smartvestor
SmartVestor is a Ramsey Solutions referral program that matches U.S. consumers seeking financial guidance with up to five vetted independent investment professionals in their zip code, monetized by charging Pros flat monthly membership and territory fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What smartvestor does
SmartVestor is a free consumer-facing referral program operated by The Lampo Group, LLC d/b/a Ramsey Solutions, headquartered at 1011 Reams Fleming Blvd, Franklin, Tennessee. The platform matches individuals seeking financial guidance with up to five vetted, independent investment professionals (SmartVestor Pros) in their geographic area based on zip code. Pros must have at least two years of registered investment experience, agree to a Code of Conduct, and complete ongoing coaching; they cover services including financial planning, investment advice, retirement planning (Roth IRA, 401(k), traditional IRA), wealth management, college savings, and estate planning. The program was created over 20 years ago (circa 2002) by Dave Ramsey and his team and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within a larger Ramsey Solutions portfolio that also includes EveryDollar, Ramsey+, Financial Peace University, Ramsey Education, Ramsey Network, RamseyTrusted, and Ramsey Press.
SmartVestor monetizes entirely on the supply side. Consumers pay nothing; investment professionals pay Ramsey Solutions a flat monthly membership fee plus a flat monthly territory fee to advertise through the program and receive referred consumer contacts, plus a one-time training fee. Fees are paid irrespective of whether referred consumers convert. Demand is generated through Ramsey Solutions' owned media properties — primarily The Ramsey Show (18 million weekly listeners, the second-largest talk radio show in the U.S.), other Ramsey Personalities (Rachel Cruze, George Kamel, Dr. John Delony, Jade Warshaw, Ken Coleman), the Ramsey Solutions website, podcasts, and YouTube channels — which produce top-of-funnel awareness that converts via the SmartVestor Pro request form.
The technology stack is a standard referral/CRM matching platform keyed on U.S. zip code, with no disclosed AI, ML, or proprietary model components. Distribution is exclusively direct via the Ramsey Solutions website; no third-party marketplaces are used. The parent company is privately held by the Ramsey family (Dave Ramsey as CEO and founder, Daniel Ramsey as President), with no venture capital, external investors, or IPO activity disclosed, and over 1,000 team members across the broader enterprise.
smartvestor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- smartvestor
- Legal name
- The Lampo Group, LLC
- Website
- https://smartvestor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- SmartVestor is a Ramsey Solutions referral program that matches U.S. consumers seeking financial guidance with up to five vetted independent investment professionals in their zip code, monetized by charging Pros flat monthly membership and territory fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
smartvestor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Advisor Referral Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Planning & Goals-Based Advice (Mass Affluent) (FSAAAAAF), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF)
Keywords
Where smartvestor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
smartvestor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- SmartVestor Pro Membership and Territory Fees: SmartVestor Pros pay Ramsey Solutions a combination of fees including a flat monthly membership fee and a flat monthly territory fee to advertise their services through SmartVestor and receive client referrals. Pros may also pay a one-time training fee. These fees are paid irrespective of whether referred clients become customers of the Pro.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free consumer referral service |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
smartvestor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SmartVestor is a free consumer referral program operated by Ramsey Solutions (The Lampo Group, LLC) that connects individuals seeking investment help with up to five vetted SmartVestor Pros (financial advisors, planners, wealth managers) in their geographic area. Consumers submit a contact form with their zip code and are matched with local Pros who have at least two years of registered investment experience and have agreed to Ramsey's Code of Conduct; the Pros set their own pricing and offer financial planning, investment advice, retirement planning, wealth management, college savings, and estate planning services.
Product overview
SmartVestor is a single referral/advertising program for investment professionals, operated by Ramsey Solutions (The Lampo Group, LLC). The service connects consumers with vetted financial advisors, financial planners, wealth managers, and other investment professionals. Users submit their information through an online form and are matched with up to five SmartVestor Pros in their geographic area. The program was created over 20 years ago by Dave Ramsey and helps millions of people find investment professionals committed to Ramsey's Baby Steps methodology and financial principles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmartVestor Pro: Network of financial advisors, financial planners, wealth advisors and other investment professionals who participate in the SmartVestor referral program.
- EveryDollar
- Financial Peace University (FPU)
- Ramsey+
- SmartDollar
- Ramsey Education
- EntreLeadership
- Ramsey Press
- RamseyTrusted
- Ramsey Family Foundation
Products and services
- SmartVestor Free consumer referral program that connects individuals with up to five vetted investment professionals (SmartVestor Pros) in their geographic area for financial planning, investment advice, retirement planning, wealth management, college savings and estate planning.
