Tax planning advisor
Flames FP helps high-income, equity-compensation, and pre-retiree households review tax decisions before the year closes: withholding, stock plan vests and sales, giving, Roth conversions, and required distributions. Your CPA or tax preparer still prepares and files your returns unless you are an eligible Premier member.
Direct answer
A financial advisor for tax planning looks ahead at decisions that shape a future tax bill, such as withholding, equity compensation, charitable giving, Roth conversions, and required distributions. A CPA or tax preparer typically prepares and files returns. Many households use both, and results depend on individual circumstances.
What year-round tax planning may cover
A tax return reports what already happened. Planning looks forward while there is still time to act. Each area below pairs what planning may do with a limit to keep in mind. For the full guide to who handles what, see accountant vs. financial advisor.
Compares what is being withheld with what the household may owe, then reviews whether estimated payments are needed. Withholding is an estimate, so the final balance can still differ, and a CPA confirms how payments are reported.
Maps RSU vests, ESPP purchases, and option exercises against income, withholding, and diversification. Plan terms and company-specific rules vary, and holding a concentrated position carries investment risk that taxes do not capture. See RSU tax withholding and ESPP tax rules.
Reviews which accounts or assets may fund gifts and how timing could interact with the standard deduction or itemizing. Rules changed for 2026, and a gift that helps one household's return may not help another's.
Models how a conversion may change taxable income now and Medicare-related premiums later. A conversion adds income in the year it is made and generally cannot be undone. See Roth conversions and IRMAA.
Estimates the distribution, checks the deadline, and considers how it fits with other income. The amount depends on account balances and age, and missing a deadline can carry a penalty. See RMD tax planning.
Considers which investments sit in taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts. Moving holdings can create taxable gains, and the trade-offs differ by household. See asset location.
Who leads what
The grid describes typical scope, not a ranking. Any individual advisor, CPA, or preparer may do more or less, so confirm scope in writing. This information is educational and is not tax or legal advice.
| Tax planning task | What advisor planning may cover | What a CPA or preparer typically leads | Where they coordinate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withholding and estimated payments | Compares withholding with a projected tax bill and flags possible gaps before year-end | Prepares the return, computes the actual balance due, and may advise on payment amounts | Share year-to-date pay stubs and last year's return so projections use the same figures |
| Equity compensation | Reviews vest dates, sale timing, and concentration alongside the rest of the plan | Reports stock income and basis on the return and confirms how plan forms are treated | Exchange year-end equity statements before any sale is placed |
| Charitable giving | Reviews which accounts or assets may fund gifts and the timing of those gifts | Confirms whether gifts are deductible on the return and what records are required | Agree on the planned gift amount before December 31 so records match |
| Roth conversions | Models how a conversion may change taxable income and Medicare-related thresholds | Reports the conversion on the return and confirms the taxable portion | Settle on a projected income figure before the conversion amount is chosen |
| Required minimum distributions | Estimates the amount, timing, and how it interacts with other income | Confirms how distributions are reported and whether withholding or estimates apply | Confirm the year-end account balance used for the calculation |
| Return preparation and filing | Planning includes a planning-focused review of one completed personal return, but not preparation or filing. Premier includes eligible individual return preparation and filing through Flames FP's designated independent tax partner | Prepares and files returns, and may represent you in a notice or audit, which Flames FP does not | Provide the filed return so next year's plan starts from actual figures |
| Complex or business situations | Flags the planning questions and coordinates with your other professionals | Handles business, trust, estate, and amended returns, and specialized tax questions | Name one lead contact for each open question so nothing is dropped |
Year-end planning checklist
Figures below come from IRS sources and are current as of November 8, 2026. Rules and limits change, so confirm them before acting. This is general information, not a recommendation, and results depend on individual circumstances.
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help wage earners review federal withholding, and its result depends on accurate inputs. Under the optional flat-rate method, employers may withhold federal income tax on supplemental wages such as bonuses and stock vests at 22%, or 37% on supplemental wages over $1 million in a calendar year (IRS Publication 15 (2026)). Employers also withhold the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200,000 (IRS Topic 751). Those are withholding methods, not final tax rates, so the total withheld may be higher or lower than the tax owed.
The fourth 2026 estimated payment is due January 15, 2027. If 2025 adjusted gross income was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately for 2026), the prior-year safe harbor uses 110% of 2025 tax instead of 100% (2026 Form 1040-ES and IRS Publication 505). A safe harbor is one test, and your CPA can confirm how it applies. More on vest withholding: RSU tax withholding.
