Retirement Tax Services Podcast

Today, Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by Darren Whissen from Invito to explore what it actually looks like for RIAs to implement alternative investments in practice. Darren shares his background running an RIA where nearly half of the client assets were allocated to illiquid alternative investments. Darren also walks through the compliance infrastructure required to support an alternatives program,...

In this episode, Steven Jarvis, CPA, is joined by Ben Cruikshank, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Flourish, for a conversation about the intersection of banking, cash management, and tax planning. Ben shares insights from working with thousands of advisors and affluent households, including the surprising amount of cash clients often hold outside of advisory relationships. Together, Stev...

This episode explores how AI is changing the way financial advisors approach tax planning and client service. Steven Jarvis speaks with Fernando San Martin from Altruist about Hazel, an AI-powered tax planning tool designed to help advisors uncover opportunities in tax returns. Fernando explains that the focus is not on replacing advisors or CPAs, but on enhancing their ability to deliver consiste...

Matthew Doran joins Steven Jarvis, CPA, to discuss why great tax planning isn't about memorizing rules - it's about helping clients make intentional decisions that improve long-term outcomes. From the QBI deduction to inherited IRAs and the widow's penalty, Matthew shares practical examples of how advisors can create value by proactively reviewing tax returns, managing taxable income, and collabor...

Steven Jarvis is joined by compliance attorney Richard Chen to break down what compliance really means for financial advisors. They discuss how to balance providing value without crossing regulatory lines, the limitations of relying on software, and the importance of protecting client data. Richard reframes compliance as a core part of serving clients well, not something to avoid, but something to...

Steven Jarvis is joined by Shelby Nicholl from Mureil Consulting to discuss how advisors can intentionally build better businesses and client experiences. Shelby explains that while many know her for helping advisors transition firms, her real focus is on aligning vision, operations, and client delivery. The conversation highlights the importance of defining where you are today and where you want...

Steven Jarvis is joined by Phil M. Jones to explore how the right words can drive better client outcomes. Phil shares why success isn't just about expertise, but about knowing what to say at the right time. They discuss the shift from being a problem solver to a problem seeker, helping clients uncover issues they didn't realize they had. and practical ways advisors can structure conversations to b...

Steven Jarvis is joined in this episode by Peter Velardi of JPTD Partners to discuss how financial advisors can think more strategically about the future of their firms. They explore the shift from running a "practice" to building a true business, and why that distinction is critical for growth, scalability, and long-term value. The discussion encourages advisors to step back, plan intentionally,...

In this episode, Steven Jarvis sits down with Roger Pine, Co-founder of Holistiplan to explore how advisors can systematize tax planning in their practices. They discuss why Excel alone isn't enough, the importance of creating a repeatable process, and how Holistiplan helps advisors deliver richer financial planning to more clients. From the software's origin story to innovative features that stre...

This week, Steven is joined by Steve Blackwell from Invito Energy Partners to explore the complexities, opportunities, and strategic considerations of investing in oil and gas. From understanding investment structures to navigating tax incentives, this episode gives advisors practical insights for guiding clients through these unique opportunities. https://zurl.co/9C2yl

In this episode, Steven and Ted Jenkin from JPTD Partners explore the key factors that drive business valuation. They discuss why focusing on net new assets, maintaining clean and accurate financial records, and implementing effective tax planning strategies can significantly impact the value of a business. The conversation emphasizes the importance of running a business with intention and discipl...

Steven is joined this week by someone with personal and professional experience with international taxes: Matthew Green. Matthew shares his personal experience learning about the US's approach to taxing it's citizens living abroad and through that started sharing his newfound expertise with others. He now works specifically with taxpayers navigating international waters to make sure they don't get...

Steven is joined this week by another industry Tax Titan, Debbie Taylor. Steven and Debbie nerd out on all things Roth, taking turns sharing their "favorite" rules of thumb on Roth conversions and why they aren't as helpful as most people make them out to be. It was a struggle for this dynamic duo to keep it to just 30 minutes, which means the time they did spend is packed with actionable insight...

