Tiana Smith-Cluff
Tiana is a Financial Advisor and holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®, CPFA® designation. She is dedicated to helping successful professionals, business owners, and families across Richmond and Virginia achieve financial clarity and confidence. Her expertise spans retirement planning, wealth management, alternative investments, and employee/employer benefit strategies, delivering solutions that adapt as life and business evolve.
With a background rooted in service and a deep understanding of financial strategies, Tiana empowers clients to make informed decisions about their wealth. Her journey began in Colombia, where she learned the importance of hard work, education, and community engagement, values that shape her collaborative, personalized approach to advising.
Her diverse experience, including roles at Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Merrill, provides a comprehensive perspective on the financial landscape. This allows her to offer holistic strategies that integrate investments, lending, banking, and insurance, and alternative investment solutions such as 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts.
Beyond her professional achievements, Tiana is passionate about giving back. She serves on the Virginia Opera Board, VCU Women's Impact Group, and mentors emerging professionals ALPFA LIFT. Tiana resides in the Richmond area with her husband and two children.
*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.
I believe financial planning should feel clear, not overwhelming. My approach start with listening, understanding what matters most to each client before building a strategy, so that every recommendation reflects their specific goals rather than a generic template.
I work primarily with business owners, executives, and families who want a plan that adapts as their life and business evolve. My focus areas include retirement income planning, employer and employee benefit strategies, and alternative invesments such as 1031 exchange alternatives and Delaware Statutory Trusts, giving clients options as they transition out of active property management while persuing continued income potential and tax efficiency.
My path into this profession has been anything but traditional. Experience across banking, government support, real estate, and wealth management gives me a broader perspective on how business actually operate, and that shapes how I advise. I am specially passionate about empowering women leaders and entrepreneurs, helping them approach complex financial decisions with confidence and clarity.
Outside the office, I stay active in the Richmond community through my work with the Virginia Opera Board and continued involvement in local civic life.
*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment's investment objectives will be achieved.
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
