Glen D. Smith, CFP®, CRPC®
CEO, CIO, Founder
You’ve put a great deal into building this life. Time,
effort, sacrifice. Whether or not you get to enjoy what
you’ve built shouldn’t come down to something small
being missed. That’s where we come in.
Follow-through
from day one.
We don’t rush the beginning. We take the time to understand what matters to you and build a financial plan that holds up over time. And once things are in motion, we stay on top of it. You’ll never be waiting for a call back or wondering if something was missed.
Who We Are 4m 50s The Wealth Standard
OUR 5-Step PROCESS
Your Path Forward
01
Discovery
Call
02
Initial
Fit Meeting
03
Plan
Review
04
Client
Onboarding
05
Ongoing
Care
We believe
trust should be
earned.
It’s something that’s built over time in the decisions most people never see—the extra work, the honest conversations, the decisions that put you first, even when no one’s watching. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to, every day.
At a glance.
Client Billing
Fee-Only
Follows Fiduciary Standard
Yes
Commissionable Products
None
Owned by a Bank
No
NFLPA (NFL Players Association)
1
Number of CFP®
10+
Customer Disputes
None
EverSafe®
Yes
ClearMatch
Yes
From humble
beginnings.
Raised in Ecuador as the son of missionaries, our founder, Glen, learned early that wealth is not a mark of success, but a responsibility to steward. When he founded GDS, he set out to build a firm that would treat it that way.
Over time, he came to view financial advising as a near sacred responsibility. Money is power, and power handled carelessly can fracture families and futures. However, when handled with integrity, it can protect, provide, and give people the freedom to live well.
That belief shaped GDS. Preparation is constant. Important matters are addressed early and handled carefully. Clients are informed, but they are not left carrying the burden of interpretation.
Over time, he came to view financial advising as a near sacred responsibility. Money is power, and power handled carelessly can fracture families and futures. However, when handled with integrity, it can protect, provide, and give people the freedom to live well.
That belief shaped GDS. Preparation is constant. Important matters are addressed early and handled carefully. Clients are informed, but they are not left carrying the burden of interpretation.
“We’re not in the wealth management business. We’re in the hospitality business. How we do what we do is more important than what we do.”
Behind
the Bison
The American bison serves as our emblem—a symbol of strength and authority. When a storm rolls in, bison don't turn away. They run directly into it, moving through difficulty faster than those who avoid it. That instinct defines the GDS approach: steady under pressure, disciplined, and built for the long run.
FAQ
The questions
we hear
most often.
We are a fee-only financial management firm, meaning there are no commissions, no kickbacks, and no proprietary products. The only fee you pay is determined by the size and complexity of your situation and generally ranges from 0.50% to 1.25% of assets under management.
It depends on the firm. At GDS, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based firm, we typically work with clients who have $1M+ in investable assets and are looking for a long-term partnership.
If you’re navigating decisions around retirement, taxes, investments, or legacy planning, a structured financial plan helps align those moving parts into a cohesive strategy.
A fiduciary financial advisor helps you organize your financial life, create a plan for your goals, and guide investment decisions—while being legally required to act in your best interest. GDS operates as a fee-only fiduciary; meaning advice is objective and not driven by commissions or product sales.
