Charles "Chas" P. Smith

Charles ""Chas"" P. Smith, 66 CPS Investment Advisors Charles Phelan Smith passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Asheville, North Carolina, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He suffered a cardiac event while riding his bicycle in the mountains. He received the best possible care at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Charles was born on August 23, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Charles and Edith Smith. In 1957, he moved to Venice, Florida, where his fourth grade teacher gave him the nickname ""Chas."" Chas began tracking stocks as early as age 17. He was reading Barron""s and the Wall Street Journal when his schoolmates were perusing the pages of Sports Illustrated. He graduated from Venice High School in 1966, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University in 1970. Chas was the founder and CEO of CPS Investment Advisors, an independent financial advisory firm located in Lakeland, Florida. Chas had over 30 years of experience in financial planning, income tax, and accounting. He was nationally recognized as an author and lecturer on topics of investments, financial planning, and wealth accumulation. He also served on the prestigious Fidelity Investments Advisory Council. In 1994, CPS Investment Advisors formed the CPAlliance, a unique asset management program partnering with other CPA firms across the country. In 2000, CPS Investment Advisors joined 79 other independent financial advisory firms across the country in founding the nation""s first advisor-owned, federally-chartered trust company, National Advisors Trust Company, which now operates in all 50 states. In 2015, CPS Investment Advisors was ranked #3 of the Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Management Firms by CNBC. Also in 2015, Florida Trend Magazine ranked CPS Investment Advisors as one of the top businesses to work for in the state. Chas""s mantra was helping people achieve financial independence. He is survived by a devoted team of business partners and staff. He leaves an incredible legacy of service and commitment to his family, his clients, and his profession. Throughout his 40 years in Lakeland, Chas served as a leader, a contributor, and a philanthropist to numerous community organizations. He served on the Board of Trustees for Florida Southern College, was a Past President of the Polk Chapter of the Florida Institute of CPA""s, and was a past member of the finance committee and endowment fund for the Church of the Resurrection. He also served as a correspondent to the Lakeland Ledger, contributing articles focused on financial planning. He was a long-standing member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland and the Polk Senior Games, where he also served on the Board of Directors. Chas was an avid triathlete, and enjoyed running around Lake Hollingsworth, swimming at the Lakeland Yacht & Country Club, and biking in both Florida and in the mountains of North Carolina. He loved the Beach Boys, Florida State football, playing cards, his Airedales, and goofy pranks with his grandchildren. Most of all, he enjoyed vacationing with his family at his homes in both Maggie Valley and in Manasota Key. Chas is survived by his wife, Susan L. Smith, and his three daughters, Shelley (Oak) Duke of Tallahassee, Lindsey (Matthew) Campbell of St. Petersburg, and Ashley (David) Murphy of Lakeland. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Ava Duke, Reece Campbell, Jude Campbell, Laine Campbell, Elle Campbell, Hadley Murphy, and Arden Murphy. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth (Ronald) Hill of Syracuse, New York. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23rd, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at Heath Funeral Chapel Tribute Center, located at 328 South Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL, 33801. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, July 24th, at 11:00am at the Church of the Resurrection, located at 3720 Old Highway 37, Lakeland, FL, 33813. A reception will be held immediately following the funeral mass at Florida Southern College in the Chas and Susan Smith Lobby of the George W. Jenkins Field House, located off Frank Lloyd Wright Way between Johnson Avenue and Ingraham Avenue. Parking for guests will be in adjacent parking lots, where Safety Officers will be available to direct guests to the reception and provide golf cart transportation for those needing assistance to and from the reception. Chas will be buried in a private ceremony at Gulf Pines Memorial Park in Englewood, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Chas P. Smith Fund for Scholarships in Business at Florida Southern College. Checks payable to the Chas P. Smith Scholarship Fund, and mailed to Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801. Service: 07/24/2015 Church of the Resurrection 3720 Old Highway 37, Lakeland, FL 33813 Heath Funeral Chapel - Tribute Center Visitation: 07/23/2015 Heath Funeral Chapel - Tribute Center