Companies that use smartvestor
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
smartvestor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
smartvestor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SmartVestor Pros (Independent Financial Advisors)coreSmartVestor Pros are independent investment professionals (financial advisors, wealth managers, registered investment advisors) who pay Ramsey Solutions fees to advertise their services and receive client referrals through the SmartVestor program. Each Pro must have at least two years of experience as a registered investment professional, understand Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps, agree to a Code of Conduct, and participate in ongoing coaching. Pros work for firms not affiliated with Ramsey Solutions and set their own pricing.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
smartvestor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zoe Financial: A curated marketplace that matches consumers with vetted financial advisors based on goals, location, and specialty. Directly competes with SmartVestor as a referral/matching layer between consumers and investment professionals, with a more technology-forward UX.
- Harness Wealth: Digital platform that connects high-earning professionals with independent fiduciary financial advisors. Directly comparable to SmartVestor as an advisor-matching service targeting a defined consumer persona and charging participating advisors.
- Wealthramp: Referral service that matches consumers with fee-only financial advisors based on needs and geography. Directly comparable to SmartVestor in business model — consumer-side free matching, advisor-side paid referral relationships.
- Garrett Planning Network: Network of fee-only financial advisors serving middle-income consumers on an hourly or ongoing basis. Directly comparable to SmartVestor in that it vets and curates advisors and routes consumer demand into that network.
- XY Planning Network: Member network of fee-only financial planners focused on Generation X and Y clients. Comparable to SmartVestor in that it acts as a curated, branded directory and referral channel for advisors serving a specific consumer segment.
Broad incumbents
- SmartAsset: Large personal-finance media and matching site that runs an advisor matching tool alongside calculators and educational content. Overlaps with SmartVestor's consumer-facing matching function but operates as a broader financial-media platform.
- NerdWallet: Major consumer finance media company with an advisor matching service that connects users to financial advisors for a fee. Comparable to SmartVestor as a competing consumer lead source for advisors, though NerdWallet's scope is much broader than SmartVestor.
- Bankrate: Long-running consumer finance comparison and content site that operates financial advisor matching. Comparable to SmartVestor as a competing source of advisor leads for professionals, though Bankrate's matching is one feature in a much broader financial product comparison platform.
Emerging players
- Facet Wealth: Digital-first fiduciary financial advisory firm serving mass-affluent clients with flat-fee pricing. Compares to SmartVestor in targeting the same mass-affluent segment but differs in delivering advice directly rather than via referrals.
Others
- RamseyTrusted: Sister Ramsey Solutions referral program connecting consumers with vetted real estate, insurance, and tax professionals. Same business model as SmartVestor, operated by the same parent, providing direct insight into how SmartVestor's playbook has been extended.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
smartvestor social profiles
Digital presencesmartvestor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
smartvestor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
smartvestor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
smartvestor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
smartvestor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about smartvestor
What does smartvestor do?
SmartVestor is a free consumer referral program operated by Ramsey Solutions (The Lampo Group, LLC) that connects individuals seeking investment help with up to five vetted SmartVestor Pros (financial advisors, planners, wealth managers) in their geographic area. Consumers submit a contact form with their zip code and are matched with local Pros who have at least two years of registered investment experience and have agreed to Ramsey's Code of Conduct; the Pros set their own pricing and offer financial planning, investment advice, retirement planning, wealth management, college savings, and estate planning services.
Is smartvestor a public or private company?
smartvestor is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was smartvestor founded?
smartvestor was founded in 1992.
Where is smartvestor based?
smartvestor is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does smartvestor make money?
One revenue line is on record: smartVestor Pro Membership and Territory Fees.
Who are smartvestor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zoe Financial, Harness Wealth, Wealthramp, Garrett Planning Network and XY Planning Network. Broad incumbents are SmartAsset, NerdWallet and Bankrate. Facet Wealth is listed as an emerging player. RamseyTrusted is listed as an others.
Does smartvestor have an API?
No public API is recorded for smartvestor.
What industry is smartvestor in?
smartvestor's product category is Investment Advisor Referral Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAAAA, Comprehensive Financial Planning, with a secondary code of FSAAAAAF, Financial Planning & Goals-Based Advice (Mass Affluent). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.