Retirement Tax Services Podcast

This week, Steven is joined by Brian Smith from Foundational Income Associates to dive into the (unnecessarily) divisive topic of annuities. Brian and the team at Foundational Income Associates are so committed to helping as many advisors as possible on the topic of annuities that they have partnered with us on our annual Summit to make sure advisors know what resources are out there. Whatever your opinion of annuities, they are out there, and you need to understand how to help your clients navigate existing products or understand what options might be best suited for them. Brian pulls from years of experience to share the approaches to annuities that create the best outcomes for clients, which should be the goal of every financial advisor. https://zurl.co/rBOIK

In this discussion with Libby Greiwe, a seasoned financial advisor and author, listeners delve into the art of creating exceptional client experiences in tax planning. Libby shares her journey in building an efficient practice that prioritizes client satisfaction, likening it to the seamless service of Uber. They talk about the significance of streamlining the onboarding process, setting clear expectations during tax seasons, and continuously refining practices to meet client needs. Plus, Libby offers insights from her upcoming book to help elevate client interactions.

This week, Steven dives into international waters with special guest Renato Baccaro. Renato has spent years dedicated to creating a tool to help people navigate the rules and regulations of tax jurisdictions the world over. While it's not a simple question and one that might feel best left to the experts, where are you going to find those experts? More and more people see international travel, extended stays, and even relocation as a viable option and the tax laws just keep getting more complicated. Renato breaks his mission down very simply: you can get online and compare flight options and prices at the click of a button, he wants to create the tax equivalent for deciding where to live https://zurl.co/VwEuS

This week, Steven is joined by Belay's Head of Marketing (and a client of a Financial Advisor), Ryan Fitzgerald. Ryan's background and expertise is in marketing, but as the client of a financial advisor, he also is uniquely positioned to share how marketing effected who he ultimately chose as his advisor and what that means in the relationship. Steven and Ryan discuss a variety of topics, including the reality that everyone is already involved in marketing, some are just a bit more intentional about it. At the end of the day, you can be the best tax planner in the world, but you won't help a single person if they don't have a way to hear your message. https://zurl.co/KeIy3

Chad Huebsch, an enrolled agent and tax professional, shares his unique journey of rejecting financial advisor partnerships. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining independence while serving business owners. Chad discusses the complexities of tax planning versus financial planning and how critical it is to align expertise with client needs. He also offers valuable insights into proactive strategies every business owner should consider, including the merits of S-corporations and effective retirement plans. It's a revealing look at the tax landscape through the eyes of a seasoned expert.

In this episode, Steven is joined by Julia Carlson, an entrepreneur herself and a financial advisor focused on helping other entrepreneurs learn from her early "bumps". Steven and Julia talk through tax planning for beginners (new business owners just starting out) as well as tax planning that should be considered no matter how long you have been in business. Listen in as they talk through non-tax reasons for treating your business as a business and how to navigate leveling up as you get further in your journeying. Julia also shares how she managed to write her book in just 5 days! https://zurl.co/tBjHm

In this episode Steven is joined by a financial advisor who has been all about Crypto for over a decade, Tyrone Ross. Tyrone joins the join to talk about the tax implications of clients owning crypto and why all financial advisors need to be on top of this topic. Regardless of your opinions on the future of crypto, the reality is that more and more people are at least dabbling if not going all in, and right no,w the default tax reporting is not great. Steven and Tyrone give listeners actionable steps they can take to add value on this potentially painful topic https://zurl.co/BDFL5  

Robert Keebler, a seasoned CPA with decades of expertise in tax planning, shares invaluable insights for financial advisors. He discusses the shifting landscape of tax strategies and the crisis within the CPA community. Keebler emphasizes the importance of proactive tax planning and collaboration among financial professionals. He outlines practical strategies using technology and checklists to better serve clients while navigating the complex tax code. Additionally, Keebler highlights the essential role of communication in building relationships and enhancing referral networks.

Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist of FMG Suite and a marketing guru for financial advisors, discusses how to effectively weave tax planning into marketing strategies. She shares insights on using tax-related content to engage clients and drive conversations. Samantha emphasizes authenticity and simple communication adjustments that can dramatically enhance advisor-client relationships. The duo also explores the growing importance of video content and the art of repeating successful marketing messages for better engagement.

Taking a step outside the norm, Steven's guest this week is NOT a financial advisor or CPA; Tyler Smith just happens to be a taxpayer wishing he could get better help with tax planning. Tyler is a successful business owner and coach and has great insight to share about how to build trusted relationships and what would get him excited to pay for financial advice. Tyler was also generous enough to share experiences he's had and what he's learned from them along the way. Listen in as Steven and Tyler talk about ways financial advisors can deliver massive value and set themselves apart. https://zurl.co/76odg