FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gravel and Oak Launches to Help Growing Businesses Achieve Clear, Measurable Financial Goals Founded by Bakley Smith, CFA, the firm focuses on strategy, systems, and automation for lower middle-market companies. Atlanta, GA — February 10, 2026 — Gravel and Oak, a new financial consulting practice founded by Bakley Smith, CFA, officially announces its launch with a clear mission: helping growing businesses achieve their most important financial goals with confidence, clarity, and discipline. Gravel and Oak partners with companies in the lower middle market that are navigating growth, capital decisions, and increasing operational complexity. The firm works alongside leadership teams to translate financial ambition into execution—whether that means raising capital, improving cash flow predictability, deploying capital more effectively, or building scalable financial systems that support long-term value creation. “Too many businesses know what they want to achieve financially, but lack the structure, systems, and insight needed to get there,” said Smith. “Gravel and Oak was built to close that gap—helping clients move from financial uncertainty to clear goals, actionable strategy, and measurable progress.” The firm specializes in developing robust financial processes for capital raising and deployment, designing forward-looking financial strategies, and implementing automations that reduce friction across finance and operations. By combining deep financial expertise with modern tooling, Gravel and Oak enables clients to spend less time reacting to numbers and more time using them to drive decisions. In today’s fast-paced business environment, technology plays a critical role in achieving financial outcomes. Gravel and Oak integrates AI-enabled workflows to streamline reporting, forecasting, and communication—reducing manual effort, minimizing human error, and improving the speed and quality of decision-making. These automations help leadership teams stay focused on strategic priorities while maintaining strong financial controls. In addition, the firm advises clients on using AI and automation to improve internal reporting, align financial insights with business strategy, and communicate results more clearly to stakeholders. The result is a finance function that is not only efficient, but directly aligned with the company’s growth objectives. Gravel and Oak is now accepting new clients and working with businesses seeking a more disciplined, goal-oriented approach to financial management. For more information, visit gravelandoak.com.