Client Story
Maria is a single mom working full time and earning about $65,000 a year. Like many people in her situation, she files her taxes every spring but always feels a little unsure, wondering if she’s doing it right, and whether she’s missing out on any savings.

When she came to us, she wasn’t looking for anything complicated, just a second set of eyes. But after reviewing her most recent return and the one before it, we noticed something important: her previous preparer had missed a few key tax credits she was eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and part of the Child Tax Credit.

The Outcome
We filed an amendment for the prior year and updated her current return. As a result, Maria received a $2,300 refund that she didn’t know she was entitled to.

But more importantly, she left the process feeling clear and confident about how taxes work for her - and finally felt like someone was on her side.

Bottom line
You don’t have to earn six figures for tax strategy to matter. Sometimes, the right partner makes all the difference.

Want to see if there’s money being left on the table in your return? Let’s talk!

Client Story
Lisa and Jason are a married couple earning $500k in combined W-2 income. They’ve been looking for a smart way to diversify their income, invest in real estate, and ideally, bring down their tax bill. When they discovered the tax advantages of owning a short-term rental (STR), they saw a real opportunity - and they jumped in.

In 2025, they purchase a $600,000 vacation rental, spend $50,000 furnishing it, and commit to managing the property themselves. That active involvement qualifies the rental as a non-passive activity, meaning they’re allowed to use any losses to offset their high W-2 income - a key tax planning opportunity that most long-term rentals don’t allow unless you’re a full-time real estate professional.

Here’s where the strategy gets powerful: they conduct a cost segregation study, which breaks the property into faster-depreciating components (like furniture, appliances, and land improvements) to accelerate their deductions. In 2025, bonus depreciation allows them to write off 40% of those costs immediately.

The Breakdown
Bonus depreciation on the property: $57,600
Bonus depreciation on furniture: $20,000
Additional depreciation on 5 and 15-year assets: $22,400
Total first-year depreciation deduction: $100,000

Because the rental qualifies as non-passive, they can apply that full $100,000 deduction against their W-2 income—resulting in a projected federal tax savings of around $35,000 in the first year.

Bottom line
With smart planning and hands-on involvement, Lisa and Jason turned a real estate investment into meaningful cash flow and a major tax win.

Want to see if this strategy could work for you? Let’s talk.

Client Story
Joe and Kristen are a married couple earning $400,000 per year in W-2 income and other sources. Like many high-income earners, they’re looking for ways to reduce their tax bill while putting their money to work. In 2025, they decided to try something a little outside the box: investing in an oil & gas partnership - specifically because of the tax benefits that come with it.

The Strategy: An Investment That Pays Now and Later
Oil and gas investments offer something called intangible drilling cost (IDC) deductions, which allow investors to deduct a significant portion of their investment in the same year they make it.

In Alex and Taylor’s case, 80% of their $50,000 investment - $40,000 - qualified as deductible in Year 1. At their federal tax rate of 32%, that deduction resulted in an immediate tax savings of $12,800.

The Long Game
Any future income they receive from this investment will be taxed as ordinary income, but part of it will also qualify for depletion deductions - a built-in way to reduce taxes on oil & gas income over time.

Bottom line
With one smart move, Joe and Kristen created a meaningful upfront tax deduction while also opening the door to long-term returns with added tax advantages along the way.

Curious if this kind of strategy might be a fit for you? Let’s talk.

Client Story
After putting a smart investment strategy in place, Alex wanted to round out his year with a meaningful charitable contribution. But instead of donating cash, he used a more strategic route: contributing $30,000 in appreciated stocks to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).

This allowed him to support causes he cares about and lock in a significant tax benefit.

Why It Worked
By donating appreciated securities instead of selling them first, Alex avoided paying capital gains taxes on the stock’s $20,000 increase in value. He also received a full charitable deduction for the fair market value of the donation.

The Breakdown
Capital gains tax avoided: $5,760
Federal tax deduction: $9,600
State tax savings: $1,500
Total tax benefit: $16,860
Combined with avoided capital gains: $31,660 in total tax savings

Why He Loved It
He supported causes he cared about, saved thousands on taxes, and still retained flexibility by recommending grants from his DAF over time.

Bottom line 
By giving smarter - not just more - Alex and Taylor turned a $30K donation into over $31K in tax savings without writing a single check.

Want to see how this could work with your portfolio or year-end giving plan? Let’s talk.

Client Story
A small community nonprofit came to us feeling overwhelmed. They were led by a passionate volunteer board, had no in-house finance team, and hadn’t filed their Form 990-N for the past two years. They weren’t sure where to start, and the pressure of staying compliant (while trying to serve their mission) was starting to take a toll.

They didn’t need a full-time CFO - just someone who could step in, get things sorted, and make sure they were in good standing again.

The Outcome
We walked them through what was needed to bring their filings up to date, worked directly with the board to gather the right info, and submitted their missing 990-Ns. While we were at it, we set them up with a simple, board-friendly system to track income and expenses moving forward.

Now, not only are they compliant, they’re also better prepared to apply for grants, report to donors, and make decisions with confidence.

Bottom line
You don’t have to have a full finance team to stay on track. Sometimes, a little clarity and the right support go a long way.

Need help with your nonprofit’s tax filings or financial systems? We’d love to help.