Caleb Smoes has been Chief Executive Officer & Wealth Advisor of Central Illinois Group since January 2023, is a control person of the firm and directly owns between 25% and 50% of it. Caleb Smoes holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Illinois State University.
Central Illinois Group, LLC is a Champaign, IL firm with $492M under management, 433 clients and 6 advisers across 2 offices, as of its September 2026 filing.
Caleb Smoes is Chief Executive Officer & Wealth Advisor of LifeWise Wealth Advisors. He has been a financial advisor since 2012, with a particular focus on helping business owners with the growing, valuing and eventual exit of their companies. After several years at IPI, he co-founded LifeWise Wealth Advisors with John Foley in 2016.
Caleb Smoes’ longest registration was 5 years at Ipi Wealth Management, Inc. (2013–2019). Before joining Central Illinois Group in 2026, Caleb Smoes was registered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC and Cetera Advisor Networks LLC.
- Lifewise Wealth AdvisorsCurrent– present · under a yearChampaign, IL · Adviser representative · Firm CRD 341748
- Cetera Investment Advisers LLC– · 3 yearsChampaign, IL · Adviser representative · Firm CRD 105644
- Cetera Advisor Networks LLC– · 4 yearsChampaign, IL · Adviser representative · Firm CRD 13572
- Ipi Wealth Management, Inc.– · 5 yearsChampaign, IL · Adviser representative · Firm CRD 111872
Professional designations
Listed by Central Illinois Group
- Certified Exit Planner (CExP™)
Investment adviser representative registrations
Caleb Smoes is registered as an investment adviser representative in 2 states. The first approvals date from July 2026; the most recent is Texas, in September 2026.
- IllinoisSince 27 July 2026
- TexasSince 23 September 2026
Examinations
| Exam | Name | Passed |
|---|---|---|
| SIE | Securities Industry Essentials Examination | Credited |
| Series 66 | Uniform Combined State Law Examination | 29 May 2013 |
| Series 7 | General Securities Representative Examination | 20 November 2012 |
- Name
- Securities Industry Essentials Examination
- Name
- Uniform Combined State Law Examination
- Name
- General Securities Representative Examination
- Full name
- Caleb Jonathan Smoes
- CRD
- 5968483
- Firm
- Central Illinois Group · CRD 341748
- Role
- Chief Executive Officer & Wealth Advisor
- Office
- 2911 CROSSING COURT, SUITE 102, Champaign, IL 61822
- Registration
- Investment adviser registration
- In the industry since
- November 2012
- Disciplinary history
- Not yet shown here · SEC record
- Firm bio
- lifewisewealth.com
Where does Caleb Smoes work?
Caleb Smoes has been Chief Executive Officer & Wealth Advisor of Central Illinois Group, LLC since January 2023, and is a control person of the firm.
Is Caleb Smoes a financial advisor?
Yes. Caleb Smoes has a current investment-adviser registration in Illinois and Texas, through Central Illinois Group since July 2026.
How many years of experience does Caleb Smoes have?
Caleb Smoes has 13 years in the financial industry, since November 2012, across 4 adviser firms.
What exams has Caleb Smoes passed?
Caleb Smoes has passed 2 licensing exams: the Series 7 and Series 66. The earliest, the Series 7, was passed in November 2012. FINRA credited Caleb Smoes with the SIE, which began in October 2018.
Where did Caleb Smoes work before Central Illinois Group?
Before Central Illinois Group, Caleb Smoes was registered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, June 2023 to July 2026; Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, January 2019 to June 2023; Ipi Wealth Management, Inc., June 2013 to February 2019.
Where is Caleb Smoes based?
Caleb Smoes’ registered office is in Champaign, IL.
Is Caleb Smoes registered with FINRA?
No. Caleb Smoes has no current broker registration.
How can I verify Caleb Smoes’ record?
Search CRD 5968483 on the SEC’s adviser search (adviserinfo.sec.gov), which publishes Caleb Smoes’ full registration record.
