Hood River

Karen Smith

CFP®, MBA

Wealth Advisor

202 Oak St, Suite 600
Hood River, OR 97031

Karen Smith
Karen Smith

Professional Certifications

  • CFP® – CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional
  • MBA – Master of Business Administration

About Karen

As a wealth advisor, Karen brings a unique perspective through her background in science and technology, along with a strong business sense. Karen helps clients navigate big decisions by explaining how to think methodically about financial concepts, such as risk and reward. She also enjoys building financial plans for clients that are based on empirical evidence and highly personalized attention.

Karen started her career in a white lab coat, working in a pharmacology research lab at Oregon Health & Sciences University before transitioning into business. Prior to joining Buckingham Strategic Wealth in 2023, Karen oversaw the operations for Hausman Advisors and served as a personal wealth advisor for the firm’s clients. She also spent 11 years in the technology field working for Intel, Passport Online and most recently as co-founder and managing principal of CentralPoint Systems. Her roles at these organizations included overall business strategy, marketing, sales, product development and financial management.

Karen holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation and is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). She received her Master of Business Administration degree from Portland State University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Colorado College and an executive certificate in financial planning from the Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University.

When Karen isn’t working, you can find her with her husband, Jason, and their two children enjoying the many outdoor activities that the Columbia River Gorge offers. Karen grew up in the Portland metro area and relocated to Hood River with her husband in 2001. They immediately fell in love with the vibrant culture, people and activities that characterize the region. It remains a perfect choice for them, as they can enjoy their small town while remaining close to Portland and nearby family.