Why Smart Tax Planning Isn’t Just for Tax Season

April 7, 2025

Most people think about taxes once a year—usually in a rush. But when it comes to your long-term financial success, proactive tax planning can make a meaningful difference.



At Kickstand Wealth Advisors, we view tax planning as a key part of your overall financial strategy—not an afterthought. It’s not just about reducing this year’s bill. It’s about minimizing your lifetime tax burden so you can keep more of what you’ve earned.

What Is Tax Planning?

Tax planning is the process of reviewing your tax return with a forward-looking lens. Unlike tax prep (what your CPA does in April), tax planning is strategic. It helps you identify opportunities to reduce taxes both now and in the future.



That includes looking at your investments, income sources, withdrawals, deductions, and more—through the lens of how they impact your total tax liability over time.

Why It Matters

For many high earners, taxes are one of the biggest expenses in retirement—often even bigger than housing or healthcare. Without a plan, you may pay more than you need to.


Take this example:


A retiree who draws from their Traditional IRA without tax planning might pay over $794,000 in federal taxes. With proactive strategies in place, that number could be reduced to $684,000—a savings of more than $110,000 over time.


That's the power of a plan.

Opportunities We Explore

During our tax planning process, we look for strategies that fit your personal situation. These might include:



  • Roth IRA Conversions – Convert traditional accounts to Roth to create tax-free income later.
  • Tax-Efficient Investing – Structure portfolios to reduce capital gains exposure.
  • Tax-Loss Harvesting – Offset gains by realizing strategic losses in your investments.
  • Charitable Giving Strategies – Use donor-advised funds or qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to give and save.
  • Retirement Withdrawal Optimization – Coordinate your income sources to minimize taxes and avoid costly Medicare surcharges (IRMAA).
  • Business Owner Tax Strategies – Coordinate income, deductions, and business structure for optimal efficiency.

Our 10-Point Tax Return Review

We analyze key details in your return to help shape our recommendations. Here are a few examples of what we review:


  • Marginal & Effective Tax Rates – Understand where you are and where the next dollar is taxed.
  • Qualified Dividends & Capital Gains – Identify opportunities for more tax-efficient income.
  • Phaseouts & Credits – Make sure you’re not missing out on key deductions.
  • IRMAA Surcharges – Plan around income thresholds that affect Medicare premiums.
  • Itemized vs. Standard Deduction – Use “bunching” and other strategies to maximize deductions.



You'll receive a personalized tax observation report with our findings and suggestions.

It's Not About Avoiding Taxes—It's About Planning Around Them

At Kickstand, we believe in from complex to clear. We’re here to help you see the big picture and take smart, thoughtful steps that support your goals—without unnecessary complexity or last-minute scrambling.



You don’t have to be a tax expert. You just need the right partner.

Want to see how proactive tax planning could benefit you?

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