Retirement Tax Services Podcast

Steven is joined this week by a fellow CPA, Jennifer Climo, who was an early trend setter when it came to bridging the gap between tax and financial planning. Jennifer shares her journey of seeing the value in truly comprehensive planning and the growth of her firm as their service offering has evolved.  She goes into detail on how systems have made all the difference in both their value to clients and their ability to recruit and train top talent. Steven and Jennifer also discuss the recent RTS Summit and the impact it had on all attendees.  

In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, recaps the highlights and key takeaways from Summit 2025, where nearly 300 financial advisors came together to elevate their tax planning, client engagement, and marketing strategies. Steven shares how the event has grown into a hub for professional development, team building, and innovative tools that help advisors deliver more value to clients. From actionable steps to refining tax strategies to creating a positive client impact, Steven reflects on what made this year's summit stand out, and what's coming for Summit 2026.  

In this episod,e Steven is joined by David Podell, a true specialist in the world of defined benefit plans. More traditional retirement accounts get a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Solo K's and SEP IRAs are more universally applicable, but for the right business owner, a defined benefit plan can supercharge their ability to put away qualified money. David shares from his extensive experience working alongside taxpayers and other financial advisors to design, implement and execute defined benefit plans. This episode is a must-listen for any financial advisor who is a business owner or works with them. https://zurl.co/Hjl5Y

This week, Steven is joined by Mark Cecchini, Director of Wealth Solutions at Quadrant Capital, to share his experience prepping tax returns early in his financial planning career. Mark didn't plan on tax prep, but worked for multiple firms that had taxes at their foundation and was voluntold to get his hands on the tax prep process. Mark shares the lessons he learned and insight he gained from fully preparing tax returns and what it has meant throughout his career. https://zurl.co/2OHlE

This week, Steven is rejoined by Micah Shilanski to once again share wisdom and perspective on all things tax planning. They kick off the episode talking about whether tax rates staying the same under O3BA changes their approach to Roth conversions (it doesn't) and share best practices for how to effectively communicate the value and execution of Roth conversions. Steven and Micah also run through key provisions of the newest tax law change that impact their clients and what they are and aren't going to spend their time on as the year wraps up. https://zurl.co/iXixr

Steven is once again joined this week by Brian Smith from FIA to talk about something that will effect nearly every financial advisor at some point in their career: annuities that are no longer meeting client needs. 1 in 5 retirees have an annuity product of some kind, so it's a matter of "when", not "if," advisors will come across products that need to be evaluated to determine if they still fit in a client's plan appropriately. Brian provides a real-life example of how FIA recently helped an advisor navigate this challenge and ultimate help the client win.  https://zurl.co/Uhf0Y

This week, Steven is joined by a fellow CPA, Brad Wooten, to discuss what the major tax law changes mean for tax preparers for the next filing season. This is a valuable discussion for financial advisors to gain insight into what this next tax filing season will be like for their clients' tax pros and how the advisor can help create better client outcomes through proactive communication. Brad and Steven share a perspective on the logistics of going from Congress passing a bill to tax returns actually getting filed, and what it means for the pressure and timing clients will experience this year. Steven and Brad also walk through why the big beautiful bill might not feel all that big on a client's tax return because a lot of the hype was around planned rate increases not taking effect. https://zurl.co/u11dy

David Haughton, Senior Corporate Counsel at Wealth.com, specializes in the intricate dance between estate and tax planning. He discusses the profound implications of the Big Beautiful Bill and warns against the perils of default planning. Haughton emphasizes the necessity of customized strategies for individuals and underlines the critical role technology plays in modern estate planning. He also highlights the urgency brought by recent legislative changes, urging advisors to equip clients with the right tools for proactive estate management.

TJ Bruce, a financial advisor with Swan Wealth, accidentally ventured into tax preparation after acquiring a book of business. He shares his journey learning tax preparation and the unexpected value it brings to clients, leading him to pursue his EA designation. The conversation dives into the complexities of integrating tax services into financial planning, the emotional aspects clients face, and the benefits of specialization in serving retirees. TJ emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience and collaboration to enhance tax strategy and client relationships.

Parker Ence, CEO and co-founder of JumpAI, shares insights on harnessing AI for financial advisors to transform tax planning. He discusses the origin of Jump and its rapid growth in the industry. Parker reveals how this AI tool enhances client meetings, providing 'pictures' of actions taken and insights gained. The conversation emphasizes the importance of data in client interactions and navigating ever-evolving tax concerns, showcasing strategies for building trust and improving outcomes through proactive dialogue.