Kaana Smith partners with financial advisors through the Advisor Advancement Institute at New York Life Investment Management, helping them grow their businesses, strengthen client relationships, and implement practical strategies that drive results.

With nearly three decades of experience across financial services, Kaana brings a unique blend of field sales, practice management, and advisor engagement expertise. She is known for her ability to quickly build trust and deliver actionable insights that resonate with advisors across channels, including wirehouses, independent broker-dealers, and retirement platforms.

Prior to joining New York Life Investment Management, Kaana held roles at Securian Financial, Fidelity Investments, AIG Retirement Services, and Cole Capital, where she worked closely with financial advisors, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. Throughout her career, she has led advisor training and delivered presentations to audiences of all sizes, bringing an engaging and practical approach to coaching and development.

Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kaana was born and raised in the Twin Cities and completed coursework at the University of Minnesota. She has lived in Phoenix, Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles, and has traveled to more than 18 countries and territories—experiences that shape her perspective, adaptability, and ability to connect with a wide range of advisors.