Jean Smart’s experience growing up as the child of small business owners, combined with two decades of experience in finance, has led her to create a company that can help small businesses quickly and easily set up their retirement plans.
Named after her daughter, Penelope was formed in 2021.
Smart was born in Korea before her family moved to California in the 1970s. Her parents ran a series of businesses, including a grocery store, restaurants, and a dry cleaner. Smart would help them interpret tax forms and other documents and pitch in with the bookkeeping.
She went on to work with institutions like Schwab, Citigroup, UBS, and TD Ameritrade, often on the corporate and institutional side, gaining a solid knowledge of different stock options and financial wellness plans, what worked and what did not. Most of those products could not work for small businesses.
With advancements in technology and the right product design, they can certainly be designed for business owners like Smart’s parents. Reduce jargon, make it…
