Retirement Tax Services Podcast

This week, we take a break from technical tax and dive into a question that Steven gets all the time: "How do I use tax topics to get new clients?". Joining Steven to cover this topic is Hilary Gale, founder of Moneta Copy, a marketing agency focused on helping financial advisors. Steven and Hilary discuss how their own marketing efforts produce results and give tangible suggestions that advisors can put into practice to accelerate growth and get stuff done in the real world.  

We are all about consistently applying the simple things over time, but that doesn't stop clients from asking, "What else"? In this episode, Steven is joined by Steve Blackwell, CEO of Invito Energy Partners, who shares his experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry and the investment and tax planning opportunities that the industry presents. This discussion is a combination of technical learning on an important topic, along with the ever-important piece: "How do I explain this to a client?" Listen to the end as Steve provides opportunities to learn more and get resources on this important topic. https://zurl.co/0k473

Steven is once again joined by Brian Smith, representing our partners at Foundational Income Associates. In this episode, Steven and Brian cover some of the basics on annuities because in spite of some of the headlines on social media, just in the last few years, the amount of money going into these products is at the trillion mark. Brian shares key definitions and meaningful ways to break down complex topics, while Steven highlights how these products will show up on a client's tax return at various stages of the annuity life cycle. Whether you actively recommend annuities or simply have clients who come to you with them already in place, this episode will deliver valuable information you can put in action. https://zurl.co/Qc2tM

In this discussion, Russell Kroeger, Founder and CEO of Trayecto, shares his expertise as a financial advisor and tax professional. He dives into the complexities of equity compensation, emphasizing the importance of understanding tax implications for various types. Russell reveals common pitfalls that lead to clients facing hefty tax burdens and stresses the need for clear communication between advisors and clients. He also discusses valuable resources for navigating these challenges and offers strategies to optimize tax outcomes for those receiving equity-based compensation.

In this episode, Steven is joined by the CEO of Altruist, Jason Wenk, to talk about a reporting issue that happened at multiple custodians this last tax filing season. Jason openly shares what happened, how it happened, how Altruist responded, and shares a little insight along the way of what it's like to build a tech-forward custodian platform. This episode is a must listen as Jason gives an incredible example of how to be a leader in spite of challenges and shares some of the exciting things that Altruist has in store in the future. Be sure and listen to the full episode and be ready to take notes as Jason shares clear action steps any leader can take when faced with challenges. https://zurl.co/5iyi5

This week, Steven is joined by George Stefanou to talk tax planning and book writing. George is part of a growing group of advisors who have written books around financial planning to build credibility and to bolster their marketing. George shares the process he went through to become a published author and the reason tax planning features so heavily in that book, even though he is not a CPA or Enrolled Agent. Check out George's LinkedIn profile and his background so you can finally let go of any notion that compliance has to be a limiting factor. https://zurl.co/BmsPS

In this episode, Steven tackles a common question from Financial Advisors when tax planning comes up: "How do I find the time to get the work done?" Joining Steven for this discussion is Lloyd Ross, an entrepreneur and author of "Become Time Rich". Steven and Lloyd discuss the realities of their being limited time, but that some people are simply able to get more done in that time. Lloyd shares from his experience and his upcoming book to give listeners a framework for how to take action and take back their time. https://zurl.co/7OWtt

Mando Sallavanti, a savvy Financial Advisor with MassMutual, dives into the world of taxes and client relationships. He shares how mastering tax strategies helped him reduce client liabilities and the value of finding a quality CPA—even if it means paying more. Mando’s success also lies in his engaging LinkedIn content, which drives nearly 75% of his new clients. Explore his insights on the importance of collaboration in tax advisory and the necessity of sharing personal experiences for enhancing client trust and service.

Steven is joined by Gideon Drucker, a financial advisor who has gone all in on being at the center of his clients' financial lives, even when that means bringing in outside resources. Every advisor talks about "being the quarterback" of their client's financial life, but Gideon has taken it to another level by actively managing and building relationships with key service providers instead of taking the industry approach of making a brief introduction and hoping for the best. Gideon shares his experience with how challenging but rewarding it can be to invest the time and energy to build productive relationships and the strategic additions he's made to his team to make sure his clients ultimately win. Gideon also shares his experience with transitioning to an independent model for running his firm and how he manages to not drive his team crazy with the high volume of ideas and projects he's excited to implement. https://zurl.co/Hx4l7

It's easy to think that we are all expert communicators...but is it true? This week, Steven is joined by Matt Halloran, author, podcast host, keynote speaker, and an all-around incredible resource when it comes to the way advisors communicate, to share insight and personal experiences when it comes to how a person goes about communicating more effectively. Steven and Matt share personal stories of their own journeys to become better communicators and pull out the tips and best practices that have helped them excel along the way. Naturally, Steven weaves in the tax piece of this conversation, which becomes all the tax knowledge in the world that counts for squat if you can't communicate it in a way that inspires action. https://zurl.co/ixltx