General Bio

Cara L. Smith is a Tax Partner at Meara Welch Browne, P.C., where she focuses on federal and state tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporate entities and exempt organizations and tax planning. She also consults on tax matters involved in business litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and estate tax and gift tax transactions, and represents clients under audit with the Internal Revenue Service.

As a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Public Accountant, Cara advises clients on tax planning issues including fringe benefits, retirement plans and tax credits, among various other issues. In addition, she prepares tax accruals under the rules governed by ASC 740 (FAS 109) and FIN 48 analysis for audited corporate clients.

Cara attended Northwest Missouri State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration and in accounting, as well as the University of Missouri – Kansas City, where she earned a master’s in accounting with focus on taxation.

Education

• Northwest Missouri State University, Bachelor of Science in business administration, accounting
• University of Missouri – Kansas City, master’s in accounting, focus on taxation

Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant (Licensed in Missouri and Kansas)
• Certified Financial Planner

Professional Associations

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member, 2000-present
• Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, Accounting Careers Committee, 2007-2008
• Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, Taxation Committee, 2009-2010
• Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, LEAP Ambassador, 2007
• American Business Women’s Association, Member, 2007
• American Business Women’s Association, VP Finance, 2008-2009
• Leawood Chamber of Commerce, Member, 2014-present
• Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, Fundamentals Committee, 2016
• Heart of America Tax Institute, Committee Member 2020-Present; 2023 Treasurer & Arrangements Co-Chair

Honors + Awards

• MSCPA Women to Watch Award 2007

Community Involvement

• Kansas City Star, Moneywise Contributor
• Journal of Financial Planning, Columnist
• Journal in the Round, Participant, 2018
• Ronald McDonald House Charities, Finance Committee and Audit Committee member, 2010-present
• NBC Channel 41’s Call for Action Phone Bank “Ask the Tax Expert”
• SparkLab