The IRS generally treats RSUs as compensation when shares are delivered, with the fair market value at that point included in wages and later gain or loss measured from that basis (IRS Publication 525). For an employee stock purchase plan, a qualifying sale generally requires holding the shares more than one year after purchase and two years after the grant date (IRS stock options FAQ). Selling before or after December 31 can change which tax year reports the result, and selling to cut a concentrated position may create a taxable gain. See ESPP tax rules and concentrated stock tax strategy.
For 2026, taxpayers who do not itemize may be able to deduct up to $1,000 of qualifying cash gifts to eligible charities ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). Gifts to donor-advised funds generally do not qualify for that deduction (IRS Publication 6196). For itemizers, beginning in 2026 only charitable contributions above 0.5% of adjusted gross income are deductible (IRS Publication 505). Gifts generally need to be made in 2026 to count for 2026, and records are required.
A conversion from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is reported on Form 8606 for the year it is made, and conversions made after 2017 cannot be recharacterized (IRS retirement plans FAQs regarding IRAs). The added income may affect tax brackets and Medicare premiums in later years, and the right amount, if any, depends on the household's income picture. See Roth conversions and IRMAA.
Required minimum distributions generally start at age 73 or 75 depending on birth year. After the first year, the distribution is due by December 31 each year. The first one may be delayed until April 1 of the following year, which can put two distributions in one tax year. Roth IRAs have no required distributions while the owner is alive (IRS retirement topics: RMDs). See RMD tax planning for the birth-year rules.
IRS sources accessed November 8, 2026. Dollar amounts and thresholds are those the IRS lists for 2026 and may change.
How Flames FP scopes tax work
Membership details, tax-return scope, and eligibility rules are on Tax Planning and Filing. For a plain-language comparison of advisors that include filing, read financial advisor with tax filing. Current fees are on pricing.
Flames Planning includes proactive tax guidance and a planning-focused review of one completed personal tax return, but not preparation or filing. Your CPA or preparer continues to prepare and file.
Eligible Flames Premier members receive individual tax-return preparation and filing through Flames FP's designated independent tax partner. Flames FP provides financial planning and coordination; the tax partner prepares and files the return, and eligibility conditions apply.
Tax planning here is educational and planning-focused. Flames FP does not provide legal advice or represent you in a tax notice or audit, and a CPA or attorney may be needed for complex business, trust, or estate matters.
How it works
The same process applies year-round, not only in November. See how Flames FP works for the full path.
Talk through the tax decisions ahead, what planning work may be useful, and whether Planning or Premier fits. The meeting does not commit you to anything.
Share recent pay stubs, equity statements, account statements, and a completed return so projections start from actual figures.
Walk through the decisions that could change this year's or next year's tax, and agree on what to take to your CPA or preparer.
Planning is ongoing. Vests, sales, retirement dates, and tax rules change, so the review is repeated rather than done once.
Who this page is for
Fit depends on household complexity and the services needed. Tax planning may add cost, and some straightforward situations are handled well by a CPA alone.
Common questions
Many do, within limits. A financial advisor may help plan around withholding, equity compensation, charitable giving, Roth conversions, and required distributions. Preparing and filing returns is typically done by a CPA or tax preparer, unless the advisor's service specifically includes it. Scope varies by firm, so confirm what is included in writing.
Tax preparation reports and files what happened during the year. Tax planning looks at decisions before or during the year to understand potential tax consequences and the choices available. For a fuller comparison of the two roles, see the guide to accountant vs. financial advisor.
Households often review withholding and estimated payments, equity vesting and planned sales, charitable giving, Roth conversion decisions, and required minimum distributions. The year-end checklist above lists IRS sources and as-of dates for each item. Which items matter depends on individual circumstances.
Flames Planning includes proactive tax guidance and a planning-focused review of one completed personal tax return, but not preparation or filing. Eligible Flames Premier members receive individual tax-return preparation and filing through Flames FP's designated independent tax partner. To qualify for a tax year's return, the client must join Premier by September 30 of that tax year and remain an active Premier member through filing.
Yes, planning can model how a Roth conversion may change taxable income and later Medicare-related premiums. A conversion adds taxable income in the year it is made, and conversions generally cannot be undone, so the amount depends on the household's full income picture. See the Roth conversions and IRMAA guide for details.
The two overlap. A financial advisor can coordinate the financial and tax side of estate planning, such as beneficiary designations and account titling. An estate planning attorney drafts legal documents and gives legal advice. See the estate planning page for how the roles divide.
Sources and review
Written by Joel Miller, CFP. Last reviewed November 8, 2026.
This page is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax rules and thresholds change, and individual circumstances differ. No tax result is promised or implied. Consult a qualified CPA or tax professional about your situation.
Next step
Schedule a discovery meeting to discuss your withholding, equity compensation, giving, and retirement tax questions, and whether Planning or Premier fits your household.
