A former tenured high school math teacher, Jeff Smith believes financial education is as an important of a topic as any when it comes to serving his clients’ vast array of needs. By providing insights and opinions on the ever-changing industry and markets, Jeff believes he is helping provide his clients with added confidence in their investment plans and the knowledge they may need to guide themselves forward.

Primarily working with equity-compensated executives, business owners, and affluent individuals and families, Jeff strives to form deep, personal relationships with his team’s clients and treat them like he would his own family members.

Jeff began his career in the financial services industry in 2007 before joining Merrill Lynch four years later, and he subsequently joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022. He is a proud graduate of Canisius High School, the State University of New York - Geneseo, and St. John Fisher College. In more recent years, Jeff is honored to have received multiple industry accolades from Forbes. He was named to their 2019 list of the Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors, as well as the 2018 list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors.*

Within his community, Jeff formerly served as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors at St. John Fisher College, and he also served on the finance committee of the Young Women’s College Preparatory Foundation. And as a proponent of continued education, Jeff has also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

Jeff is married and the father of two boys. Whenever he gets the chance, he loves skiing and playing golf.

_{*The Forbes Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors and the Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm are based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.}

As a key member of the team, Laurelle Byrne-Cody assists clients on a daily basis with their questions and needs, and she truly has a passion for helping clients achieve their goals in the most efficient way possible. Her work with often includes putting together clients’ financial plans, as well as brainstorming ways they can achieve their objectives and, if all goes according to plan, enjoy a worry-free retirement.

Laurelle joined the financial services industry in 2016, when she began working at Merrill Lynch after graduating from the University of Rochester with a degree economics. She also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

Away from the office, Laurelle proudly serves on the Junior Board of Rochester’s Society for Protection and Care of Children. In her additional free time, she enjoys golfing, skiing, and all things having to do with professional sports.

By building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and providing them with the personalized service they expect and deserve, Elise Syberg makes a daily impact on the success of The Smith Wealth Management Group. After beginning her career at Merrill Lynch in 2016, Elise joined Jeffrey Smith and the rest of the team at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022. In her role, she focuses on the team’s operations and is the primary administrative point of contact for clients.

Elise strives to deliver clear, concise, and timely communication to each client the team works with, and she helps address clients’ requests with a high level of attention to detail. Prior to beginning her career, Elise earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University at Buffalo. She is also Series 7 and 66 registered.