💰 Tax Planning

Find a Tax-Focused Financial Advisor

Tax strategy is where most investors leave the most money on the table. Fee-only advisors who integrate tax planning with investment management.

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What Tax-Focused Advisors Do

Taxes are the single most controllable drag on investment returns. A tax-focused advisor attacks them systematically.

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Roth Conversion Strategy

Converting traditional IRA funds to Roth during low-income years can save six figures in lifetime taxes. A specialist identifies your optimal conversion window and amount.

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Tax-Loss Harvesting

Selling losing positions to offset gains reduces your tax bill without reducing market exposure. A disciplined advisor executes this systematically every year.

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Asset Location

Putting the right investments in the right account types (taxable vs. IRA vs. Roth) can add 0.5%–1% per year in after-tax returns without changing your risk profile at all.

Who Benefits Most from Tax-Focused Advising?

✓ You have assets spread across multiple account types (401k, IRA, Roth, taxable brokerage)
✓ You're approaching retirement and want to manage your tax bracket through Roth conversions
✓ You received a large windfall (inheritance, business sale, RSU vest) with capital gains implications
✓ You're self-employed with multiple income streams and want to minimize self-employment taxes
✓ You have significant unrealized gains in a taxable brokerage and want a thoughtful exit strategy
✓ You want to optimize charitable giving through donor-advised funds or qualified charitable distributions

Questions to ask when hiring

"Do you integrate tax planning with investment decisions throughout the year?"
"How do you approach Roth conversion decisions?"
"Do you coordinate with a client's CPA, or do you handle tax planning in-house?"
"Are you a fiduciary and fee-only?"

Cost of Tax-Focused Financial Planning

Tax planning advisors may charge AUM, flat fee, or hourly, flat fee and AUM both include ongoing tax optimization.

One-time tax plan

$1,500–$4,000

Roth conversion analysis, asset location audit, optimization roadmap

Annual flat fee

$3,000–$10,000/yr

Ongoing tax-integrated planning, worth it for complex situations

AUM with tax overlay

0.5%–1% / yr

Common at larger RIA firms for portfolios $250K+

Frequently Asked Questions

What is asset location in investing? ▼

Asset location means holding different types of investments in the most tax-efficient account type. Tax-inefficient assets (bonds, REITs, high-dividend funds) belong in tax-advantaged accounts (IRA, 401k). Tax-efficient assets (index funds, growth stocks) are better held in taxable accounts. Done well, asset location can add 0.5%–1% per year in after-tax returns.

What is a Roth conversion and when does it make sense? ▼

A Roth conversion moves money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA. You pay income tax on the converted amount now, but all future growth and withdrawals are tax-free. Conversions are most powerful during low-income years, early retirement before Social Security kicks in, a year between jobs, or a year of large deductible expenses.

Do I need a CPA or a financial advisor for tax planning? ▼

Ideally both, or a CFP® who has strong tax expertise and coordinates closely with a CPA. A CPA handles your tax return and retroactive tax planning. A CFP® with tax expertise handles forward-looking tax strategy: optimizing which accounts to draw from, when to harvest losses, how to structure income. Some advisors hold both credentials (CFP® + CPA/PFS), which is the most powerful combination.

Stop leaving money on the table

A fee-only advisor with tax expertise can add more value than almost any other financial decision you make.