By Ash Toumayants
We work hard to build wealth, and the last thing we want is for something to eat away at our hard-earned money. One of the best ways to retain more of your wealth is to reduce the burden of taxation. So while tax day may have come and gone, it’s not time to stick your head in the sand until April of next year. In fact, this is the ideal time to reevaluate your tax situation and strategically reduce your tax bill through comprehensive financial planning.
The Power Of Financial Planning
Your finances don’t exist in a bubble. Every decision you make and every milestone you reach impacts your financial situation. Even within your finances, there are multiple pieces that affect each other, such as income tax planning, cash flow, risk management, investment planning, estate planning, retirement strategies, education planning, and more. That’s why tax planning won’t be successful unless it’s part of a comprehensive financial plan.
When you have a financial plan that addresses every area of your life and is customized to your unique situation, you may find tax minimization opportunities that you didn’t see before. Here are a few examples of how financial planning can reduce your tax burden.
Tax Planning And Your Financial Plan
If you understand the rules of the game, you will have a much higher success rate at winning the game. The same is true for understanding tax law. If you understand tax law and the benefits available to taxpayers, then when it comes to “winning the game” of reducing your tax bill, you will be that much better off.
Retirement Planning
When working with your advisor to create your financial plan, retirement planning will often be a key point of conversation. By stress-testing your plan, you can quickly see if your current retirement accounts, savings rates, and other assets will be adequate for the retirement lifestyle you desire.
A direct way to reduce your tax bill is to contribute money into tax-deferred savings accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA. But in order to maximize your savings, you will need to determine both your current cash flow needs and your ideal retirement income. A financial plan will look at both factors and determine the best way to use your tax-deferred savings accounts to save you money both now and in the future.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
The planning behind successfully leveraging the triple-tax savings of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) cannot be done without thinking about the whole picture. It may sound too good to be true, but HSAs have no federal income tax, no state or local taxes, and no Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes. If you are eligible for an HSA, your money will be tax-deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for medical expenses. Using an HSA to reduce your tax bill is a long-term strategy that only provides tax benefits if done correctly and as part of a comprehensive plan.
Charitable Contributions
Donating to charity can be personally fulfilling, but there are also tax benefits to be harnessed that financial planning can help you attain. For example, charitable giving is tax-deductible, but only if you itemize your deduction. When you take the standard deduction, your charitable giving has no effect on your taxes.
If you want to receive a tax benefit for your generosity, you can combine your giving and make donations every other year. In year 1 you wouldn’t donate anything and take the $12,000 standard deduction. In year 2, you would give double and be able to itemize because your giving pushed you over the standard deduction amount. You can also take advantage of donor-advised funds (DAFs) to make this happen.
When you have a financial plan, you can work your charitable giving into the big picture so that you receive the maximum tax benefit possible. A financial professional can walk you through your options.
Take The Next Step
A tax-planning strategy that is based on your overall financial plan has the potential to provide the most tangible and real benefit. That benefit results in not just a year-by-year tax reduction, but possibly lifetime savings that could positively impact your overall financial situation. A financial plan can help you achieve that. If you’d like to take a step toward financial planning and reducing your tax bill, the Strong Tower Blueprint may be right for you. Through our personalized written financial plans, we consider your needs and goals for the short and long term, from investment allocation and management to estate planning, healthcare, and taxes. We leave no stone unturned, addressing the many questions you may have as you walk through life. Schedule an appointment online or reach out to us today at 814-325-9806 or [email protected] to get started!
About Ash
Ash Toumayants is a financial advisor and the founder of Strong Tower Associates. For over a decade, he has helped hardworking people across Central Pennsylvania prepare for retirement. Fueled by a passion for helping people see through the veil of confusion that shrouds the financial world, his goal is to educate his clients so they can make more sound choices regarding their financial future. A Penn State graduate, he currently lives in State College with his lovely wife, Noelle, and their four adorable children. Learn more by connecting with Ash on LinkedIn or emailing [email protected].Advisory services through
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