Mike Smela

USA Agent

Based in Detroit, Michigan

Let’s Connect

Phone:

947 813 5889

Email:

mike.smela@ascendantfinancial.com

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About Mike

Why do I love my job?

Infinite Banking works! Not only am I privileged to serve others, I have lived it as a student since 2009 and policy holder since 2011. What’s better than educating and helping others benefit from an incredible, time tested vehicle and mindset my family and I benefit from?

When I’m not at work, you can find me…

Helping families further beautify their homes. In addition to educating families on IBC, I am a “hand’s on” small business owner focused on transforming exteriors from “Dirty to Purdy!”. I also enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife Diane (I am twice blessed!), our combined 6 kids and 6 grandchildren. I’ve also been known to take morning walks chasing a little white golf ball around!

How does what I do impact others?

Since I am also an Infinite/Family Banking student and practitioner, it is easy to positively impact others from my own experiences and stories learned from other “Banking” families. Together as a community, we all help educate each other, raising everyone’s success while making it easier to pass ‘Banking” along to others.

Two favorite things about my life journey so far?

In my 64+ years (as of 2025), the two most impactful things I’ve learned are:

1) God grants us the power and freedom of CHOICE. Life, at its core, is a series of events. Our CHOICE in responding to each event will define our life. In June 2013, my beloved wife Paula passed away in my arms, after battling pancreatic cancer for a year. At its core, Paula’s journey and her passing all became events in my life. My CHOICE of how to respond was up to me. My grief moved from mourning Paula’s passing to celebrating her and the life we shared. Paula remains in my heart. My choice to honor her by continuing life has manifested much positivity since, including meeting my wife Diane.

2) “Knowledge is POTENTIAL Power”. Education is great. Motivation is awesome. Yet, unless accompanied by the proper VEHICLE, the most educated and motivated of us can still fail or come up short of our visions. Tiger Woods, with all his knowledge, skill and motivation, would have never won a golf tournament teeing up a ping pong ball.

I came to realize this in 2008, when SO many highly educated and motivated people in our country, including most of us financial “professionals” got crushed financially – because we were taught to leverage and rely on financial vehicles and systems controlled by others and designed for others to benefit from.

One of the beautiful parts of Infinite/Family Banking is it combines the three essential components – Knowledge, Motivation and the Systems/Vehicles, to create short and generational financial control and empowerment

Who I Work Best With

I enjoy helping and guiding:

1) Those who are open minded and CHOOSE to question and look beyond what we’ve been led to believe is the “norm”.

2) Those passionate about creating lifetime financial empowerment for themselves and their future generations.

3) Those, once possessing better education, motivation and the right vehicle, take action to secure their future.

With my professional and personal background, I relate well to:

Small business owners and home service providers looking for better control, reducing taxes, better positioning for equipment needs and liquidity to act fast on opportunities.
Real estate professionals and investors. EVERY real estate transaction involves financing. What’s the downside in CONTROLLING and becoming your own private financing source?
Those who have lost a spouse or loved one and want counsel and guidance from one who lives a similar journey.
Parents and grandparents looking to create a lasting legacy for future generations – both financially and, more importantly, through communication, actions and proper information.

Who may NOT be a good fit to work together:

Those focused on comparing financial products – “rates of return”, “the numbers” and “spreadsheets”. While I have a long financial history, I’ve learned to focus on big picture thinking and CONROLLING one’s financial environment and systems. As Nelson Nash states, “Unless you understand the problem (who controls the banking function), the solution and the numbers just won’t matter.” And…”Once you understand the problem, the numbers STILL won’t matter” . Bankers make money when interest rates are low and when interest rates are high – because they CONTROL the systems.
The “Arrival Syndrome” – on p34 of “Becoming Your Own Banker”, Nelson Nash states “This phenomenon probably limits the achievement of mankind more than anything else. We stop growing, stop learning. We ROT! – We turn off our tune out the ability to receive inspiration – because we “Already know all there is to know”. Those with an open mind remain open to learning. Those who know it all – not a good fit!

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What You Can Expect When Working With Me

The Infinite Banking Concept is all about becoming YOUR OWN banker.

My focus is simple – to help and guide YOU to achieve whatever is most important to you in your life.

You will receive my personal and professional honesty, attention and care.

In those situations where another of my Ascendant teammates will help, we will work together FOR you.

Our relationship will be long term, so it really helps when we get along, trust each other, and are honest with each other.

I am responsible TO you – not FOR you.

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What I'm Really Like

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Here is my calendar link to schedule an initial 15 minute introduction and clarity call https://go.scheduleyou.in/K5UddiGr

Disclaimer

Mike Smela is an authorized Infinite Banking Practitioner with Ascendant Financial, a licensed Managing General Agency. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. Mike is licensed to advise clients in Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.