Jim Smyth, Esquire MBA/JD, University of Notre Dame
Chief Executive Officer
James (Jim) W. Smyth, MBA/JD, is a member of both the Indiana Bar and Michigan Bar and serves as executive director of Legendary Partners, LLC and Custom Structured Settlements, LLC, two private equity firms. The former assists growth companies with maximizing unrealized potential. The latter company serves as an intermediary to protect people’s assets, minimize taxes on sales, and provide tax-advantaged income preservation. Jim believes this know-how can prove important to Mind-Eye Institute optometrists seeking comfortable retirement after contributing their skills on behalf of patients.
Jim has advised many high-net-worth business owners and individuals from all industries and worked closely with a nationwide list of legal and financial experts on tax minimization strategies. His unique approach to estate planning and multigenerational wealth through The Family Trust Institute has included creation of The Legacy Lifeboat, a generational succession plan focused on families’ goals, perspectives, and true wealth.
A 1979 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and Graduate School of Business, Jim is or has been a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, the Renaissance Advisors, the Fortress Attorney Advisors and the National Charitable Advisors, Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, Legacy Boston, The Heritage Institute, Purposeful Planning Institute, among other groups and organizations. He also has served as an advisory board member for the neurosurgery department of Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Duke University Catholic Center, and the Planned Giving Council of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
Jim first became involved with the Mind-Eye Connection – now the Mind-Eye Institute – after a comprehensive evaluation and prescription of “brain” lenses from Mind-Eye director Deborah Zelinsky O.D. prompted his autistic son John to begin talking for the first time – even singing and reciting prayers in church. This “amazing transformation” of his son has led Jim on a mission to support and help expand Dr. Zelinsky’s ongoing clinical work and research so that more patients can benefit nationwide – and globally.
Although Jim is director of the Mind-Eye Institute on the business side,100% of the proceeds collected are used for further development of the Mind-Eye Institute.