Proactive Tax Planning in Columbia, Missouri
Most people complete their tax preparation in April, after the year's decisions are already made. By then, the return is simply a record of what already happened.
Proactive tax planning works the other way. It shapes decisions before they reach the return, so your income, investments, and business are positioned to reduce what you pay over a lifetime, not only what you owe this spring.
At Wilkerson Advisory Group, tax strategy is not a once-a-year task. It is built into your broader financial plan and revisited throughout the year, coordinated alongside your investments, retirement income, and estate strategy.
Where Well-Built Wealth Quietly Overpays
Successful households rarely find themselves with large tax burdens because of a single mistake. It often happens quietly, across many small and uncoordinated decisions. Common sources of avoidable tax drag include:
Income and brackets managed reactively, one year at a time, rather than across a multi-year horizon
Required minimum distributions that push income into higher brackets and raise Medicare premiums
Withdrawals taken in an order that is convenient rather than tax-efficient
Roth conversion opportunities that close before they are ever considered
Charitable giving that supports the right causes but captures little tax benefit
Business and entity structures that fit the company you started, not the one you run today
Planning Changes the Outcome. Preparation Only Records It.
Both matter. Only one of them can change what you pay.
| Tax Preparation | Tax Planning |
|---|---|
| Looks backward at a year that has already closed | Looks forward across a multi-year horizon |
| Records decisions after they are made | Shapes decisions before they reach the return |
| Happens once, during filing season | Revisited throughout the year |
| Measures the outcome | Changes the outcome |
| Handled separately from the rest of your financial plan | Coordinated with investments, retirement income, and estate strategy |
| Cannot change what you owe | Aims to reduce what you pay over a lifetime |
Our Approach to Proactive Tax Planning
We follow a clear, repeatable process designed to find and act on opportunities that often go unnoticed.
Tax Position Review
1
We begin with your recent returns, current brackets, and overall exposure, establishing a clear picture of where you stand and where opportunities exist.
Multi-Year Projection and Bracket Management
2
We model your income across a multi-year horizon, identifying the years and thresholds where planning can lower your lifetime tax burden.
Strategy Integration
3
We coordinate the specific levers, including Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, charitable strategies, and entity structure, so each one works with the others rather than in isolation.
CPA Coordination and Implementation
4
We draw on CPA expertise for sophisticated matters and work alongside your existing tax professionals to put the strategy into practice.
Ongoing Annual Adjustment
5
Tax law and your circumstances both change. We revisit your strategy each year and adjust as your life evolves.
Tax Planning for Your Situation
Tax planning looks different at each stage of building and using wealth. We tailor strategy to where you are.
Pre-Retirees and Retirees
Tax Planning for Retirement
As you move from earning to drawing on your savings, the order and timing of your withdrawals shapes your tax bill for decades.
- Withdrawal sequencing across account types
- Roth conversion timing
- Planning ahead for required minimum distributions
- Alignment with your Social Security decisions
Business Owners
Tax Planning for Business Owners
Your business creates both opportunity and complexity, and your personal and business planning should work together.
- Entity structure aligned to how you operate today
- Cash balance and 401(k) plan selection
- Qualified business income deduction
- Coordinated personal and business tax planning
High Earners
Tax Strategies for High Income Earners
Peak earning years are when thoughtful tax planning compounds the most.
- Bracket management
- Equity and deferred compensation
- Asset location across account types
- Charitable giving, often through bunching
Credentials that cover tax planning
Tax planning is a core part of comprehensive financial planning, and our team's credentials reflect that. All four of our advisors hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation, which includes a strong foundation in tax planning across retirement, investments, and wealth transfer. Tax-aware thinking is built into the advice you receive, not added on afterward.
For more sophisticated tax matters, we bring in an advisor who also holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, adding technical depth when a situation calls for it. We also coordinate directly with your existing CPA and attorney, so every part of your financial life moves in the same direction.
3
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals (CFP®)
2
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisors™ (CPFA™)
1
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Couldn't be more pleased with my choice of Wilkerson Advisory Group as my financial advisors. Carroll Wilkerson and Ben Dierkes are top notch individuals who are experts in their field and who demonstrate the utmost care and concern.
Marty, client
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tax planning and tax preparation?
Tax preparation looks backward. It records and files what already happened during the year. Tax planning looks forward. It shapes decisions throughout the year, before they reach the return, with the goal of reducing what you pay over your lifetime. Both matter, but only planning can change the outcome.
How do I reduce taxes in retirement?
Tax efficiency in retirement comes from coordination, not a single move. It involves sequencing withdrawals across taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts, evaluating Roth conversions before required distributions begin, timing Social Security thoughtfully, and using charitable strategies where they fit. We integrate these decisions into your retirement income plan and coordinate with your CPA when appropriate.
Should I do a Roth conversion?
Timing matters. A Roth conversion can reduce future required distributions and create tax-free income later, but it adds taxable income in the year you convert. The right answer depends on your current bracket, your projected future brackets, and your broader plan. We model the trade-offs across multiple years before recommending a path.
How are required minimum distributions taxed?
Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts are generally taxed as ordinary income, and they can push you into a higher bracket or raise your Medicare premiums. Required distributions currently begin at age 73, rising to 75 in 2033. Planning ahead, often years before they start, can soften their impact through earlier withdrawals, Roth conversions, or qualified charitable distributions.
Do you coordinate with my CPA?
Yes. Coordination is central to how we work. We collaborate with your existing CPA and attorney so your tax, legal, and financial strategies reinforce one another. When a situation calls for deeper tax expertise, we can also draw on CPA capabilities within our own team and affiliate relationship.
A Team You Can Rely On
Our advisory team includes Certified Financial Planner™ professionals (CFP®), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and advisors with deep experience in employer-sponsored retirement plan analysis. We have spent decades working with UM System employees, Missouri educators, state workers, and high-earning professionals navigating complex retirement transitions.
We collaborate with your tax professionals and estate attorneys to ensure that a pension decision is never made in isolation-but as part of a comprehensive, coordinated wealth plan.
Ready to Evaluate Your Options?
Whether you are years from retirement or facing an imminent election deadline, a comprehensive review of your pension options is the most valuable step you can take. Our team provides personalized scenario analysis-not generic guidance.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Investment advisory services are offered through Wilkerson Advisory Group, an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Squires Tax Planning is a separate tax services entity and is not under common ownership with Wilkerson Advisory Group. Paden Squires is an investment adviser representative of Wilkerson Advisory Group and owns Squires Tax Planning. The entities maintain separate operations, agreements, and fee arrangements. No fees, revenue, or other compensation are shared between Wilkerson Advisory Group and Squires Tax Planning. Clients are not required to use Squires Tax Planning and may engage any tax professional of their choosing. Tax preparation services are not provided by Wilkerson Advisory Group and Wilkerson Advisory Group does not provide tax or legal advice unless specifically stated in a separate written agreement.
Client Testimonials
Our clients trust us to bring clarity and confidence to their financial journey. Here’s what they have to say about working with Wilkerson Advisory Group.
Testimonials appearing on this website are based on the unique experiences of current clients and are not representative of all client experiences. Testimonials are unsolicited, and no cash or non-cash compensation has been provided. Clients did not receive any material benefit or incentive for providing a testimonial.
Schedule a Tax Strategy Review
Tax planning rewards starting early. If you would like to see where your current approach could be more efficient, we would welcome a conversation.
A conversation about where your current tax approach could be more efficient, with no obligation to proceed.