Year-Round
Tax Planning.
Tax preparation looks backward. Tax planning looks forward. We work with clients throughout the year, not just at filing time, to reduce next year's tax bill through legitimate strategy rather than last-minute deductions.
The Return Is the Scorecard. Planning Is the Game.
By the time April rolls around, most of what you can do to reduce your tax bill is already done, or missed. The real work happens during the year: structuring transactions, timing income and deductions, choosing the right retirement account, deciding when to buy equipment, and thinking two years ahead.
Tax planning is proactive. It's a conversation, not a form. And for the right client, it pays for itself many times over.
If Your Tax Bill
Is Significant, So Is Planning.
Tax planning isn't for everyone. But for these situations, the return on effort is significant.
High-Income Earners
If you're paying meaningful tax annually, small planning decisions have outsized impact. Retirement contribution strategy, charitable giving structure, and income timing all matter.
Business Owners & Self-Employed
Entity structure, S-Corp election, reasonable compensation, retirement plans, equipment timing, family employment, the decision matrix is deep and every choice has tax consequences.
Investors & Traders
Capital gains harvesting, tax-loss harvesting, Roth conversion timing, real estate depreciation, opportunity zones. Investment tax strategy alone can meaningfully outperform a passive approach.
Life Transitions Ahead
Retiring in the next 5 years, selling a business or property, exercising stock options, going through a divorce, inheriting assets. Big moves = big tax impact. Plan before, not after.
Ongoing.
Not One-and-Done.
Discovery Consultation
We dig into your full picture: income sources, business interests, investments, family situation, retirement goals, and any major moves on the horizon. Free.
Strategy Roadmap
We produce a written strategy document outlining specific recommendations for your situation, projected tax impact, and implementation steps prioritized by ROI.
Quarterly Reviews
We check in each quarter to review your actual income, adjust estimated payments, and course-correct on any of the year's strategies.
Year-End Positioning
November and December are the last months to influence the tax year. We meet before year-end to finalize contributions, harvest losses, time deductions, and lock in your strategy.
A Flat Annual Engagement.
Not Hourly.
Tax planning is priced as an annual engagement, not by the hour. This aligns our incentives: we're motivated to identify every opportunity, not to bill more time. Fees are quoted based on the complexity of your situation.
Consultations are always free. Most planning clients see multi-year ROI significantly greater than the fee.
Before You Engage.
Isn't tax planning what a CFP or wealth manager does? +
CFPs focus on financial planning: goals, budgeting, investment allocation, insurance. Some do basic tax coordination, but tax law depth isn't their specialty. Enrolled Agents are federally credentialed for tax specifically, and can represent you before the IRS. We work well alongside a CFP or wealth manager, and often coordinate directly with them.
How is tax planning different from tax preparation? +
Tax preparation reports what already happened, filing your return based on last year's income and events. Tax planning shapes what will happen, structuring decisions during the year so your future return is more favorable. Both matter, but planning has significantly more leverage.
What's a realistic return on planning fees? +
Highly situation-dependent. For clients with meaningful annual tax bills, planning strategies typically pay back the fee many times over, through S-Corp election savings, retirement contribution optimization, capital gains structuring, or entity restructuring. During your discovery consultation, we'll be upfront about whether we expect the ROI to be worth it in your case.
Do I need to also use you for tax preparation? +
We strongly recommend it. The person planning your tax year should be the same person preparing your return, that's how you get seamless execution. But it's not required. If you have a preparer you love, we can coordinate directly with them.
When during the year is best to start? +
Ideally, spring or early summer, right after last year's return is filed. That gives us three quarters to implement strategies for the current year. But if you're anticipating a major event (business sale, retirement, big equipment purchase), we can engage any time.
Is this only for the wealthy? +
Not exclusively, but the higher your tax exposure, the more sense it makes. Someone paying a moderate tax bill each year may find planning worthwhile if they have a business, own real estate, or have significant investment activity. We'll tell you honestly during consultation whether it's a fit.
From the Blog
Ready to Play Offense?
The discovery consultation is free. We'll assess whether planning makes sense for your situation and tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.
Schedule Discovery Consultation