Our History
Smith, Moore & Co. was founded in 1913 by Jay Herndon Smith and Charles W. Moore, two men intent on creating a firm that put the interests of their clients first. They decided that the firm should have a very strong capital base, and emphasize conservative investing principles. This philosophy served Smith, Moore & Co. and its customers well, as it enabled them to survive the Great Depression and two world wars with their wealth intact.
In 1966, under the leadership of James Canavan and Philip Plack, Smith, Moore & Co. merged with the investment firm of Plack & Hanser and expanded operations by moving into the Historic Security Building at 400 Locust Street in St. Louis.
In the 1970's, Martin Crowe led the expansion of the firm into Municipal Securities Underwriting. In the 1980's and 1990's, Smith Moore, under the guidance of James Veron, enjoyed the market's prosperity with record profits and expansion as several registered representatives joined the company.
In 1997, Doug Nachman opened our branch office in Clayton, MO, and later presided over major upgrades to the firm's information systems, as Smith Moore entered the 21st Century with a solid foundation for the future.
In 2004, under the leadership of James Deutsch and Harry Langenberg Jr., Smith, Moore & Co. moved the headquarters to the Sevens Building in Clayton. With this upgrade to our facilities, Smith Moore continues to add new professionals to the staff and has opened another branch office in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Since our inception in 1913, Smith, Moore & Co. has maintained its focus on our mission of dedication to customer service. As one of the oldest investment firms established west of the Mississippi River, Smith Moore has a proud history of helping their customers to plan their financial futures. As Smith Moore nears its 100th birthday, we have prepared well for the future, but still rely on the same core principles that launched our firm on its path to prosperity.