Duke Smith - Founder and President

I founded Resilience Wealth Management after working for four years at an advisory firm. My experience taught me a lot about the industry, but more importantly, it taught me that I wanted to provide more than "prepackaged products" to my clients. Being a business owner allows me the freedom to build a genuinely impactful firm that puts my clients’ needs ahead of everything else. 

Growing up on a farm in Illinois, I learned the value of hard work, how to make smart choices, and the freedom that comes from doing the right thing. Guided by my grandparents, I saw firsthand how making financial decisions early in life allowed my grandmother to live a fulfilling life well into her 90s. 

I’m building my practice on those same values: if you work hard and plan your finances properly, you'll be more inclined to enjoy the freedom of living out your goals and dreams. 

I structured Resilience Wealth Management with the core values of comfort, confidence, and clarity in mind. We want to ensure each client is comfortable maintaining or improving their current lifestyle. We want to instill confidence in every client, and confidence comes from having a well-thought-out strategy. Finally, we want to be able to give our clients control over their financial situation. 

I graduated from Eastern Illinois University, where I majored in finance and received my Bachelor of Science degree in Business. I established Resilience Wealth Management and am in charge of meeting every client, listening to their goals, evaluating their financial situation, and building a well-defined financial strategy. With the words of my grandpa echoing in my head—"You can't change the wind, but you can adjust the sails"—if a client isn't happy with where they're headed financially, then it's time to make some adjustments. 

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Morgan, and our two dogs, Gracie and Bentley. My idea of relaxation includes hunting, fishing, boating, or showing horses. I love doing just about anything outdoors, but one of my favorites will always be spending time on the family farm hunting and taking care of different projects.