Jean Smith

Founder

From an early age, Jean Smith’s vocation was taking care of people. As such, she initially prepared herself for a career in nursing. She volunteered as a Candy Striper and attended Drake College’s nursing program. As we now know, destiny had other plans for Jean. Fate redirected Jean’s vocation from the field of physical health to financial health. In 1974, Jean’s entrepreneurial husband initiated the purchase of an accounting practice in Santa Barbara, CA. Jean ran the business with the simple premise of taking care of clients, very much as a nurse would take care of patients.

Client relationships flourished and Smith & Associates thrived. Along the way, Jean partnered with Marv Walpole to form Smith & Walpole. Under Jean’s instructions, taking care of clients remained the driving factor. Success continued. To keep the name short as the company added partners, it simply evolved into Walpole & Co. LLP. Today, the company Jean started over 30 years ago is a well-respected regional CPA firm serving its clients’ needs with an impressive range of services 

Along with building a thriving business, Jean also raised a family, helped neighbors and involved herself in her community. Jean became an enrolled agent, a Certified Public Accountant, and a Certified Financial Planner. She attended SBCC, UCSB and the Master in Taxation program at Golden Gate University. Jean is a member of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council, and the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. In addition, Jean maintains a dynamic exercise routine. She occasionally travels to hike in the mountains which would not surprise those who know her boundless energy.