Edward F. Smith III

JD, Director Tax and Accounting Department

Edward F. Smith III, JD, is a director in the Tax and Accounting Department at MBAF in the Private Client Wealth Services Group. Ed has a diverse financial background acquired in over 20 years of varied experience. Prior to joining MBAF, he was associated with a national accounting firm, served in various capacities for the trust, estate planning and administration, tax, investment, and compliance areas of major financial institutions, and was a practicing tax and estate planning lawyer in Connecticut and Florida.

His practice is concentrated in the areas of individual, fiduciary, estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax planning with an emphasis on representing wealthy families and entrepreneurs. Ed provides comprehensive wealth transfer strategies, tax planning, entity structuring, asset protection, and the compliance services related thereto. Ed represents non-profit entities, and counsels clients on their philanthropic goals, including the specific tax implications of private foundations, charitable trusts, and other sophisticated planned giving structures.

Ed has also been a frequent speaker at seminars on various tax, financial, and estate planning topics, and has served on the editorial advisory board for a national estate planning publication. He has been a speaker for the FICPA, regional and national ABA conferences, and the Florida Attorney/Trust Officer Liaison Conference, among others.

Affiliations

Professional

  • East Coast Estate Planning Council
  • Connecticut State Bar Association
  • Florida State Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Palm Beach Planned Giving Council
  • South Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • United States Tax Court

Civic

  • America Red Cross - South County Advisory Board Member
  • Caldwell Theater Company - Vice Chair
  • Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce - Trustee Member
  • Leaders in Furthering Education (LIFE) - Board Member
  • State of Israel Bonds Corporation - Advisory Board Member
  • American Heart Association - Past Chair, SPB County Heartwalk

Education

  • Quinnipiac University School of Law - Juris Doctor
  • St. Bonaventure University - Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting