Tax Strategy | Intentional

Tax Strategy

Your tax bill is a
byproduct of your
decisions.

Most people manage taxes reactively. They find out what they owe in April. We build tax strategy into every financial decision throughout the year so the number in April is one you planned for.

Start the conversation

Tax planning and investment management belong in the same conversation.

The Problem

Tax planning and investing
are the same conversation.

Most advisors manage portfolios in one conversation and send you to your CPA for another. The two rarely talk to each other. The result is a portfolio that performs well on paper but leaves significant tax efficiency on the table.


We think about tax implications in every investment decision we make. Asset location, harvesting, timing of distributions and contributions — these aren't afterthoughts. They're built into the strategy from the beginning.

"The return on your portfolio is what you keep, not what you earn. Tax strategy is not a separate discipline. It's part of every decision we make."
James Roberts, Founder, Intentional LLC

Two ways we add value

Ongoing tax strategy.
Event-driven tax planning.
Both, always.

Ongoing

Integrated into every investment decision

Tax-loss harvesting, asset location across account types, qualified dividend management, Roth conversion strategies, and timing of capital gains realizations. These aren't annual tasks. They happen throughout the year as markets move and your situation evolves.

The goal is a portfolio that is always tax-aware, not just tax-aware when your CPA asks for documents.

Event-Driven

Planning around the moments that matter most

Business sales, equity compensation events, large capital gains, retirement account transitions, and inheritance. These are the moments where the tax decisions are biggest and the window to plan is often shorter than people realize.

We get involved before these events, not after. The difference in outcome can be significant.

What we work on

The tax strategies we
use most often.

Every client situation is different. These are the tools we reach for most frequently in the course of ongoing tax planning work.

01
Tax-loss harvesting

Systematically realizing losses to offset gains elsewhere in the portfolio. Done well, this is one of the most consistent sources of tax alpha available to investors. Done poorly, it creates wash-sale violations that eliminate the benefit.

02
Asset location optimization

Placing investments in the account type where they are most tax-efficient. Tax-inefficient assets belong in tax-deferred accounts. Tax-efficient assets belong in taxable accounts. Most portfolios ignore this entirely.

03
Roth conversion planning

Identifying the right years and the right amounts to convert traditional IRA assets to Roth. The goal is to fill lower tax brackets strategically over time, reducing the long-term tax burden on retirement assets.

04
Equity compensation planning

ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, and ESPP shares all have different tax treatments and require different timing strategies. We work with clients to plan the exercise and sale of equity compensation in a way that minimizes unnecessary tax exposure.

05
Qualified opportunity zones

For clients with large capital gains events, qualified opportunity zone investments can provide significant deferral and potential exclusion benefits when structured correctly and held for the appropriate period.

06
Charitable giving strategies

Donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, and bunching of charitable contributions can significantly reduce taxable income in high-income years. We incorporate these into the broader tax plan, not as an afterthought.

How we work

We work with your CPA.
Not around them.

Tax strategy at the advisory level is not the same as tax preparation. We don't prepare returns. We work alongside your CPA to make sure the investment and financial planning decisions made throughout the year are ones your CPA can work with effectively.


That means proactive communication, shared information, and a coordinated approach to the decisions that affect your tax picture. When everyone is working from the same page, the results are materially better.

What coordination looks like

  • Proactive communication with your CPA about investment decisions that affect your tax situation
  • Year-end tax planning meetings to identify harvesting and conversion opportunities before December 31
  • Estimated tax projections throughout the year so there are no surprises in April
  • Review of prior year returns to identify missed opportunities and plan accordingly
  • Coordination on major financial events before they happen, not after
  • Documentation and reporting designed to make your CPA's work easier, not harder

Who this is for

If taxes are one of your
largest expenses, they deserve
serious attention.

For high-income and high-net-worth individuals, taxes are often the single largest drag on wealth accumulation. A thoughtful, proactive tax strategy built into your financial plan can make a meaningful difference in long-term outcomes.

If your current adviser isn't talking to you about taxes throughout the year, that's a gap worth closing.

  • High-income earners looking for more proactive tax management
  • Business owners with complex tax situations across personal and business entities
  • Executives with significant equity compensation requiring careful planning
  • Individuals approaching or in retirement navigating Roth conversions and RMDs
  • Anyone who experienced a large taxable event and wants to plan more carefully going forward
  • Clients whose investment adviser and CPA don't communicate with each other

Start planning

Tax strategy works best
when it starts early.

The decisions that affect your tax bill are made throughout the year. The more of them we're involved in before they happen, the better the outcome. Schedule a conversation with James.

Schedule a conversation

30 minutes. No pitch. No pressure.