Where generalists get it wrong
A high-net-worth return outgrows a generalist CPA.
K-1s filed without coordinating the payments behind them
Multiple pass-through K-1s get filed on time, but the estimated payments behind them were never coordinated across entities — so the combined tax impact only becomes clear in April, after the quarters that could have absorbed it are gone.
Equity compensation AMT exposure caught after the exercise
Incentive stock options and other equity comp create AMT exposure that’s straightforward to model before you exercise — and far more expensive to discover afterward, when the option to plan around it has already closed.
Charitable giving done in cash when stock would have worked harder
Appreciated stock held over a year can be donated at full market value with no capital gains tax on the appreciation — a strategy skipped when a CPA defaults every gift to cash without asking what’s actually in the portfolio.
What we handle
The parts of a high-net-worth return that actually move the number.
K-1s filed without coordinating the payments behind them
Multiple pass-through K-1s get filed on time, but the estimated payments behind them were never coordinated across entities — so the combined tax impact only becomes clear in April, after the quarters that could have absorbed it are gone.
Equity compensation AMT exposure caught after the exercise
Incentive stock options and other equity comp create AMT exposure that’s straightforward to model before you exercise — and far more expensive to discover afterward, when the option to plan around it has already closed.
Charitable giving done in cash when stock would have worked harder
Appreciated stock held over a year can be donated at full market value with no capital gains tax on the appreciation — a strategy skipped when a CPA defaults every gift to cash without asking what’s actually in the portfolio.
K-1 income still needs a return filed correctly and on time — see our personal tax service for the ongoing filing work underneath this planning.
How we work with your other advisors
One tax specialist, coordinating with your advisors.
We don't do trust formation or entity structuring — that's your attorney's job, and we work directly with them. What we own is making sure the tax strategy actually reflects what they've built, instead of the two functioning separately.
A financial advisor restructures a portfolio; we make sure the return actually reflects it. An estate attorney drafts a trust; we advise on the tax elections that go with it.
Key facts · current tax law
Three high-net-worth tax numbers worth knowing.
20% + 3.8% NIIT
Long-term capital gains are taxed at 20% at the top bracket, plus the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax under IRC §1411. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, up to 37%.
Appreciated stock, held 1+ year
Donating it directly avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation entirely, while still deducting full fair market value — often stronger than donating cash.
AMT triggers
Most commonly incentive stock options and large state/local tax positions — both plannable in advance, not just reportable after the fact.
General information, not individualized advice — every situation is different, and a discovery call is the right next step for specifics.
Last reviewed July 2026 · reflects current federal tax law
In their words
“Every conversation starts with the numbers already reviewed. I've never had to explain my own situation twice.”
High-net-worth client
Common questions · FAQ
High-net-worth tax questions, answered.
Begin
Talk to a CPA who speaks high-net-worth returns.
Step 1
Discovery call
A complimentary 20-minute call to see whether we're a good fit — no pitch, no obligation.
Step 2
The Partner Review
We review your returns, entities, and K-1s — a partner, personally — and present a written plan.
Step 3
Implement & advise
We put the plan to work and coordinate with your other advisors all year.
Complimentary · Confidential
Begin with a conversation.
Twenty minutes with a partner — no cost, and no obligation to go further. Pick a time below.