Maria E. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, has spent her career in asset management focused on one central idea: helping clients make thoughtful, long-term decisions about their capital.

I began my career at Smith Affiliated Capital in 1984, developing a foundation in disciplined investment thinking, risk management, and operational oversight. Over time, that experience shaped a perspective grounded in accountability, independent judgment, and long-term strategy.

In 2004, I founded Intuitive Strategies Consulting LLC, advising organizations on strategic business development, operational risk management, and forensic analysis. That experience broadened my approach—deepening my ability to assess complexity, identify risk, and guide decision-making at a strategic level.

I returned to Smith Affiliated Capital in 2011 as Managing Director and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors, and later assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. As majority owner, I direct the firm’s strategic vision, risk framework, and long-term client alignment.

My work has extended beyond the firm through leadership roles with the Investment Adviser Association in Washington, D.C., and as a member of the Global Investment Performance Standards Board at the CFA Institute, where I collaborated with regulators and industry leaders to help shape global performance standards.

I have also served on the board of the Museum of American Finance, as Treasurer of the Irish Business Organization, and as a mentor with the NYU Stern Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship.

I am an active member of the Fixed Income Analysts Society, the Municipal Analysts Group of New York, the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, and the Native American Finance Officers Association, where our firm actively participates in advancing financial education and development initiatives.

I am also a member of Social Register and a Mayflower descendant—heritage that reflects a long-standing appreciation for legacy, continuity, and responsibility across generations.

I earned a BA in Business Administration from Northeastern University – New York and an Executive MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.

At its core, my work is about stewardship—of capital, of relationships, and of the long-term trust our clients place in us.