A structured, year-round planning engagement that builds a complete tax, legal, and wealth architecture — not just a tax return.
8
Planning Paths
4
Engagement Phases
12
Month Cycle
3
Deliverable Tiers
Program Structure
Four phases, one complete architecture
Every client moves through a defined engagement lifecycle — from discovery through annual maintenance — ensuring no planning opportunity is missed and every recommendation is documented and actionable.
Phase 01
Discovery & Diagnosis
Weeks 1–2
Phase 02
Architecture & Strategy
Weeks 3–5
Phase 03
Implementation
Weeks 6–10
Phase 04
Quarterly Maintenance
Ongoing
Eight Planning Paths
What we build — and in what order
The three starred paths form the foundation. All others amplify results once the core architecture is in place.
⭐ Priority 1
Trifecta Framework
The organizing diagram connecting family rules, business income, and treasure chest assets to one unified plan and scoreboard.
FoundationAnnual Review
⭐ Priority 2
Entity Selection & Maintenance
Right container for the business, proper separation, ongoing hygiene, and timely structure upgrades as income grows.
LLC/S-CorpCompliance
⭐ Priority 3
Proactive Tax Planning
Quarterly forecasts, bookkeeping cadence, year-end strategy meetings, and a zero-tax blueprint methodology.
Year-RoundForecasting
Path 4
Advanced Depreciation & Tax Credit Strategies
Bonus depreciation, cost segregation, Section 179, R&D credits, energy credits, and other accelerated write-down strategies for business owners.
DepreciationTax Credits
Path 5
Asset Protection & Privacy
Layered protection: insurance, entity structure, trust planning, home equity, and FinCEN/privacy compliance.
LegalPrivacy
Path 6
Retirement & Self-Directed
Solo 401(k), IRA strategy, prohibited transaction rules, and self-directed investing frameworks.
RetirementSelf-Directed
Path 7
Family Employment & Health
Legitimate family payroll strategy, HSA/HRA qualification, and health cost structures for small business owners.
FamilyHealth Benefits
Path 8
Exit Planning & Business Sale
Deal structure, asset vs. stock sale tax impact, buyer-ready financials, and pre-exit timing strategies.
ExitSale Structure
Internal — Team Reference
Standard Operating Procedures
Step-by-step execution playbook for each phase and planning path. Each item specifies the responsible role, required inputs, process steps, and client-facing outputs.
Phase 01 — Weeks 1–2
Discovery & Diagnosis
The goal is a complete picture of the client's current state before any recommendations are made.
1.1
Onboarding intake & data collection
Client Success▼
Required inputs
Last 2 years of tax returns
Current entity documents
Current bookkeeping export or P&L
Completed CTAP Discovery Questionnaire
List of all assets
Process steps
Send welcome packet + secure portal link within 24 hrs
Assign dedicated client manager
Set 48-hr document submission deadline
Confirm receipt and flag any gaps
Schedule Discovery Call once 80% of docs received
Client-facing output
Welcome letter + portal credentials
CTAP Discovery Questionnaire
Document checklist (customized)
Quality checks
All entities confirmed vs. returns
All real estate properties listed
Retirement accounts identified
Family payroll noted if any
1.2
Discovery call — current state assessment
Lead Advisor▼
Call agenda (60 min)
10 min — relationship, goals, timeline
15 min — Trifecta walk: three legs
15 min — Entity review and gaps
10 min — Tax planning history
10 min — Priority ranking + Phase 2 preview
Advisor prep required
Pre-read last 2 returns; flag top 5 issues
Confirm entity type, state, formation date
Review any real estate schedule E items
Note retirement plan types and contributions
Check for family payroll on W-2 or K-1
Client-facing output
Discovery Call Summary (emailed within 48 hrs)
Preliminary Opportunity List (internal only)
Handoff notes
Advisor records top 3 priority paths
Passes full brief to Tax Strategist for 1.3
Flags any urgent items
1.3
Internal diagnostic — tax & legal gap analysis
Tax Strategist▼
Analysis checklist
Entity: correct type? S-corp election valid?
