Tax season is almost upon us and if you haven’t started planning for it, you’re late. Most small business owners and real estate investors have a small, expert team working with them for tax planning and investments, but for those individual investors, DIY or otherwise, tax time is always tricky. If you’re already working with a financial planner Orlando, you have the benefit of working with an investor who’s also helping you with tax planning. However if your current financial advisor doesn’t assist with your tax planning, here’s 4 reasons why you should find a new financial planner who will help with your taxes.
Your Financial Planner Knows More About Your Finances
There’s a great chance that your financial expert sees more of your financials than your accountant does. This is usually because they will find more success by knowing more about your spending habits and financial goals. As most advisors don’t charge per hour, clients are inclined to share every bit of information with them.
Accountants tend to be thought of as strictly tax people, so a client generally won’t ask them other financial questions if there is not an obvious and direct link to a tax question. This equates to your financial planner knowing much more and having more of an impact on your taxes than your accountant, and why they should certainly be working with you to tax plan.
Your Financial Planner Has More of an Impact on Your Taxes
We already know that they know more about your financial details. Whether it’s investments, retirement, annuities, or other financial questions, your financial expert is the cornerstone of your financial strategy. This long list of financial questions also has tax implications, but your accountant can’t help with this type of preparation because it’s not what they do. Additionally, they can’t offer guidance until their tax season slows down, which is too late. Your advisor, on the other hand, already knows your finances inside and out, and is aware of the big picture plan. They are in the perfect position to help you regarding the tax impact of your financial decisions.
One Tax Mistake Can be Catastrophic
Financial advisors pride themselves on outperforming the market. Obviously no guarantees can be made, but they are truly experts in their field and often show examples of their superior investment performance. If they are able to make you alpha, or additional earnings, it’s generally a small percentage point. Meaningful, but not yet tangible. But if they make a mistake that ends up costing you more in taxes, it can wipe out your alpha earnings and hurt twice as badly because paying a tax bill is tangible. It’s actual money coming out of your pocket and going straight into Uncle Sam’s. Your advisor should always be trying to keep money in your pocket and keep the government’s hands out of it.
Tax Efficiency is The Best Investment Strategy
Simply put; the more money you have to invest, the more money you can earn. Because taxes are a zero-sum game, every penny you keep is a penny of yours that the government doesn’t have. Those who are tax savvy and able to keep their tax bills lower, are the ones with more money to spend or invest. Whereas others, who are not tax focused, end up having to commit more money to the government, which results in less capital to invest with, and thus making it harder to accumulate wealth.
Ask your current advisor about tax prep and if they don’t offer it, or charge more for it, find a new financial expert who will tackle it with you. When you work with a financial planner who is able to incorporate tax planning into your big picture, financial strategy, the result is financial success.
