Imagine walking into tax season already knowing the number.

That’s what happens when a fee-only planner and a proactive CPA plan the year together—before December 31. In this episode, we’re joined by Elliot Vaughn, CFP®, and Ryan Hickel, CPA, to show how they turn scattered inputs like Social Security, IRA distributions, pensions, and equity sales into one coordinated plan.

We break down their joint workflow: fall reviews that forecast income, model marginal tax rates, and evaluate moves like Roth conversions while there’s still time to act. Elliot explains why “everything a planner does ends up on a tax return,” and Ryan translates that into brackets, credits, and phaseouts clients can actually understand.

You’ll hear why the years around retirement are prime for conversions and gain harvesting, and how early-career professionals can build a strong foundation with the right savings order and tax-aware decisions.

We also cover the bigger picture: delivering a family-office experience without massive wealth, coordinating with specialists when needed, and pushing back on popular myths—like calling permanent life insurance a “Roth on steroids.” The theme is simple: fiduciary collaboration and clean process matter more than buzzwords.

If you want fewer April surprises and more confident decisions, this episode shows what a real advisor–CPA partnership looks like. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the tax topic you want covered next.

Elliot's Social:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottvhw/

Ryan's Social:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hickel/

Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound