How to Use a Client’s Tax Return to Map Financial Success

For most people, a tax return is the most consistent, if not the only, measure of their financial life. Investment statements can be glossed over, and credit scores can be ignored, but like clockwork, the IRS comes back every year asking all of us to take inventory. This can create a massive opportunity for financial advisors if they know where to look. Whether serving existing clients or courting prospects, the tax return gives an advisor a consistent tool to understand where a person is financially and what opportunities might be available to them.

View The Full Article Here

Recommended Articles

State Tax Tips for Financial Advisors

When Congress changes federal tax law, it always dominates the headlines, but the IRS' portion of a taxpayer’s income is only part of the story. Every state has their own unique set of tax rules, and it is not enough for financial advisors to be versed in the rules of their home state. Eight states have no individual income tax. For the other states, there are 42 different sets of rules on what type of income is taxed, how it is taxed, at what rate it is taxed and whether where you work or where you live is more important. Then one could wade into local taxes, with nearly 5,000 jurisdictions in 17 states imposing a local income tax, which can treat nonresidents differently than residents.

Read More

Are You Planning for Your IRS “Mortgage”?

When is $500,000 not $500,000?   Conventional wisdom on preparing for retirement has often included refrains such as “become debt-free” and “defer, defer, defer”. There are situations where both of […]

Read More

Advisor Alert: IRS “Dirty Dozen” of Tax Fraud

Background: IRS Fraud Themes   Fraud is an unfortunate fact of life. Taxes are not an exception to the prevalence of identity theft today.   In fact, every year the […]

Read More

The information on this site is for education only and should not be considered tax advice. Retirement Tax Services is not affiliated with Shilanski & Associates, Jarvis Financial Services or any other financial services firms.

Contact Us