independent agency, Insurance Exchange One PLC. This coupled with a diverse commercial real estate portfolio from which to choose prompted the development of the initial Detroit office of Insurance Exchange One. The successful service of this market along with the desire to expand market share led to the opening of the current headquarters in Southfield, Michigan in 2020. Here Joseph established the Medicare Resource Center PLC to specifically address the health care needs of aging clients; as well as Ortus Financial PLC providing comprehensive full service financial planning. Joseph continues to refine his craft, committed to bringing the greatest insight to his clients at every stage of their financial journey.