AICpa names five 2026 Visionary Award recipients, including Caitlin Smith
The AICPA recognized five professionals with its 2026 Visionary Award, including Caitlin Smith, a partner at SKC & Co. CPAs, LLC in Boonton Township, New Jersey. The cpa award honors people whose ideas, leadership and actions are shaping the profession through innovation, advocacy, business transformation or community impact.
Smith works with small business owners on tax planning, operational structure and long-term growth, with a focus on healthcare, dental and veterinary practices. She also serves as chair of SKC's Future Council and is active in the SKC Foundation.
Financial Literacy Month Survey
The recognition came as an AICPA Financial Literacy Month survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, showed 55 percent of Americans delayed decisions for financial reasons in 2026, down from 61 percent in 2025. The survey also found that 36 percent of Americans felt better about their financial situation over the next 12 months in 2026, up from 33 percent in 2025.
Among those who delayed something for financial reasons over the past year, 59 percent said the cost of goods and services was the reason. The age breakdown showed 68 percent of Americans 65 and over had not delayed anything for financial reasons in the past year, compared with 52 percent of those ages 55 to 64, 40 percent of those 45 to 54, 34 percent of those 35 to 44 and 30 percent of those 18 to 34.
SKC & Co. CPAs, LLC
Smith's selection fits the award's focus on professionals whose work changes how firms serve clients and communities. Her client base of small business owners points to the practical side of the honor: accounting work that is tied to day-to-day decisions on taxes, operations and growth rather than a single filing season.
For readers in that segment, the takeaway is straightforward. The award puts a spotlight on accountants who are trying to make financial choices easier to manage, while the survey data shows many Americans still delay those choices even as more say they feel better about the year ahead.
2026 Visionary Award
The AICPA said the Visionary Award was curated to celebrate exceptional professionals. With five recipients named for 2026, the focus now shifts to how their work is carried forward inside firms, professional groups and client practices.