Entity: separate bank account? Mixed expenses?
Tax: estimated taxes paid? Underpayment risk?
Tax: deduction categories correct?
Depreciation: bonus dep. and credits screened?
Retirement: plan type optimal for income level?
Family payroll: documented and run correctly?
Asset protection: insurance reviewed?
Output: Gap Analysis Matrix
Rate each of 8 paths: Optimal / Needs Attention / Not in Place
Quantify estimated tax exposure per gap
Rank by impact and urgency
Prepare 2-page brief for Architecture meeting
Phase 02 — Weeks 3–5
Architecture & Strategy
2.1
Architecture presentation — CTAP Strategy Session
Lead Advisor▼
Session agenda (90 min)
Present client's current Trifecta diagram
Walk Gap Analysis findings (8 paths, RAG status)
Present recommended architecture
Walk 12-month tax forecast + savings estimate
Prioritize implementation steps with client
Agree on scope and engagement tier
Deliverables presented in session
Client Trifecta Diagram (custom)
8-Path Gap Analysis Scorecard
Recommended Entity Architecture Map
12-Month Tax Forecast Summary
CTAP Engagement Scope & Proposal
2.2
Entity strategy & formation plan
Tax Strategist + Legal▼
Decision criteria to document
Current entity type vs. recommended
S-corp election threshold: net profit > $40k?
State of formation vs. state of operations
Number of owners / future investor considerations
If new entity/election needed
Prepare formation checklist
Draft S-corp election (Form 2553) if applicable
Set up separate bank account checklist
Create entity maintenance calendar
2.3
Proactive tax plan build — 12-month blueprint
Tax Strategist▼
Blueprint components
Current year income projection (all sources)
Deduction map: confirmed + potential
Quarterly estimated tax payment schedule
Retirement contribution max calculation
Year-end decision timeline (Oct–Dec)
Tools & outputs
12-Month Tax Blueprint (client PDF)
Quarterly Review Calendar
Estimated Tax Voucher Set
Year-End Strategy Checklist
Phase 03 — Weeks 6–10
Implementation
3.1
Bookkeeping setup & chart of accounts
Bookkeeper▼
Setup steps
Connect bank & credit card accounts
Configure chart of accounts for business type
Categorize last 90 days of transactions
Establish deduction categories per blueprint
Set monthly close process + reporting template
Ongoing monthly cadence
Reconcile by the 10th of each month
Flag uncategorized items within 3 business days
Deliver P&L + Balance Sheet by 15th
Feed quarterly tax forecast with actual data
3.2
Quarterly review & tax forecast meeting
Tax Strategist▼
Meeting agenda (45 min)
Review current quarter P&L vs. projection
Update full-year income forecast
Revise estimated tax payment if needed
Identify any year-to-date deduction gaps
Confirm upcoming decisions
Q4 expanded agenda (add)
Year-end strategy: timing of income & expenses
Max retirement contribution confirmation
Equipment purchases or prepays
Family payroll year-end W-2 compliance check
Entity minutes / renewals due
3.3
Path-specific implementation (Paths 4–8)
Assigned Specialist▼
Advanced depreciation & credits (Path 4)
Identify all depreciable assets purchased in the year
Evaluate Section 179 vs. bonus depreciation vs. standard
Cost segregation study evaluation (property > $500k)
Screen for available credits: R&D, energy, work opportunity
Document elections and attach to return properly
Asset protection (Path 5)
Asset map: who owns what, in which entity
Insurance gap review (umbrella, E&O, GL)
Home equity protection review by state
FinCEN/BOI reporting compliance check
Retirement (Path 6)
Confirm optimal plan type: Solo 401k vs. SEP
Set contribution schedule aligned to tax blueprint
Prohibited transaction red-flag checklist
Annual Form 5500 reminder if applicable
Family employment (Path 7)
Document job descriptions + reasonable wage
Set up payroll (not cash payments)
Create time log system for family employees
Confirm HRA/HSA eligibility + plan documents
Phase 04 — Ongoing
Quarterly Maintenance & Annual Cycle
4.1
Annual CTAP review — full architecture reassessment
Lead Advisor▼
Annual review checklist
Re-run full 8-path gap analysis on updated facts
Review Trifecta diagram for changes
Confirm estate plan matches current assets
Review entity structure — still optimal?
