Nicholas Smith is a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor in Cresset’s New York office. Since 2011, he has advised ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, bringing deep expertise across investment management, estate planning, wealth transfer, and tax optimization. He has extensive experience working with both established multigenerational families and ambitious individuals navigating pivotal moments of wealth creation — helping clients manage the growing complexity of their financial lives and build lasting legacies.
At Cresset, Nick takes a truly integrated approach to wealth management — constructing sophisticated portfolios across public and private markets while working hand-in-hand with trust & estate attorneys and CPAs to address every dimension of a client’s financial life. He believes that great wealth management is ultimately about great relationships — built on trust, transparency, and a genuine understanding of what matters most to each client.
Prior to joining Cresset, Nick served as a Director and Portfolio & Wealth Advisor at Lazard Wealth, where he advised ultra-high-net-worth and institutional clients. Before that, he was a Senior Relationship Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, delivering customized investment and financial planning solutions to high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. He built the foundation of his career as a Client Advisor at Bessemer Trust and in an associate role at Fiduciary Trust Company International.
Nick earned his MBA from Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Denison University, where he was a member of the varsity baseball team. He holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation.
Outside of the office, Nick lives in New York City with his three sons. He enjoys quality time with family and friends, summers on Squam Lake in New Hampshire, playing tennis and golf, skiing, and traveling.
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