Tax Planning and Preparation
Keep more of what you’ve earned with precision and confidence.
At Waterstone Financial, taxes aren’t an afterthought; they’re a vital part of your long-term financial success. We integrate proactive, strategic tax planning into every stage of your wealth journey to help you minimize liability, preserve wealth, and avoid costly surprises. While we don’t file tax returns, we ensure that your tax strategy is smart, efficient, and aligned with your overall financial goals.
1. Clarify Our Role & Compliance
Your trusted guide within clearly defined boundaries.
Our advisors are not CPAs or attorneys, but we are financial strategists who understand the role taxes play in building, distributing, and preserving wealth. We focus on tax strategy, not tax preparation, and work collaboratively with your existing tax professionals (or refer you to trusted partners) to ensure your plan remains compliant and effective.
We provide:
Clear documentation of how tax planning fits into your overall strategy.
Guidance on integrating tax considerations into investment and income decisions.
Coordination with your CPA or estate attorney to align all moving parts.
Outcome: A clear, proactive partnership that respects legal boundaries and maximizes tax-smart strategy.
2. Strategize Tax-Efficient Withdrawals & Conversions
Shape your retirement income to minimize taxation.
How and when you take money from your accounts can dramatically affect your lifetime tax bill. We model your withdrawal strategies to make sure you’re using the most efficient path.
We help you:
Optimize the timing of Roth conversions during low-income years.
Manage Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) proactively.
Sequence withdrawals from taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts.
Avoid income “cliffs” that impact Social Security or Medicare premiums.
Outcome: A lifetime withdrawal strategy that balances tax savings, income stability, and long-term flexibility.
3. Optimize Investment & Asset Location
Place the right investments in the right accounts.
Tax-efficient investing is about more than performance, it’s about where your investments live. We build portfolios that not only align with your risk and goals but also optimize your after-tax returns.
We help you:
Use asset location to separate tax-efficient from tax-inefficient assets.
Manage capital gains exposure within taxable accounts.
Apply tax-loss harvesting and charitable gifting strategies.
Position investments for optimal long-term gain treatment.
Outcome: A more efficient portfolio designed to enhance your net returns through strategic placement.
4. Tax-Aware Planning for Life Milestones
Make informed decisions before major financial moves.
Every major life change retiring, selling a home or business, or receiving an inheritance, carries tax consequences. Our role is to flag them in advance and help you make choices that preserve wealth.
We help you:
Understand the tax impacts of real estate, equity compensation, and business liquidity events.
Strategically time charitable giving and gifting to family.
Prepare for the effect of policy changes or upcoming tax legislation.
Project multi-year tax scenarios to guide decisions across calendar years.
Outcome: Clarity, foresight, and control during pivotal moments in your financial life.
5. Continuous Monitoring & Collaboration
Tax planning isn’t seasonal, it’s year-round.
Life changes. Markets change. So do tax laws. That’s why we don’t treat tax planning as a once-a-year task. We build a process of regular review and adjustment to make sure your strategy always stays current.
We offer:
Annual reviews to fine-tune tax strategies and ensure alignment.
Coordination of estimated tax payments, withholdings, and charitable strategies.
Real-time tracking of tax opportunities through our planning technology.
Seamless collaboration with your CPA for filing and execution.
Outcome: Peace of mind that your financial life is being managed with tax efficiency every step of the way.
Why It Works
Year-Round Awareness: We track your financial landscape continuously, not just during tax season.
Precision Planning: We use forward-looking projections to prevent surprises and unlock tax opportunities.
Integrated Support: Our team works with your tax professionals, estate attorney, and custodians to ensure alignment and efficiency.
Fiduciary Discipline:
Every recommendation is built on your best interests, with full transparency and strategic clarity.