Update 12-month blueprint for new year
Client deliverables (annual)
Updated Trifecta Diagram
Updated 8-Path Scorecard
New Year Tax Blueprint
Entity Maintenance Report
Annual Tax Return + Strategy Notes
Internal — Operations Reference
Staffing Model & Capacity Planning
Adjust the tier mix to model required headcount, payroll, and revenue at any client volume. Revisit whenever you are planning a hire or evaluating capacity.
Tier mix calculator
Adjust your client mix
30
50
20
Total exceeds 100 clients — adjust sliders to recalibrate.
Total clients
100
Total FTEs needed
—
Est. annual payroll
—
Annual revenue
—
Role-by-role headcount
Capacity ratios
Clients per FTE by role
Role
Clients / FTE
Why this ratio
Managing advisor
25–30
Owns client relationship, strategy sessions, and escalations
Welcome to the Complete Tax Architecture Program. You have made a decision that most business owners never make: to stop hoping taxes work out, and to start building a plan on purpose.
Over the coming weeks, our team will build a complete picture of your tax, legal, and wealth architecture — and then a clear, actionable plan to optimize each layer. This is not a reactive engagement that ends at April 15. It is a year-round practice that compounds in value with every quarter we work together.
The goal of CTAP is not simply to reduce your tax bill for one year. It is to construct an architecture that legally, efficiently, and intentionally keeps more of what you earn — year after year.
Your engagement at a glance
Lead advisor
[Advisor Name]
Client manager
[Manager Name]
Tax strategist
[Strategist Name]
Engagement tier
[Tier Name]
Discovery call
[Date & Time]
Your immediate action items
— Submit last 2 years of tax returns
Due within 48 hrs
— Complete the CTAP Discovery Questionnaire
Due within 48 hrs
— Upload current entity documents
Due within 48 hrs
— Confirm Discovery Call date and time
Scheduled
We are glad you are here. Let's build something that lasts.
This scorecard reflects the current state of your tax and legal architecture across all eight planning paths.
Assessment summary
Paths fully optimized
2 of 8
Estimated annual tax exposure
$[Amount]
Priority action items
5 items
Recommended implementation start
Immediate
8-path status
Path
Status
Key finding
Priority
1. Trifecta Framework
Needs Attention
No unified plan diagram; estate docs outdated
High
2. Entity Selection
Needs Attention
LLC; S-corp election not in place; profit threshold met
High
3. Proactive Tax Planning
Not in Place
No quarterly forecasts; reactive filing only
High
4. Advanced Depreciation & Credits
Needs Attention
Section 179 in use; bonus dep. and credits not evaluated
Medium
5. Asset Protection
Needs Attention
No umbrella policy; home equity exposed
Medium
6. Retirement & Self-Directed
Not in Place
SEP-IRA; Solo 401(k) likely superior given income
Medium
7. Family Employment & Health
Optimal
Spouse on payroll, documented, W-2 in place
Monitor
8. Exit Planning
Not in Place
No exit timeline; books not buyer-ready
Future
The three highest-leverage actions are: (1) file S-corp election before the applicable deadline, (2) establish quarterly tax forecast and estimated payment schedule, and (3) review umbrella insurance and home equity exposure.
