--- title: Proactive Tax Planning in NYC - Nevis Equity Advisors description: Proactive tax planning in Manhattan including donor-advised funds, gifting, tax-efficient portfolios, and 529 strategies that cut lifetime taxes. author: Super User --- ## What Year-Round Tax Planning Looks Like Most people think about taxes once a year, when it is too late to change the outcome. We think about them all year, because that is when the real opportunities exist. Whether you are approaching retirement, running a business, or building wealth for the next generation, taxes touch every financial decision you make. As a fee-only fiduciary, we look for ways to reduce your lifetime tax bill across your investments, your giving, your estate, and your income, and we coordinate the strategy with your CPA. We plan; your accountant files. No products, no commissions, no surprises. [Schedule a Tax Strategy Conversation](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=109) ## What Year-Round Tax Planning Looks Like Good tax planning is not a single move. It is a series of small, well-timed decisions: realizing a loss while markets are down, funding a donor-advised fund in a high-income year, staying under an income threshold that would raise your Medicare premiums or capital gains rate. We watch for these moments throughout the year and bring you clear recommendations when they arrive, so nothing is left to an April scramble. ## Donor-Advised Funds for Appreciated Securities If you give to charity and hold investments that have grown in value, a donor-advised fund is often the most efficient way to do both. Contributing appreciated securities gives you an immediate tax deduction and avoids the capital gains tax you would owe by selling first. We help you set up a donor-advised fund in your family's name, and you decide where and when the gifts go. You give more, the IRS gets less, and your charities receive the same support. ## [Family Gifting Strategies](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=417) Thoughtful gifting lets you support your children and grandchildren now, while you can see the difference it makes, and removes those assets from your taxable estate at the same time. We help you use annual exclusion gifts, direct payments for tuition and medical costs, and other strategies to move wealth to your family efficiently and on your terms. ## Reducing Taxes Across Generations Between federal estate tax and New York's own estate tax, a meaningful share of what you have built can be lost in transfer if no one plans for it. We work with you, and with your estate attorney, to structure your plan so more of your wealth reaches your heirs. If you do not have an attorney, we can introduce you to vetted estate specialists in our [Professional Network](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=110). This work connects closely with our [Estate & Legacy Planning](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=417)service. ## Tax-Efficient Portfolio Management Taxes are one of the few investment costs you can actually control. We manage portfolios with taxes in mind all year: harvesting losses to offset gains, placing assets in the account types where they are taxed least, and staying alert to the income and capital gains thresholds that trigger higher rates. Over decades, the difference compounds. Learn more about our approach on the [Investment Management](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=415) page. ## 529 College Savings Plans With tuition inflation running above 5% a year, education savings cannot afford unnecessary taxes. A 529 college savings plan grows tax-free when used for qualified education expenses, and New York residents can deduct contributions of up to $5,000 per year ($10,000 for married couples filing jointly) on their state return. We help you choose the right plan, set a funding schedule, and coordinate contributions with grandparents who want to help. ## How We Work With Your CPA We do not prepare tax returns, and that is by design. Your CPA knows compliance; we know your complete financial picture. We build the strategy, model the outcomes, and hand your accountant a clear picture of what we did and why, so filing season is simple and nothing falls through the cracks. If you need a CPA, we are glad to introduce you to one from our [Professional Network](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=110). ## Who We Help Our tax planning clients are typically [pre-retirees and retirees] deciding how to withdraw from retirement accounts without triggering avoidable taxes, and [business owners](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=414) managing concentrated stock, a coming sale, or high-income years. If that sounds like your situation, the first conversation is complimentary. ### Frequently Asked Questions Do you prepare or file tax returns? No. We provide tax planning strategy and coordinate with your CPA or enrolled agent, who prepares and files your returns. Many clients find this separation valuable: their accountant handles compliance while we focus on reducing what they owe in the first place. When is the best time to start tax planning? Now. The most valuable strategies, like loss harvesting, Roth conversions, and charitable timing, depend on acting during the tax year, not after it ends. Starting before a major event (retirement, a business sale, exercising stock options) matters most of all. How are you compensated? We are a fee-only fiduciary. Our only compensation is the transparent fee our clients pay us. We earn no commissions and sell no products, so our tax recommendations have exactly one goal: your outcome. ### Ready to Keep More of What You Earn? Start with a complimentary, no-obligation conversation. We will review your current situation, identify the two or three tax opportunities that matter most for you, and explain exactly how we would approach them. [Schedule a Tax Strategy Conversation](https://nevisequityadvisors.com/index.php?Itemid=109) *Advisory services are offered through Nevis Equity Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Nevis Equity Advisors does not provide tax preparation or legal services. Consult your CPA or attorney regarding your specific situation.*