This week is special, it might be the best episode of the year, and it has nothing to do with taxes. Joining Steven this week is Capacity Expert RaQuell Hopkins. RaQuell will be joining the Summit this year as a keynote speaker to help attendees overcome mindset limitations and expand their capacity. This interview is just a sneak peek of the great things to come. RaQuell has an incredible ability...

In this week's episode, Steven is joined by two of our good friends at Carson Group: Liam and Michael. Liam and Michael are part of the M&A team and get to see behind the curtains of some of the most successful practices in the country and share what they've learned about the ones doing the best work. Steven discusses the role of tax planning in firms that consistently grow, and they all share ins...

Eric Negron joins Steven on the podcast this week to talk all things growth and how tax planning can be a super power for advisors serious about scaling. Steven and Eric whole heartedly agree that the most important thing an advisor can do is rolling up their sleeves and doing the hard work. Ignore the hype, ignore the tech, ignore the designations, do the work. They both share clear examples of h...

Steven is joined this week by Kyle Willis, VP of Growth at BELAY, as they discuss the power of delegating in their own lives and the value an EA can bring to a team. Steven, of course, draws plenty of parallels to tax planning and how delegation can help in that process, but Kyle joins in to give us yet another reminder of some of the things that are, in fact, more important than taxes. Listen in...

Rejoining Steven on the show this week is Eric Brotman to discuss his own personal tax planning, along with best practices when it comes to talking taxes with clients. Eric is planning ahead for an eventual business exit and is already working through the math on how where he lives impacts the tax bill he'll pay. Steven and Eric share real client experiences and how they navigate keeping goals ali...

This week, Steven is joined by Derrick Kinney to talk about the opportunity AI creates for advisors, and it might not be what you think. Derrick's emphasis is on communication, and Steven, as always, is the tax nerd in the room, but they both share their experiences with the importance of creating connections with clients to truly deliver value. Listen in as they share insight into what really del...

Steven is once again joined by none other than Micah Shilanski, CFP®, to share real-world examples of tax planning that matters. Steven and Micah share recent client experiences highlighting how the "simple" things on a tax return can make all the difference to a client, and the reality that most taxpayers aren't getting tax planning help unless a financial advisor is providing it. They share best...

The internet is all about attention; advisors who care about their clients are all about action. Steven is rejoined this week by Matthew Jarvis to talk about the power of doing "simple" things consistently over time. They use required minimum distributions as an example of what the best advisors do to create valuable experiences for their clients around a topic that will impact almost everyone at...

Happy New Year! Steven kicks off the year by sharing his takeaways from year-end tax planning meetings and giving important reminders you need to hear as we head into another tax filing season. It may feel like the calendar just turned over, so tax planning can go on holiday, but listen in as Steven explains what you should be focused on to help your clients navigate their tax filing and beyond. Y...

One of the most common questions Steven hears from financial advisors is "What software can I use to help with that?". In this week's episode, Steven is joined by Nitrogen's Chief Product Officer, Justin Boatman, to discuss the latest entry into the tax software category: Nitrogen's AI Tax Center. Justin shares the background of why Nitrogen picked taxes as the topic for their newest tool and shar...

In this episode, Steven is joined by John Poole, a partner at JPTD and a seasoned veteran when it comes to helping financial advisors get their practices ready and navigate through equity events. John and Steven talk about common misconceptions advisors have about their own numbers and what really drives value in a business. John shares from his extensive experience with real practice transactions...

Steven is joined this week by Daniel Friedman, a financial advisor who has been leading with taxes for 3 decades. Daniel shares the origin and growth of WMGNA and how leading with taxes has made all the difference. Steven and Daniel discuss why taxes create such a powerful opportunity and why there is still so much room for advisors to get in on the action of providing tax planning for their clien...