Rich Cella
Director of Private Wealth, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
- Executive Compensation Planning
- Advanced Estate Planning
- Business Continuation Planning
- Financial Product Analysis & Design
- Retirement Planning
- Relationship Management
Capitas Financial
Capitas Financial, Inc. is a national organization made up of 16 regional processing centers, 130 point-of-sale professionals and 250-plus back office support specialists who offer a multi-carrier insurance product portfolio, along with unbiased consultative assistance to financial professionals and their clients. Capitas Financial is a national firm, based in Minneapolis, MN with a footprint that includes all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Capitas delivers the strength of a national organization coupled with unrivaled local customer service.
Rich Cella
Director of Private Wealth, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
Biography
Richard M. Cella collaborates with financial advisors, family offices, and private banks to craft tax-efficient, multi-generational wealth-transfer and asset-protection solutions for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Recognized as a leading authority on advanced insurance planning, he structures sophisticated strategies using premium-financed life insurance, private placement life insurance (PPLI), irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), split-dollar plans, long-term-care hybrids, disability solutions, and captive insurance programs to address estate liquidity, income-tax minimization, business-succession, and legacy goals. With over 25 years of experience in private wealth, Richard is a trusted technical partner to advisors at top wirehouse institutions and independent firms. Prior to joining The Smith Companies and Capitas Financial in 2011, he served in senior insurance and estate-planning role with Brian K. Adams & Associates. A sought-after speaker at industry conferences and exclusive client events, Richard also leads advanced training programs for financial professionals on insurance-driven planning, generational transfer techniques, and business-owner succession strategies.
A graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Richard holds the profession’s most respected designations: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®).Richard and his wife are proud parents of three children and reside in Red Bank, New Jersey. On any given weekend, you’ll find him on the sidelines of a lacrosse field or at center ice cheering on his kids, squeezing in an early-morning workout, or escaping with the family to their favorite spot on the Jersey Shore.
The Smith Companies
At Smith Companies, Ltd., we specialize in empowering financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, and trust officers with comprehensive insurance solutions that enhance their clients’ financial and estate plans. As a premier General Agency, we provide seamless access to a wide range of life, long-term care, and disability insurance products from the industry’s top carriers — all in one place.
What sets us apart? Beyond product access, we deliver unmatched value through expert support and strategic guidance. Our team works alongside you to ensure insurance solutions are thoughtfully integrated into your clients’ broader financial goals — helping you deepen relationships and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Discover the Smith Companies advantage — where expertise meets efficiency, and your success is our priority.
