Real experience.
Practical guidance.
No fluff.
SmartMoneyDre was built by someone who has sat on both sides of the financial table — managing the finances of Fortune 150 companies and navigating his own personal money journey. What you find here is the result of that experience distilled into content that actually helps.
Founder, SmartMoneyDre
Why SmartMoneyDre exists
For over a decade, Deandre Living worked inside the financial and operational systems of some of the largest companies in the world — Fortune 150 organizations where budgets were managed in the hundreds of millions and financial decisions had real consequences. He saw firsthand how institutions think about money, how they protect it, and how they grow it.
But outside of those boardrooms, the picture was different. Most people — everyday families, young professionals, small business owners — didn't have access to that same level of financial clarity. The information existed, but it was buried under jargon, gatekept behind expensive advisors, or presented in ways that didn't connect with real life.
SmartMoneyDre was built to change that. The goal is straightforward: take what Deandre has learned across a decade of professional finance, tax preparation, HR, retirement planning, and running his own business — and make it accessible to people who are ready to take their finances seriously.
"I've seen how money really works inside large organizations. Most people are never shown that. SmartMoneyDre exists to close that gap — practical, honest, and without the condescension."— Deandre Living, Founder
Built on real professional experience
Fortune 150 Financial Operations
Over a decade managing operational, financial, and human resources functions for some of the largest companies in the country. That background informs everything shared here — because understanding how large organizations manage money makes you a sharper personal financial decision-maker.
Tax Preparation & Compliance
As a member of the National Association of Tax Preparers (NATP) and founder of LG Professional Solutions, an Accounting and Tax Preparation Firm based in Houston, Texas, Deandre brings hands-on tax expertise to the table. The tax content on this site comes from someone who actually prepares returns and advises clients — not recycled blog posts.
Retirement Plan Fiduciary — C(k)PF
As a Certified 401(k) Plan Fiduciary, Deandre brings specialized knowledge in retirement plan design, operation, and fiduciary responsibility. This credential means the retirement content here is grounded in real plan expertise — not surface-level advice about "just max your 401k."
Human Resources & Small Business
Holding the SHRM-CP designation and a BBA concentrated in HR Management, combined with running LG Professional Solutions since 2020, means Deandre understands compensation, benefits, and the financial pressures of entrepreneurship from the inside out.
Qualifications behind the content
A.A. Accounting
Blinn College
BBA — HR Management
Business Administration, concentration in Human Resource Management · Sam Houston State University
SHRM-CP
Certified Professional · Society for Human Resource Management
C(k)PF
Certified 401(k) Plan Fiduciary · The Plan Sponsor University
NATP Member
National Association of Tax Preparers
How this site thinks about money
Financial education shouldn't require a translator. The content here is built around the belief that most people are fully capable of managing their money well — they just haven't been given clear, jargon-free information and the right tools to do it. That's what SmartMoneyDre is here to provide.
🎯 Clarity over complexity
If it can't be explained simply, it won't be posted. Every piece of content is written to be understood, not to impress.
🔍 Honest over hype
No get-rich-quick promises. No exaggerated claims. Just real strategies that require real consistency to work.
🛠️ Practical over theoretical
The goal is always action. Content here is designed to be applied, not just read and forgotten.
This site is built for some people — and not others
✅ This is for you if...
- You want to understand your finances, not just follow a script
- You're starting from scratch and need a clear entry point
- You're tired of feeling behind financially and ready to change that
- You're a working professional or small business owner looking for real guidance
- You want practical tools, not motivation content
- You're willing to be patient and consistent — because that's how this actually works
✕ This probably isn't for you if...
- You're looking for get-rich-quick strategies or overnight results
- You want someone to manage your money without any involvement on your part
- You're not open to examining your spending habits honestly
- You need licensed investment advisory services (please consult a registered advisor)
- You're looking for entertainment — this site prioritizes substance
Ready to get started?
Explore the free resources, browse the content library, or check out the tools built to help you take action today.