Patrick J. Smarjesse Senior Vice President, Partner
Experience
I was raised in a large family by parents who instilled a strong work ethic in us. Each of us worked to finance our own education. As an outdoor enthusiast, I was attracted to the beauty of western Wisconsin and earned my undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 1984. After entering the investment industry in 1985 as a retail broker for a national firm, I eventually transitioned into the retirement plan industry to focus on Defined Benefit and 401(k) Plans. As a Relationship Manager and Managing Director of DVI Consulting Group, I work with both high-net-worth and institutional clients.
Credentials
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
Education
Bachelor of Science in Management from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Tell us about your career journey and what led you to choose DVI:
I joined David Vaughan Investments in 1995 to help develop DVI Consulting Group, a division of DVI that provides services to companies who sponsor employee retirement plans. David Vaughan had quietly developed a reputation for providing clients with impressive investment results and exceptional service. David and Will shared their vision for growing, what was then a sole proprietorship, into an institution and thankfully invited me to be a part of it.
What are the values that drive you in your professional and personal life?
I believe strongly in working hard and taking the time to care for others.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am at my happiest when I am outdoors — fishing, hunting, snow skiing and even working. In my youth, I had hoped to become a Forest Ranger.
