TAX PLANNING · HIGH NET WORTH

Tax planning for high-net-worth individuals — done year-round, not year-end.

Federal, California, and multi-state. QSBS, PTE election, entity structuring, wealth transfer. Trusted advisor, not a mere client. Beverly Hills CPA firm.

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What we do

Tax preparation is what happens between January and October. Tax planning is what happens the other seven months — and for HNW individuals, that is where the real leverage lives.

We work with HNW clients on the year-round decisions that move the tax picture: entity structuring (S-corp vs. LLC vs. C-corp, and the reasonable-comp analysis that follows), §1202 Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) planning for founders holding early-stage equity, the California Pass-Through Entity (PTE) election for California-resident owners of qualified pass-throughs (which mitigates the federal $10K SALT cap), §1031 like-kind exchanges for real estate investors, §170 charitable contribution planning with donor-advised funds and private foundations, §453 installment sale structuring on business dispositions, and wealth transfer — annual exclusion gifting, lifetime exemption use (currently $13.99M per individual for 2025, sunset date-dependent thereafter), GRATs, and IDGT strategies coordinated with estate-planning counsel.

Every planning conversation is grounded in a specific number, a specific code section, and a specific decision. A California resident at the 37% federal / 13.3% state bracket faces a marginal rate around 50% on ordinary income. That is the math every strategy has to beat. When it does, we say so. When it does not, we say that too.

Who this is for

Founders and executives holding pre-IPO equity, RSUs, or exit-event proceeds.
Real estate investors with multi-property portfolios and depreciation, §1031, and cost-segregation questions.
Entertainment and athletic principals with peak-earning windows and complicated income streams.
Retired principals managing wealth-transfer planning, muni-vs.-taxable yield decisions, and Roth conversion strategy.
HNW families planning multigenerational wealth transfer coordinated with estate counsel.

Deliverables

Quarterly planning touch-points — a fixed-calendar review of the year-to-date picture with decisions flagged for action.
Entity structure analysis — S-corp vs. LLC vs. C-corp, reasonable compensation analysis, PTE election evaluation.
Equity compensation modeling — RSU vesting, ISO/NSO exercise strategy, §83(b) elections, §1202 QSBS eligibility analysis.
§1031 like-kind exchange coordination for real estate investors — timing, qualified intermediary, boot analysis.
Charitable planning — donor-advised fund contributions, private foundation §170 limits, appreciated-security gifting.
Wealth transfer coordination with estate counsel — annual exclusion, lifetime exemption, GRAT and IDGT structures.

Frequently asked

Q: What is the California Pass-Through Entity (PTE) election, and does it apply to me?

A: California's PTE election permits qualified pass-throughs (partnerships, S-corps, and LLCs taxed as either) to elect to pay California tax at the entity level at a 9.3% rate. The payment is a federal-deductible entity-level tax — a workaround for the $10K SALT cap on individual returns. Owners receive a proportional credit against their California tax on the pass-through income. Election is annual, made on Form 3893. Not every pass-through qualifies; the analysis is worth running if you own a California-source pass-through.

Q: What is §1202 QSBS, and how much can it save?

A: Under IRC §1202, gain on the sale of qualified small business stock — C-corp stock in a qualifying business held for more than five years — is potentially excludable from federal tax up to the greater of $10M or 10x the stockholder's basis. The exclusion is per-issuer per-taxpayer. For founders with early-stage C-corp equity, §1202 planning starts at issuance and continues through the holding period. California does not conform — the exclusion is federal-only.

Q: How do you coordinate with my estate-planning attorney?

A: We work as one node of the advisory bench — the tax specialist alongside estate counsel, wealth advisors, and insurance advisors. On wealth transfer, we quantify the tax impact of proposed structures (grantor vs. non-grantor trust, GRAT payout, IDGT sale) so counsel can draft with a clear picture of the cash and tax consequences.

Q: Do you handle Roth conversions?

A: Yes — the analysis of whether to convert traditional IRA balances to Roth, in what year, and in what amount. Roth conversions are irreversible after 2017 (no recharacterization), so getting the year right matters. We model the multi-year federal and California picture before recommending.

Q: How often do we meet during the year?

A: Quarterly at minimum, and on demand for material transactions (equity events, real estate sales, business dispositions, significant gifts). The recurring quarterly review is on our fixed calendar; you do not have to remember to ask.

Q: What is the fee structure for tax planning?

A: Tax-planning-only engagements are typically billed on an annual retainer that covers quarterly reviews, ongoing advice, and coordination with other advisors. Tax preparation is quoted separately per return. Extraordinary transactions (M&A, exit events, IRS examinations) are quoted as they arise.

Year-round tax planning. Partner-led. Coordinated across your advisor bench.

For HNW individuals, families, and founders. Federal, California, and multi-state. QSBS, PTE, wealth transfer, entity structuring. Thirty-minute consultation with a CPA.