About The Smith Team
The Smith Team goes above and beyond meeting their client’s expectations. Each member of the team sees communications and the personal touch as key to understanding their client’s needs.
Each of the Smith Team’s clients experience service that is hands-on and responsive. Every client is treated with respect and has their needs discussed without the feeling of being spoken down to. The Smith Team is passionate about their business and enjoy taking the mystery out of taxation, providing a quality of service not to be found anywhere else.
William Smith, CPA - Partner
Bill is excited to be working with his new partner & son, Mark, at this stage of his professional career. He is an expert in the area of business and personal taxation with over 40 years of experience. His focus is on providing quality personalized service to every client. He is friendly and enjoys the many friendships he has made through his business.
Bill earned his Business Administration degree in 1974 from Cal State University, Northridge and became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in l977. He began his career in Los Angeles with the firm of Gilbert Vasquez & Co. Together with Dave Marion, he established the firm of Smith Marion & Co. where he practiced for 34 years.
Bill and his wife, Gena, have been married since 1979 and their family is made up of 2 daughters, 3 sons and 8 grandchildren so far. They enjoy traveling to their vacation home on the Island of Kauai and spending time with their family.
Mark Smith, CPA - Partner
Mark Smith is described by his father, Bill as the incredibly responsive member of the Smith Team. Mark has always had a keen interest in numbers, evidenced by his previous school major of engineering. Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Phoenix in 2014. Mark believes his greatest education has been learning from his Dad. His dad taught him not only about Tax & Accounting, but also about how to treat people with respect. Mark attributes his success and readiness to run a business to his father.
Mark’s prior experience includes over 10 years as a server in the restaurant industry. He attributes his communication skills to this experience, as he learned to deal with different personalities in various circumstances. Mark began working with his father at Smith Marion in 2011 at an entry level position. He worked his way up to a Supervisor and was one of the most productive employees in the firm in just a few years. While at Smith Marion, he specialized in payroll, bookkeeping, and tax preparation.
Mark feels that being able to join his father in their own Partnership is the ultimate accomplishment and a dream come true. He can’t wait to see where they’re able to take this firm.
Mark is the QuickBooks expert and trainer of the team, providing a CPA’s expertise to the accounting and bookkeeping field where it is desperately needed in today’s complicated tax climate. Mark specializes in small business accounting & taxation, as well as individual taxation. He enjoys providing strategic planning and direction throughout the year for both businesses and individuals. Although he specializes in all versions of QuickBooks, he’s also well versed in Sage or Peachtree products, as well as Xero and other accounting platforms.
Mark enjoys golfing, travel, cooking, the outdoors, and projects around the house during his off time.
Benita Felton
Benita Felton manages the Smith Team office and is the magic that keeps the team running smoothly. Benita’s background encompasses college coursework in early childhood education and business administration.
Benita’s previous work experience includes banking with Household Finance, Provident Savings Bank, Palm Desert National Bank and Office Administration at Smith Marion & Co., LLP. She has handled finance reconciliation, marketing, underwriting documentation and contract preparation.
After working with Bill and Mark at Smith Marion from 2015-2017, Benita decided to follow them to the Smith Team as their office manager.
In her spare time, Benita loves attending or presenting jazz concerts, live music, the outdoors, the beach, bicycling, hiking, and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Mike Molstad, Associate
Mike is the newest member of our team. He assists with our accounting clients. During tax season he helps with the tax return process. Mike has a degree in business management.
Mike’s previous work experiences include over 20 years in retail accounting, and 2 years as the Assistant Director of Finance for a construction company. He worked in different areas including: Accounting, Customer Service, and Management. Mike enjoys helping others and strives for excellence.
Mike moved from Minnesota to California in 2017 with his wife Jessica and his two kids Gavin and Logan. They moved here to be closer to family, but the weather had a large factor in their decision.
Mike enjoys taking his kids to the beach, parks, hiking, and helping friends and family with projects around their homes. Mike is always willing to learn new things.