As co-Founder of Farmers First Trust and Westport Advisors Mr. Schmitz develops vehicles that enable individuals and institutions to make tax-efficient investments in hedge funds, private equity, real estate and other alternative assets.

 

He previously lead the insurance practice at Wilson, Harvey, Browndorf, LLP. As Managing Director, he assisted high net worth individuals and family offices in the design and implementation of domestic and offshore life insurance and annuity structures and oversaw the marketing and development of the firm’s insurance practice. He also consulted with firm clients about the implementation, reporting, and analysis aspects of their investment portfolios.

 

Mr. Schmitz is board certified in asset allocation and is an accredited asset manager. He began his professional and financial services career in 1974 with Manulife Financial Services in Orange County California.

 

In 1980 Mr. Schmitz associated with Hansch Brothers Family Office in Los Angeles California, where he was a financial advisor and assistant branch manager. Since 1985, Mr. Schmitz has been an independent advisor, providing structured financial product design and private placement insurance vehicles for high net worth individuals and family offices in Newport Beach California.

 

Mr. Schmitz received his undergraduate degree, (BS) from the University of Kansas and has graduate studies in the (MBA) program from California State University.

 

He is Board Certified in Asset Allocation, (BCCA), Institute of Business and Finance and has completed the course work as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist, (AAMS), from the College for Financial Planning.