The story behind West Highland
Two sets of hills. One path forward.
West Highland Advisors brings together the Denver neighborhood my wife and I call home and the rolling hills of West Chester, Pennsylvania, where we grew up.
Some of our best conversations have happened on long walks, first through Stroud Preserve back East and nowadays along North Table Mountain in Golden, CO. Those trails are where we’ve mapped out our path and talked through nearly every big decision we’ve made together. That’s the kind of relationship I want with my clients: thoughtful conversations, a clear view of the road ahead, and someone walking beside you the whole way.
Unlike most, money wasn’t a taboo topic in my house growing up. Both of my parents worked in financial services, and my sisters and I grew up hearing about the trade-off between spending today and saving for tomorrow. Even so, I picked up a few money habits just by watching my parents, and untangling them on my own taught me how personal money really is. Our feelings about money shape our decisions as much as any spreadsheet does, so I love helping clients recognize their own patterns and build a healthier, more confident relationship with money.
My career has taken me from advising local governments, to consulting for nonprofits and endowments, and finally to the work I love most, working with individuals and families as they navigate their life goals. The thread that ties it all together is translation: taking complex financial decisions and turning them into clear direction people can understand and act on.
I’m a CFA® charterholder and a CFP® professional, a combination very few advisors hold. The CFA program brings deep investment expertise, and the CFP certification connects it to every other part of your financial life. As much as I love the technical side, my favorite part of this work is the conversation: learning what matters to you and building a plan that prioritizes that.
My wife is my high school best friend and my favorite hiking partner, and we’re counting down the days until our first baby arrives this winter! Our two cats (and I) have no idea what’s coming. When we’re not on a trail, you’ll find us skiing, camping, planning our next trip, or finding a new brewery to try. I’m also part of a local run club and a bourbon club, and I serve on the board of Earth Force, a national nonprofit that helps youth tackle environmental problems in their own communities.
I’d love to hear where you’re headed. Let’s take the next step together!
Matt Smith, CFA®, CFP®
