Tax Planning Diagnostic

For $1,200, I'll analyze your last two tax returns and year to date pay stubs, plus your current investment tax efficiency and deliver a written report identifying the tax-positioning issues in your current setup, what you can do by year end, and a list of strategies that apply to your situation.

You'll receive this written report within two weeks of providing your documents. It also includes a 60-minute walkthrough session with me to ensure it all makes sense. And if you are not satisfied with the written report for any reason within 30 days, I provide a no questions asked refund.

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The Problem

"You're W-2. There's not much you can do."

There's some truth to it. But that doesn't mean your taxes should be on autopilot.

Your bonus, RSUs, 401(k) elections, pension, deferred compensation, investment accounts, charitable giving, and withholding all have tax consequences. The problem is that they're usually handled separately.

• Your tax preparer sees your situation after the year is over.
• Your investment advisor manages your portfolio.
• Your HR department manages your benefits.

And nobody steps back and asks: How do all of these decisions work together from a tax perspective?

That's the gap this diagnostic solves.

If you've never had someone look at your tax returns, pay stub, benefits, investment accounts, and deferred compensation together, this diagnostic is designed to give you that view.

The five levels of tax planning

I don't start with complicated strategies. I start with the basics and work up from there.

1. Understand where you are today
Your current tax position: income, withholding, contributions, accounts, benefits, deductions, and what is actually driving your tax bill.

2. Eliminate unnecessary taxes, penalties, and costs
Fix the easy stuff first. Missed deductions, poor withholding, avoidable penalties, contribution mistakes, and other issues that don't require an advanced strategy.

3. Take advantage of the elections and deferrals available to you
401(k) contribution choices, HSA funding, deferred compensation, ESPP decisions, charitable timing, and other elections that can materially change your tax picture.

4. Make sure your portfolio isn't being taxed unnecessarily
Look at how investments are positioned across taxable, traditional retirement, Roth, pension, and other accounts. The question isn't just what you own, but where you own it.

5. Evaluate advanced strategies
Roth conversions, mega backdoor Roth, net unrealized appreciation, charitable bunching, backdoor Roth planning, and multi-year tax planning, but only when they actually make sense.

Nothing advanced gets recommended while something basic is still broken.

What I review

• Your last two federal tax returns, including schedules
• Your most recent pay stub
• Relevant investment account statements
• 401(k), pension, and benefits information
• Deferred compensation plan documents, if applicable
• Other information relevant to your particular situation

What you'll receive

You receive a written report covering:

Your current tax position - Where you stand today and what's driving your tax liability.

Your tax trajectory - -What your tax picture could look like over the next several years if nothing changes, along with alternative scenarios where they're useful.

Your deferred compensation decision - If you're eligible, I'll look at whether participating makes sense, how much you might consider deferring, and how the available distribution options fit with your expected income and retirement timeline.

Deferred compensation also comes with a risk that shouldn't be overlooked: it's generally an unsecured obligation of your employer. That's part of the analysis.

Your opportunities, prioritized - Not a laundry list of every tax strategy I've ever heard of. A prioritized list of the things that may actually matter for you, including:

• What the strategy is
• Why it may apply to you
• The potential benefit
• The tradeoffs or risks
• What it would take to implement

Depending on your situation, areas reviewed may include:

Mega backdoor Roth | Net unrealized appreciation | Roth vs. traditional contributions | Bonus and RSU withholding | HSA positioning | Charitable bunching | Roth conversion windows | Backdoor Roth and the pro-rata rule | Asset location

The goal isn't to recommend everything.

The goal is to identify what actually applies to you.

And if your setup is already sound, I'll tell you that too.

What this is not

Not tax preparation: I don't prepare or file your tax return.

Not a pitch: The flat fee means the report is the product. Take it to your CPA, share it with your advisor, implement it yourself, or continue the conversation with me. There's no obligation either way.

Not a promise of specific tax savings: The analysis is based on your actual circumstances, current law, and clearly stated assumptions. Where there's uncertainty, I'll say so.

Who this is for

This is primarily for high-earning W-2 professionals who have more going on than a salary and a 401(k).

It tends to be particularly useful if you have some combination of:

• Salary + bonus
• RSUs or other equity compensation
• A 401(k) and pension
• Deferred compensation
• Multiple investment accounts
• Charitable giving
• A Recent job change
• A recent or upcoming retirement
• A complicated benefits package

Timing matters

There are two deadlines worth paying attention to:

• Deferred compensation enrollment: For most plans, the election window for next year closes soon. Once it closes, the election is generally locked.
• December 31: Everything else, including contribution changes, Roth conversions, charitable timing, and withholding adjustments, generally needs to be handled before the end of the year.

A report in hand two weeks from now gives you time to make decisions while the decisions are still available.

How it works

1. Sign up below: Fill out a short questionnaire, upload your documents, sign the agreement, and pay the fee.
2. I'll review and analyze. If something raises a question, I'll reach out. Otherwise, the next time you hear from me, your report is ready.
3. You get the report back within 2 weeks. Plus the option for a 45-minute Zoom call to walk through the findings and answer your questions.
4. Implement it yourself, take it to your CPA, share it with your advisor, or keep working with me.

There's no requirement to become an ongoing client.

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