What is tax planning? Tax planning is the proactive coordination of investment decisions, income timing, entity structures, and distribution strategies to minimize lifetime tax liability — not just filing returns, but architecting outcomes.
We do not treat taxes as an afterthought. Tax awareness is embedded in every investment decision, every retirement conversation, and every planning discussion we have. We think in after-tax terms, always.
Whether you're an executive navigating equity compensation, a business owner planning a sale, or a real estate investor structuring a 1031 exchange — your tax situation is unique. We provide planning-level guidance tailored to the specific complexity of your income and assets.
See how tax drag is affecting your portfolio Estimate a municipal bond’s tax-equivalent yieldWe coordinate with your CPA — or bring one to the table.
We provide tax planning and strategy — not tax preparation. For implementation, we work in close coordination with your CPA or tax attorney, ensuring that what we plan is executed properly. If you don't have a trusted tax professional, we can refer you to experienced practitioners who specialize in the complexity of high-net-worth and business-owner tax situations.
How this face connects to the others
Every Roth conversion, every charitable gift, every portfolio rebalance has a tax dimension. We model these interactions across your entire plan — not in isolation.
What's included
Questions we help you answer
How do I reduce my tax bill this year without sacrificing long-term growth?
What are the tax implications of selling my business or a major investment property?
How do I handle my RSUs without triggering an unexpected tax bill?
Good tax planning starts with knowing exactly where the thresholds sit. For married couples filing jointly:
| Threshold | 2026 (married filing jointly) |
|---|---|
| Top 37% federal bracket begins | Taxable income over $768,700 |
| 20% long-term capital gains rate begins | Taxable income over $613,700 |
| 0% long-term capital gains rate | Taxable income up to $98,900 |
| 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax | Modified AGI over $250,000 (not indexed) |
| State and local tax (SALT) deduction cap | $40,400, phasing down above $505,000 of MAGI |
| Standard deduction | $32,200 |
| Medicare IRMAA surcharges begin (2026 tiers) | MAGI over $218,000 |
| Pennsylvania personal income tax | Flat 3.07%; retirement income generally exempt |
Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and 2025 federal tax legislation. Thresholds change annually.
A retired Pennsylvania couple, ages 66 and 64, expects about $200,000 of taxable income before planning. In one year, we might coordinate:
| Move | What it does | Estimated effect |
|---|---|---|
| Roth conversion of $150,000 | Fills the 24% bracket (which runs to $403,550) without spilling into 32%. Pennsylvania does not tax the conversion because both spouses are past 59½. | $36,000 federal tax paid now at 24%, to reduce future required distributions taxed at potentially higher rates |
| Give $50,000 of appreciated stock directly to charity instead of selling it and giving cash | Avoids realizing $40,000 of gain while preserving the charitable deduction | $8,748 of federal (15% + 3.8%) and Pennsylvania tax avoided |
| Harvest $60,000 of losses while rebalancing | Offsets the gains created by trimming an overweight position | $13,122 of federal and Pennsylvania tax avoided this year |
Together, the second and third moves keep about $21,870 in the portfolio this year, and the conversion trades a known 24% rate today for flexibility later. The catch: the extra income can raise Medicare premiums two years later and push more investment income into the 3.8% tax, so the conversion amount is sized against those thresholds, not just the bracket. Hypothetical and simplified for illustration.
Deeper explanations of the strategies above, with examples:
More calculators: the 90-second tax drag calculator and the self-directed IRA calculator.
A tax-focused wealth advisor integrates tax strategy into every financial decision — from investment selection and account placement to retirement distributions and estate transfers. Strategies include systematic tax-loss harvesting, Roth conversion bracket management, equity compensation timing (RSUs, NQSOs, ISOs), real estate depreciation and 1031 exchanges, charitable structures (DAFs, CRTs, QCDs), and entity-level planning for business owners (Section 199A, defined benefit plans). The goal is to minimize lifetime tax liability, not just this year's bill.
Real estate investors have access to powerful tax strategies including 1031 exchanges (deferring capital gains by reinvesting into like-kind property or DSTs), cost segregation studies (accelerating depreciation deductions), passive activity loss planning, Qualified Opportunity Zone investments (potential 10-year gain exclusion), and strategic disposition timing. Rubiq coordinates these strategies with the investor's broader portfolio, estate plan, and income tax situation to maximize after-tax wealth.
Tax preparation is backward-looking — filing returns based on what has already happened. Tax planning is forward-looking — proactively structuring financial decisions throughout the year to minimize future tax liability. Rubiq provides year-round tax planning and coordinates with clients' CPAs and tax attorneys, but does not prepare tax returns. For high-net-worth families, the value of proactive planning typically far exceeds the savings from optimized preparation alone.
Equity compensation (RSUs, NQSOs, ISOs, ESPP) requires careful timing and coordination with your overall tax picture. Key decisions include when to exercise stock options (balancing AMT exposure against long-term capital gains treatment), how to manage RSU vesting clusters that can push you into higher brackets, whether to hold or diversify company stock, and how to integrate compensation events with other strategies like Roth conversions or charitable giving to manage total taxable income.
For married couples filing jointly in 2026, the 37% bracket starts above $768,700 of taxable income, the 20% long-term capital gains rate applies above $613,700, and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax applies above $250,000 of modified AGI. The state and local tax deduction cap is $40,400 but phases down for income above $505,000. Pennsylvania taxes most income at a flat 3.07%, but generally not retirement income after retirement age.
Throughout the year. Many of the most valuable moves, such as Roth conversions, harvesting losses, realizing gains in a low-income year, and making charitable gifts of appreciated stock, must be completed by December 31. Waiting until a return is prepared usually means only reporting what already happened.