Biography

Denise Smalls is the President of Guided By You, a dedicated financial education and consulting practice based in the Orlando, Florida area. With a powerful blend of academic rigor, federal expertise, and a lifelong passion for instruction, Denise empowers individuals and small business owners to take control of their financial destinies.

Denise’s professional foundation is built upon extensive academic and specialized training:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems.
• MBA with a concentration in Finance.
• Enrolled Agent (EA) Certification, granting authorization to represent clients before the IRS on all tax matters across all 50 states.
• Professional Certifications in Financial and Career Coaching, and Credit Counseling.
• Certified Master Practitioner in Financial Capability.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in the tax arena, Denise’s career spans both private practice and public service. After starting with a local tax service organization, she collaborated with the IRS to develop and expand free tax services for the community. Her background encompasses program development, tax instruction, operational consulting for tax sites, and professional training for tax reviewers.

An ardent advocate for financial literacy, Denise specializes in helping clients decode their tax documents and implement proactive strategies to minimize future liabilities. She is also the creator of the award-winning Money $ense program, implemented across prominent Orlando Metroplex facilities including CareerSource, the Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and United Against Poverty. To date, the program has helped over 1,000 Floridians successfully achieve their financial goals.

"I grew up with a simple dream: to become a teacher. Over time, I realized my true calling was to make a tangible difference by educating others on a subject our society rarely teaches effectively—finance. Lacking an initial background in the field, I embarked on a rigorous path of academic and professional achievement to turn that vision into reality. Today, my mission is to guide others toward financial independence and knowledge, building true strength and ownership over personal wealth."