Rick Smyth, CFA, has been named the new director for the Ron Blue Center at Anderson University.
The Ron Blue Center at Anderson University was created in 2019 to focus on curriculum and thought leadership based on biblical principles of financial management and stewardship. Its aim is to equip students, university faculty and staff, and also the community.
Smyth is a familiar presence at Anderson University, having been an adjunct faculty member in the College of Business. He is also the founder and managing director at Aionios Capital Partners, a private investment management company. He has also worked for a Fortune 500 global investment management company for 28 years and taught higher education courses for undergraduates, MBAs and graduate programs in finance and other related topics on the West Coast since 2000. Smyth was vice president in research and portfolio management for Franklin Templeton and has a background in an expansive variety of financial management, leadership and consulting roles.
“I am delighted that Rick has taken on this role and I am looking forward to seeing the results of his energy and focus as we elevate the work of our Ron Blue Center to better support our students and campus,” said Anderson University Provost, Dr. Ryan Neal. “As a Chartered Financial Analyst, he brings extensive professional expertise, coupled with a deep commitment to Anderson University. Rick is dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a mature approach to money, wealth, and stewardship, grounded in the timeless financial wisdom of Ron Blue’s principles.”
Smyth, whose mother was an educator, developed a passion for teaching by benefiting from the help he received from his mentors, advisors, faculty and leaders by paying forward to help others, which has led him to his current role of teaching undergraduate courses at Anderson on investments, portfolio management, derivatives and other subjects. In the past, he also directed the student-managed Cauthen Fund and is a member of the Anderson University Board of Visitors.
“I’ve always been around education, so I just have a heart, mind and a servant’s posture to serve God this way, in this ministry and to glorify Him by educating students through my experiences,” Smyth said. “As a parent of two college-aged children, as an educator and a lifelong student, I firmly believe we are positioning Anderson University students and families towards an eternal commitment to biblically sound fundamentals that will contribute to their success while finding meaning, purpose and fulfillment in life.”
As a CFA charter holder and a financial planner, Smyth has extensive knowledge and expertise in capital markets, economics and investment management, including institutional portfolio management and wealth management. He is passionate about sharing his insights and experience with the next generation of investors and financial professionals, and fostering a culture of excellence, ethics and lifelong learning in the industry.
A priority for Smyth is to heighten the visibility of the Ron Blue Center at AU and further enhance practical finance programs to benefit students regardless of their major. In this new role, he will be the access point to teach financial concepts to all students; this includes AU101, a course required for all freshmen and transfer students, core biblical financial principles through four Curriculum Enhancement Program (CEP) classes required for all students, and advanced topics under development for Contemporary Issues for co-curricular requirements, including buying a home or auto, investments for retirement, and risk mitigation through insurance. He hopes to integrate more in-person classes into the center’s curriculum where students can learn together as a community in ways not possible with fully online instruction.
He also hopes to establish a physical location for the Ron Blue Center, with the goal to develop a robust peer-to-peer advising team of student leaders providing advice on practical topics that would include budgeting, savings, investing and building a mindset of generosity. As these components grow into existence, he envisions the Center as a place where students can engage with knowledgeable individuals for advice on a variety of money matters helpful for both during and after college.
Smyth also sees the Ron Blue Center at AU further engaging the community with short-term classes devoted to financial topics of interest—all presented from a biblical perspective—to the University’s alumni and friends, as well as the public.
The Ron Blue Center is affiliated with the Ron Blue Institute, which was established in 1979 by Ron Blue, one of the most respected names in faith-based financial planning globally.
For further details about the Ron Blue Center at Anderson University, contact Smyth at rsmyth@andersonuniversity.edu or 864-221-8664.
