Shannon Smit, Founding Director of Smart Private Wealth and the broader SMART Business Solutions Group, has been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Innovation award at the 2025 Count Financial Awards, recognising her ground-breaking leadership in transforming how financial advice and professional services are delivered in Australia.
This category celebrates individuals who challenge the status quo and
deliver new, creative ways of doing business — with a focus on improving client experience and team efficiency. Shannon Smit stood out
among national contenders for her
bold, AI-first strategy and pioneering
use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
across both her wealth and accounting businesses.
"True innovation isn’t about tech for tech’s sake. It’s about making things simpler, more human, and more impactful - for both clients and team members," Shannon said. "This award is a reflection of the courage our whole team has shown in embracing change and building a future-ready business."
Under Shannon’s leadership, Smart Private Wealth has:
An Industry Ripple Effect
What began as a mission to improve internal workflows has grown into something much greater - a movement of innovation across the
advice industry. By upskilling her own team to build automations, then creating learning opportunities for the broader adviser and
accountant network, Shannon is not only building a better business - she’s building a better profession.
Your partners in wealth accumulation, protection and management for today and beyond.
