Tax Planning and Financial Advice Under One Roof: A Smarter Way to Manage Wealth
In the modern financial world, clients increasingly seek a centralized team to manage all aspects of their financial life. It’s not enough for financial planning firms to offer investment advice, retirement strategies, and estate planning guidance - clients desire comprehensive services that also cover tax planning, preparation, and filing. Yet, it is exceedingly rare for a financial planning firm to employ a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who can prepare tax returns, provide tax projections, and communicate directly with tax authorities.
Firms that do offer this integrated service provide a distinct and unparalleled advantage.
A Seamless Experience: Tax Return Preparation and Financial Planning Under One Roof
Many advisory firms outsource tax preparation, which can lead to a fragmented experience for clients. The financial advisor may lack visibility into the return, while the outside tax preparer may not fully understand the broader financial plan, resulting in missed opportunities or miscommunication.
At Citrine Capital, our in-house CPA prepares your tax return with a full view of your investment portfolio, income sources, and financial goals. This alignment of your advisor and CPA ensures every part of your financial picture is accounted for. The result? A more coordinated, seamless experience with better-informed planning decisions.
Proactive Planning: Tax Projections and Strategic Decision-Making
Tax planning doesn’t end when your returns are filed. Our CPA delivers year-round projections that help you anticipate future tax liabilities and approach financial decisions with confidence.
With time to plan, you can act strategically, not just react to a tax bill. From navigating liquidity events to entering a new tax bracket or planning for financial independence, your CPA and advisory team work in tandem to design a cohesive, tax-efficient strategy that aligns with your broader goals.
A Responsive Year-Round Resource
At Citrine, our CPA can be your ongoing partner, available to address emerging questions and flag real-time opportunities. Whether you’re evaluating a business sale, considering a major gift, or weighing the tax impact of a large purchase, we’re here to guide you through the decision with clarity and precision.
Direct Representation Before Tax Authorities
Receiving an unexpected notice from the IRS or state taxing authorities can be a stressful experience. Resolving these issues on your own is frustrating and time consuming. With our CPA on your team, you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. We can respond directly to tax notices on your behalf, resolve discrepancies, negotiate payment plans, and represent you in audits. This in-house support saves you time, reduces anxiety, and ensures a faster and more seamless resolution without the need to bring in outside professionals.
Retrospective Review and Risk Reduction
As part of onboarding, our CPA conducts a thorough review of your prior tax returns - not just to find missed deductions or credits, but to identify any filing strategies that could be optimized or corrected. Even well-prepared returns can leave value on the table, especially in complex situations or under changing tax laws.
This review also helps flag high-risk positions or filing patterns that might attract IRS attention. By addressing those issues early, we reduce the chance of future notices or audits.
If penalties have already been assessed, we evaluate whether you qualify for relief based on reasonable cause, first-time abatement, or IRS errors. If you paid tax penalties in the past, there is a good chance that some or all of the penalty you paid can be refunded. In addition, because we actively monitor your tax situation year-round we’re often able to detect and resolve problems, such as underreported income or payment misapplication, before the IRS ever sends a notice.
Accurate Income Reporting and Correction
Missing a 1099 or underreporting income is one of the most common triggers for IRS notices. We take a proactive approach by verifying all income sources - especially those that are easy to overlook, like investment income, freelance work, or K-1 distributions.
If an issue is identified, our CPA can amend the return before the IRS steps in, avoiding penalties like the “Substantial Understatement” penalty.
Estimated Tax Payment Monitoring
If you’re making quarterly tax payments, staying organized is critical. Our CPA tracks payment amounts and deadlines to help avoid penalties. If a payment is credited incorrectly or applied to the wrong tax year - a surprisingly common occurrence - we’ll identify the issue and work with the IRS to correct it quickly.
Why It Matters
At Citrine Capital, we believe that integrated tax planning is essential to delivering true financial clarity. Having a CPA on staff isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a strategic advantage. From filing returns and optimizing tax strategy to resolving issues and preventing future problems, our CPA brings expertise that amplifies the value of your financial plan.
If you’re ready for a more seamless and coordinated financial experience, we’d love to talk.
About The Author
Jirayr Kembikian, CFP® is a wealth advisor, managing director and co-founder of Citrine Capital, a San Francisco-based wealth management and tax planning firm serving tech professionals, founders, and business owners. He specializes in navigating the complexities of equity compensation, private investments, and Bitcoin wealth strategies. With over a decade of experience guiding clients through liquidity events and complex financial decisions, Jirayr brings a grounded yet forward-thinking perspective to building and preserving wealth.