We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bianca Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bianca thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

When I launched my business, it was the third venture I started. As a business owner, mom, wife, avid volunteer, and travel enthusiast, I knew this time around I needed my business to align seamlessly with my lifestyle. My goal was to create something less complicated—a business I could plan around my life rather than the other way around.

In my earlier businesses, I found marketing to be a natural strength. However, I noticed many others struggling to navigate it. Marketing, like business itself, can sometimes be overcomplicated. I realized there’s a better way—a simpler way—to approach both. That’s the philosophy behind my brand: making marketing and business less daunting and more streamlined.

This third venture focused on marketing for financial professionals—CPAs, CFOs, accounting firms, and similar businesses. The idea of simplifying marketing for these professionals resonated deeply with me since I have an MBA in Accounting and come from the finance world. So, I combined the concepts of simplicity and marketing, which became the foundation of my brand.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began my journey in business and entrepreneurship as a military spouse and Air Force veteran. Moving frequently made it clear that I needed to create a career that could travel with me, something adaptable and fulfilling. Initially, I channeled my creativity into crafting. I ran a successful Etsy shop, creating custom vinyl products like mugs, shirts, and wine glasses. However, as life shifted, so did my focus, and I eventually closed the shop to explore new opportunities.

During this time, I noticed a recurring challenge faced by eCommerce business owners: bookkeeping. While many found it overwhelming, I found it second nature, thanks to my MBA in Accounting and my background in banking. This realization led me to open a bookkeeping firm. While successful, the constant demands of that business model eventually burned me out. Seeking a change, I transitioned into working as a virtual assistant, supporting a military spouse owned marketing company and a financial firm serving military families.

I loved the work and especially enjoyed the marketing side of the business. I realized there was a significant gap in the financial services industry when it came to marketing support—few providers served this niche effectively, and those who did often lacked a genuine passion for it. That’s when I made the leap to establish my own financial marketing agency.

Today, I specialize in social media and email marketing for financial professionals (CPAs, CFOs, accounting firms, etc.). What sets my agency apart is our mission to simplify marketing. We craft tailored strategies aligned with our clients’ mission, vision, and values—because we understand their unique challenges firsthand. Having lived the balancing act of managing life, business, and regulatory compliance, we approach marketing in a way that feels authentic and effortless for our clients.

We help financial professionals become more consistent with their marketing while reducing overwhelm. Education is central to our approach—we don’t just do the work; we ensure our clients understand the “why” behind every strategy. This creates a true partnership, empowering our clients to feel confident and informed about their marketing decisions.

One of the achievements I’m most proud of is reaching my fifth year as a financial marketer and launching my podcast, Simplified Marketing: Simplify Marketing Strategies for Financial Professionals. This platform allows me to share insights, tips, and inspiration tailored to the financial services industry.

What brings me the most joy, though, is seeing my clients re-energized about their marketing. For instance, video marketing is a big focus right now, and we guide our clients through the entire process—from creating a script to pressing record—before we take over and transform their raw footage into polished, engaging content. Watching them gain leads, build connections, and grow their confidence in marketing is incredibly rewarding.

My goal is to make marketing a seamless and enjoyable process for financial professionals, helping them establish themselves as thought leaders while connecting authentically with their audience.

Any advice for managing a team?

I take a lot of what I learned in the Air Force and incorporate it into my team and business which is structured around our core values:

1. I encourage team members to take pride in their work by fostering a culture of trust and accountability. When people know their contributions matter and they’re held to a high standard, they’re more likely to deliver exceptional results. At the same time, trust them to get the job done without micromanaging, which helps build confidence.

2. As an agency, we live by the value of “family first.” Supporting our team members’ well-being—both personal and professional—is non-negotiable. Flexible schedules, understanding life’s demands, and creating space for people to prioritize their loved ones contribute to a happier, more productive team. When people feel cared for as individuals, they bring their best selves to work.

3. Tie your team’s work to a greater purpose. We emphasize that our success is measured by our clients’ success, which motivates everyone to give their best effort. Celebrating client wins as a team reinforces the idea that we’re all working toward a common goal and making a meaningful impact.

4. Simplification isn’t just a value—it’s a strategy. By removing unnecessary complexity from our processes, we make it easier for the team to focus on what truly matters. Clear expectations and streamlined workflows reduce stress and allows team members to succeed without feeling overwhelmed.

5. Open communication is the foundation of a strong team. Check in often, provide feedback constructively, and create opportunities for team members to share their ideas or concerns. Feeling heard and valued goes a long way toward building trust and camaraderie.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building my reputation in my market has been all about being visible, adding real value, and building authentic relationships.

Consistency really is key. I’ve made it a priority to show up regularly and share valuable content that resonates with my audience. Whether it’s through my podcast, blog, Pinterest, email marketing, or social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, I stay consistent. This keeps me top of mind for the people I want to serve.

Connecting with others has been a game changer. I love having coffee chats with people who work in my industry in different ways. Networking calls and attending niche conferences have been a great way to build a strong referral base and learn from others in the space.

Getting visible in as many ways as possible has helped me grow. Beyond creating my own content, I’ve been a guest on other people’s podcasts and even spoken at summits.

Adding value is at the heart of everything I do. I’m passionate about educating, inspiring, and supporting financial professionals in ways that matter to them. It’s not just about marketing; it’s about truly helping people simplify their marketing.

At the end of the day, my reputation has been built by consistently showing up, adding value, and focusing on genuine connections. These efforts have helped me earn trust and recognition in my industry, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey so far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://simplifiedmarketingservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplifiedmarketingservices/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplifiedMarketingServices/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancamarissasmith/
• Other: Podcast: https://pod.link/1746361667