Retirement Tax Services Podcast

Steven Jarvis, CPA, welcomes Naomi Owotumi from Jump AI to discuss the growing intersection between wealth management, tax planning, and technology. Naomi explains how Jump goes beyond note-taking by analyzing client conversations to identify insights, sentiments, follow-up tasks, and business opportunities. They discuss how the timing of the tax conversation matters, with tax topics often being introduced halfway through or later in a meeting, which can lead to less follow-through. Naomi explains how creating a dedicated tax-planning conversation can improve client outcomes and cites a 16% improvement in client sentiments when tax planning is given its own conversation. The conversation also explores how technology can help wealth and tax professionals share information without requiring everyone to attend every client meeting. The episode emphasizes that advisors don't need to have every answer themselves, but they do need to create space for the right conversations and follow through on the opportunities those conversations uncover.

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Steven Jarvis, CPA, welcomes Brian Smith of Foundational Income Associates back to discuss the difference between life expectancy and longevity and why that distinction matters in financial planning. They explore how advisors can use data and longevity calculators rather than arbitrary ages when building retirement plans. The discussion also highlights how longevity risk can compound other retirement risks, including market and healthcare risk. Brian shares a case study involving a 60-year-old teacher where incorporating guaranteed lifetime income helped improve the plan's probability of success. They also discuss how advisors can use professional resources and specialists to navigate the growing complexity of retirement planning. Ultimately, the conversation is about making intentional, data-informed decisions instead of allowing longevity assumptions to happen by default.

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Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by Michael Belluomini and Liam Heffernan of Carson Group to discuss what makes an advisory firm attractive to potential partners and how advisors can build a stronger, more valuable business. They explore organic growth, documented processes, delegation, client service, and the importance of talking with advisors who have already gone through a transaction. They also discuss the resources a larger firm can provide and why advisors should build a business that is ready to sell even if they never plan to sell it.

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Brad Wooten, CPA, joins Steven Jarvis, CPA, to share his firsthand experience opening Trump Accounts for his three children and why he views them as long-term retirement savings. They discuss how the accounts work, what happens when children turn 18, and why future Roth conversions and kiddie tax considerations matter. The conversation then shifts to the relationship between financial advisors and CPAs and how advisors can be appropriately tax-aware without overstepping. Brad shares real-world examples of clients facing unexpected tax bills because financial decisions were made without enough communication about their tax consequences. Steven and Brad emphasize that advisors do not need to become tax experts to improve collaboration with CPAs. Instead, proactive communication and simply recognizing that financial decisions can have tax implications can go a long way.

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In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, sits down with Jonathan Steele to discuss the evolving role of tax planning within financial advisory firms. Jonathan shares how his background in behavioral finance and hospitality has shaped his client experience, emphasizing that empathy, communication, and trust are just as important as technical expertise. They also explore why more independent firms are bringing tax preparation in-house, the challenges of creating a high-touch tax experience, and why integrating tax planning is becoming a competitive necessity rather than an optional service. The conversation highlights the importance of continuous learning, strong professional relationships, and delivering exceptional client service across every aspect of the financial planning process.

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In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by Brian Beck to discuss how financial professionals can build a practice around proactive tax planning. Brian shares how his firm has incorporated taxes into every client conversation for more than 30 years and why tax planning should begin immediately after tax season ends rather than waiting until year-end. They discuss the benefits of a subscription-based model, how it encourages clients to stay engaged with their financial planning, and how advisors can create stronger relationships with CPAs through collaboration instead of competition. Brian also explains how his firm structures CPA partnerships, handles tax preparation through outside providers, and the importance of understanding compliance requirements when adding tax services. The conversation highlights practical steps advisors can take to become more comfortable with tax conversations, including reviewing tax returns and learning the language of tax professionals.

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In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by communication expert Chris Fenning to discuss how financial professionals can communicate complex topics in a way that clients can understand, trust, and act on. They explore why expert language and industry jargon can create confusion, even when advisors have the best intentions, and how small changes in communication can make a significant impact. Steven and Chris discuss how to recognize when a client may not fully understand a conversation, the importance of using relatable explanations and analogies, and how to simplify information without losing its value. They also share practical strategies advisors can use to prepare for client conversations, practice their explanations, and build stronger communication skills that improve the client experience.

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Steven Jarvis welcomes back financial advisor Jim Young to discuss how tax planning has evolved over the past five years and why reviewing actual tax returns still matters. Jim shares how today's tax planning software has made advisors more efficient, but explains why it shouldn't replace understanding a client's return line by line. The discussion highlights the difference between reviewing a tax return and actually providing tax planning that helps clients make better decisions. Steven and Jim also explore how recent tax law changes created new planning opportunities, making it even more important for advisors to understand what's happening on the return.

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Steven Jarvis is joined by Andrew Herman, software engineer at Holistiplan and former CFP®, to discuss what advisors often get wrong about Roth conversion planning. They explore why successful Roth conversion strategies are built around tax bracket arbitrage, not eye-catching lifetime tax savings projections, and why estimating future tax brackets is often more valuable than trying to predict exact future income. Steven and Andrew also talk about the challenge of helping clients see the value of paying taxes today for benefits they may not realize for many years. Along the way, they discuss how technology can strengthen an advisor's recommendations without replacing professional judgment, and Andrew shares his thoughts on the next generation of planning tools that could optimize Roth conversion strategies based on each client's unique goals.

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In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by Stephen Delaney, Senior Client Success Consultant at Belay, to discuss one of the biggest challenges advisors face: finding the right people to help execute their vision. Rather than focusing on tax strategies, this conversation dives into how advisors can reclaim their time through effective delegation and hiring. Stephen shares how Belay vets thousands of applicants to match clients with highly qualified Executive Assistants and Client Services Assistants. The discussion explores why hiring is a skill that improves with experience, the importance of systems and processes, and how delegation creates more time to serve clients. Whether you're hesitant to hire your first assistant or looking to improve your hiring process, this episode provides practical insights to help you take action.

https://zurl.co/N1OwP