Debra Smiley(she/her)

Debra Smiley is a Senior Fiduciary Analyst at Laird Norton Wealth Management in Seattle, where she helps wealthy families manage their investments, navigate trust documents, and protect what they've built for future generations. Her job sits at the intersection of finance, law, and deeply personal relationships — she's essentially a guide helping clients make smart decisions about their money during every major life moment, from marriage to death. It's a career most people have never heard of, which is exactly why her story matters. Debra's path into finance was anything but linear. She started out training to be a classical opera singer, had children young, and stumbled into accounting work at a part-time job while in college. A friend connected her to an entry-level operations role at an investment firm, and she built her career from there — through hard work, deep listening, and a commitment to earning certifications along the way. She holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation and has spent years learning the technical and human sides of wealth management. One of the most powerful parts of Debra's story is her honesty about why this work feels personal to her. Her great-grandmother owned property in Chicago — property that sat right off the expressway and was eventually sold. Debra believes if her family had known more about trusts and estate planning, they could have leased that land and generated generational wealth. That missed opportunity drives her mission: making sure Black families and families of color know how to protect and pass on what they've worked hard to build. Debra also speaks candidly about discrimination in finance. As a Black woman from Chicago working in a predominantly white industry in Seattle, she's faced barriers from day one — no shared alma mater, no built-in network, and constant underestimation. She doesn't sugarcoat it. She talks about why more Black professionals aren't in rooms like hers, and why building trust within our own communities around money is something we all need to reckon with. Her advice for students is grounded and real: start with a strong work ethic, take no task for granted, get certified, and own your career — because no one else will do it for you. Whether you're a math person, a people person, or someone who just wants to do work that means something to your community, Debra's story shows that wealth management is a field where you can build a solid living and make a real difference.