Hi! And as we say in Hawaii, ALOOOOOOOHA!

I’m excited that you are here. What is this site about and why did I create it?

Coming from an immigrant family, we didn’t have much but my parents worked hard to become successful and achieve the American Dream.

I was always fascinated with and wanted to know what is the real secret to success? Is it education? Is it personality? Is it hard work?

Through my unique and diverse experiences I learned that these are all part of it, but there is something more important than any of them, the ability to think SMART.

I loved history growing up, especially reading about Generals Robert E. Lee, Patton, MacArthur, Ulysses S. Grant, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the last two eventually becoming President of the United States.

What made them successful? After learning they all graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, I decided that I needed to do the same!

I graduated in 2002 as a proud member of the Bicentennial Class (West Point was founded in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson).

Afterwards, I spent time in graduate and military schools, assigned to different leadership positions worldwide, and also deployed overseas in different combat zones.

I left the active duty army and joined the Hawaii Army National Guard, continuing my military service as an intelligence officer while venturing out as an entrepreneur and starting several businesses.

I started my own wealth management firm (weathering the Great Recession and becoming ranked as one of the top in the nation and featured in Forbes), a real estate development company, green energy company, bottled water company, and an import/export company in addition to some others. One year after starting my businesses, I became the business leader of the year among receiving several other awards.

I also got involved into politics, becoming the youngest state chairman of a major political party at the time and the first Korean-American. I was also involved in leadership positions for multiple organizations, non-profits, and ministries.

I am curious person, always looking to learn, read, and take classes. I am honored to be an alumni of the of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and selected as the best opportunity growth pitch in the cohort.

I realized early on the importance of having mentors to learn from. Their hindsight can become your foresight! We are all looking for opportunities, but opportunities are actually attached to people.

So if you are looking for an opportunity, you are actually looking for a person. Thankfully, I have had top-notch mentors, professionals, and experts who have taught me quite a bit and opened up doors I would have otherwise never had!

I founded The Art of Thinking SMART, The Art of SMART Money, The Art of SMART Stocks, and I write frequently for newspapers, magazines, and other publications internationally and nationally. I have my book coming out soon so sign-up to get updates!

I even dabbled into music and recorded an album (don’t ask for it, while not entirely bad, wasn’t the best either:-)).

The reason I tell you all of this is because through my unique experiences in different industries and fields, I learned one important thing about “Thinking SMART.” It can be developed. And anyone can do it.

While some may have aptitude for it, truly successful people and leaders are made.

I have a passion for helping people Think SMART, Be SMART, and Live SMART.

I want to help people develop SMART Skills with their SMART Money, SMART Leadership, and Living SMART!

Please feel free to contact us and give your input, ask any questions. Feedback is important to make sure we are responsive to you! That is what this site it about! I look forward to building a SMARTER Future with you!

MOST POPULAR POSTS

• SMART Quotes for Motivation and Inspiration
• SMART Podcasts – Join me and other top-notch experts like Steve Forbes, Wally “Famous Amos”, and Arthur Lipper!
• SMART Ways to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits
• SMART Personality – Find out your strengths, weaknesses, and what you can do to improve by taking SMART Personality Tests!
• SMART Stocks – 8-Simple Rules to Choose Winning Stocks!
• Investing 101 – Learn how to get started!

FULL BIO

David S. Chang is an award-winning entrepreneur, wealth manager, CEO, keynote speaker, author, and consultant. He is a West Point graduate and combat war veteran. David has been featured in Forbes Magazine, is the Chairman and CEO of Chang Holding Company and is the founder of The Art of Thinking SMART. His articles are in The Star-Advertiser’s Midweek and Midweek Kauai every week with a readership of over 400,000 people. He also writes for multiple national publications.

In 2015 David was chosen as a member of InvestmentNews’ 2015 40 Under 40 list of top young advisers and associated professionals in the financial planning industry. In 2013 David was selected as Top 40 Under 40 Military by CivilianJobs.com. In 2011, Pacific Edge Magazine selected David as Young Professional of the Year.

In 2010, he was selected as the Business Leader of the Year from the Pacific Business News 2010 class of Forty Under 40 in Hawaii. In 2011 he was a finalist for The Business Leadership Hawaii American Savings Bank Business Leader of the Year. He has also been selected as one of the Three Outstanding Young Persons Award by Hawaii Junior Chamber of Commerce, finalist as Top New Business of the Year by Hawaii Business News and honored by the World Chinese Venture Model Association.

David’s Wealth Management Company, WealthBridge Inc. has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top in the nation. He was selected as a FIVE-STAR Wealth Manager for the State of Hawaii in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011, representing the top 4% of Wealth Managers. In 2014, 2013 and 2012, WealthBridge Inc. was selected by The National Association of Board Certified Advisory Practices (NABCAP) as a Premier Advisor. In 2012, David was awarded the “Excellence in Customer Satisfaction” Talk of the Town winner, with a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating.

David is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. He was selected as the best opportunity growth pitch in the cohort. He received a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from Babson College, ranked the #1 college in the country by Money Magazine and consistently ranked the top in entrepreneurship the past 20 years.  David is currently an MBA candidate for the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Executive MBA Program. He is an alumni of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the New Generation Seminar with the East-West Center

He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Computer Science and holds a Masters in Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii and a Masters in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. In addition, David was selected as an East-West Graduate Degree Fellow and earned a Certificate of Leadership from the East-West Center. He is a guest lecturer at universities in Hawaii.

David was commissioned and served in the U.S. Army as an active duty Armor and Military Intelligence Officer. He is a veteran of the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served with the 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Battalion 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Battalion 25th General Support Aviation Regiment, and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. He currently serves as the 29th Brigade Combat Team Military Intelligence Officer in the Hawaii Army National Guard and holds the rank of Major.

David is the Past Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party and Republican National Committee. He was elected Chairman in 2011 and 2013. At the time he was the youngest in the country and the first Korean-American ever elected. He was a super-delegate for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. He was selected by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as Hawaii’s Top 10 Influencers of the 2012 Elections.

David has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, is a member of the Financial Planning Association, Past Chair of the steering committee for the Young Professionals program of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and the Community Liaison for Inspire Church, an 8000-member church. David is an accomplished musician, leading numerous church music teams playing the guitar, trumpet, piano, and lead vocals.