Smith Marion & Co., Inc.

06/16/2026

When a loved one needs additional care, finding the right caretaker is only part of the equation.

It's equally important to protect their financial well-being. From unexplained withdrawals to unclear boundaries around financial responsibilities, small oversights can create significant risks.

A few simple safeguards, clear roles, regular oversight, and proper financial controls can help protect both your loved one and their assets.

At Smith Marion, we help families, trustees, and fiduciaries bring structure, transparency, and accountability to trust and estate matters when it matters most.

Learn more about protecting your family's financial future.

https://smcocpa.com/hiring-a-caregiver-for-an-elderly-parent/

06/12/2026

Many non-profits implement incentive plans with the goal of improving performance—but too often, those plans create confusion instead of results.

When employees don’t understand how incentives are earned, or the structure feels out of reach, the plan stops driving behavior and starts getting ignored.

The good news? Incentive pay can work—when it’s designed with the right structure, clarity, and accountability.

Join Carlos Carazo & Hannah Baldwin as they break down what actually works in our upcoming webinar:

Motivate, Reward, Repeat: Building High-Impact Incentive Plans on August 20th

In this session, they’ll cover:
✔ Why most incentive plans fail
✔ How to build a structure employees understand
✔ What to measure—and what to avoid
✔ How to align incentives with performance and organizational goals

If your organization is rethinking its approach to incentive pay, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

👉 Register here:

Join us on August 20th

06/09/2026

A strategic plan shouldn’t just check a box.

Too often, organizations invest time into strategic planning only to end up with a document that sits on a shelf.

When done right, strategic planning delivers much more than a plan. It creates:
• Alignment across leadership
• Clear direction and priorities
• Accountability that drives results
• A structure for solving real issues

The value isn’t the document—it’s the discipline and clarity it builds into your organization.

Read the full blog: https://mailchi.mp/smco/the-true-value-of-strategic-planning-its-more-than-the-document

Learn more about our strategic planning services: https://smcocpa.com/strategic-planning/

Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/hbaldwin-smco/60min

A strategic plan is often something boards and executive teams feel they need to have for stakeholders. It becomes a deliverable—something to show funders, auditors, or the community.

06/05/2026

If you’re a client, don’t forget to complete your billing preference survey.

We’re rolling out subscription billing starting July 1, 2026, and want to make sure your billing is set up correctly.

Check your email for the link—it takes less than 2 minutes.

If you’re not a client but want a more predictable billing experience, let’s connect visit our website www.smco.cpa.

06/03/2026

Smith Marion & Co. is excited to be attending the PHADA Annual Convention & Exhibition in Chicago!

On June 12th, Chad Porter, CPA, CFE, will be presenting Budgeting & Procurement: Strengthening Financial Controls & Compliance, a session focused on helping housing authorities strengthen financial oversight, improve compliance, and build more effective internal controls.

Our team will also be exhibiting on June 10th and 11th. If you're attending the conference, be sure to stop by our booth and meet Hannah Baldwin and Christen Goertel.

We look forward to connecting with housing authority leaders from across the country and discussing the strategies, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of affordable housing.

06/02/2026

Nonprofit audits don’t have to feel overwhelming.

Many funding delays happen because of avoidable financial reporting issues, not because organizations are doing something wrong intentionally.

The good news? Strong preparation and organized processes can make audits smoother, faster, and less stressful for your team.

At Smith Marion, we help nonprofits strengthen reporting, improve internal controls, and stay audit-ready year-round.

https://smcocpa.com/

05/19/2026

At Smith Marion, we don’t just “do the books.” We provide year-round, subscription-based accounting partnerships with upfront pricing — so you always know what to expect and always have access to guidance.

Your financials shouldn’t just be accurate. They should be actionable.

✔ Clear, decision-ready reporting
✔ Proactive advisory — not just after-the-fact cleanup
✔ Integrated tax + accounting strategy
✔ A relationship, not a transaction

If you’re looking for more than data entry — if you want insight, accountability, and a team who knows your business — let’s talk. https://smcocpa.com/bookkeeping-services/

05/19/2026

Launching a Balanced Scorecard is not just a performance management decision—it’s an implementation decision.

Organizations rarely struggle with the concept. They struggle with how it was introduced.

Before building metrics or tying performance to incentives, leadership should align on a few key decisions:

• Timing and rollout approach
• Incentive structure and payout frequency
• Budgeting for incentive pay
• Roles in goal setting
• Company-wide vs. department-specific priorities

Clarity in these areas drives stronger adoption, better goal design, and more consistent ex*****on.

Without it, even well-designed scorecards can stall.

If your organization is considering a Balanced Scorecard—or refining an existing one—taking time to address these decisions upfront can significantly improve outcomes.

We’re always available to discuss how to structure a rollout that works in practice.

05/15/2026

Internal controls aren’t the most exciting part of running a nonprofit—but they’re one of the most important.

In our recent webinar, The Boring Stuff That Saves the Mission, we broke down how weak processes—not just missing controls—create risk, inefficiency, and exposure across organizations.

A few key takeaways:
- Most control issues start as process issues
- Lack of visibility creates opportunity for errors and fraud
- Simple, consistent controls are more effective than complex ones

If your organization feels like it’s constantly fixing issues after the fact, it’s usually a sign the process needs attention—not just the people.

Read the recap: https://mailchi.mp/smco/the-boring-thing-thats-probably-slowing-your-organization-down

Want the full webinar?
• Clients: email us for the recording
• Non-clients: available for purchase

If you’re not sure where your gaps are, let’s talk:
https://calendly.com/hbaldwin-smco/60min

05/14/2026

We’re heading to Philadelphia.

Our next Connection Meeting for Housing Authorities will be held October 21st-22nd—and if you’ve been part of Connection before, you know this isn’t a typical event.

This is time set aside for real conversations—working through challenges, sharing ideas, and learning from peers who are facing the same issues.

More details coming soon, but for now… save the date.

Learn more about Connection: www.smconnection.cpa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZzUuoaT4o0