Phase 02 Output — 12-Month Strategy
Proactive Tax Blueprint
Prepared for: [Client Name] · Tax Year: [Year]
Income projection — current year
Business net income (projected)
$[Amount]
Rental income (net)
$[Amount]
Other income sources
$[Amount]
Total projected taxable income (before strategy)
$[Amount]
Confirmed deductions & strategies
S-corp reasonable compensation (proposed)
$[Amount]
Business deductions (documented)
$[Amount]
Home office deduction (calculated)
$[Amount]
Vehicle/mileage deduction (logged)
$[Amount]
Solo 401(k) contribution (employee + employer)
$[Amount]
Advanced depreciation / credit elections
$[Amount]
Total projected deductions
$[Amount]
Quarterly estimated tax schedule
Quarter
Due Date
Federal
State
Total Due
Q1
April 15
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
Q2
June 15
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
Q3
September 15
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
Q4
January 15
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
$[Amount]
Year-end decision calendar
October — Retirement contribution review
Action Month
November — Equipment purchase / prepay window opens
Action Month
December 15 — Final strategy meeting
Schedule Now
December 31 — Hard deadline for year-end moves
Hard Deadline
Estimated projected tax reduction versus prior-year reactive approach: $[Amount]. This figure will be updated at each quarterly review as actual income data is confirmed.
Phase 02 Output — Foundation Layer
Your Trifecta Architecture Report
Prepared for: [Client Name] · Date: [Date]
Your Trifecta connects three legs — your Family Rules (estate and legal), your Work Money (business and income), and your Treasure Chest (assets and retirement) — into one unified picture. Your tax return is the scoreboard that measures how all three are performing.
Leg one — Family rules
Revocable living trust
Needs Update
Pour-over will
Not in Place
Healthcare directive / POA
In Place
Beneficiary designations confirmed
Review Needed
Leg two — Work money
Primary entity
[Business Name] — LLC (S-corp election pending)
Bank account separation
Confirmed
Reasonable compensation set
To Be Set
Bookkeeping current
2 months behind
Leg three — Treasure chest
Primary residence
Owned — [Address] — Equity: $[Amount]
Retirement accounts
SEP-IRA — Recommend upgrade to Solo 401(k)
Brokerage / investment accounts
[Summary]
Phase 04 Output — Annual Review
CTAP Annual Architecture Summary
Prepared for: [Client Name] · Tax Year: [Year]
Year in review — results
Tax savings vs. prior year
$[Amount]
Retirement contributions made
$[Amount]
Quarterly reviews completed
4 of 4
8-path score (year end)
[X] of 8 Optimal
Milestones achieved this year
✓ S-corp election filed and in effect
Complete
✓ Solo 401(k) established and funded
Complete
✓ Quarterly tax forecasts completed
Complete
✓ Umbrella insurance policy in place
Complete
— Trust update / estate plan refresh
Carry Forward
Looking ahead — next year priorities
1. Exit planning: begin buyer-ready financial preparation
New
2. Advanced depreciation: cost segregation study evaluation
New
3. Estate plan: schedule attorney review and update
Carry Forward
4. Continue all three priority paths — maintain cadence
Ongoing
Thank you for a productive year. The architecture you have built is now compounding. Each year that your Trifecta is maintained, updated, and acted upon, the results grow.
Client-Facing Materials
Proposal, Scope & Onboarding
Everything a prospect needs to evaluate the offering and sign — and everything a new client needs to get started confidently.
Confidential Proposal
The Complete Tax Architecture Program
Prepared for: [Prospect Name] · [Date]
Most business owners manage taxes the same way every year: collect receipts, hand them to an accountant in March, and hope for the best. This approach consistently leaves money on the table — not because of a bad accountant, but because of a bad system. Reactive tax preparation is not a strategy.
The Complete Tax Architecture Program is built on a different premise: that the most valuable tax work happens throughout the year, not at the end of it — and that tax, legal structure, asset protection, and wealth-building are not separate disciplines. They are one integrated system.
CTAP is not a tax preparation service. It is a year-round architecture engagement that builds, optimizes, and maintains the full financial structure of your business and personal life — so that every dollar you earn is working as hard as possible.
The return on this investment
A common question from prospective clients is straightforward: does this pay for itself? The answer, for the right business owner, is not just yes — it is often not close.
Value lever
How value is created
Typical annual impact
S-corp election & reasonable comp
Reduces self-employment tax on distributions above salary
$8,000 – $25,000+
Proactive quarterly planning
Eliminates underpayment penalties; times deductions correctly
$3,000 – $12,000
Retirement plan optimization
Solo 401(k) vs. SEP — higher contribution limits
$5,000 – $18,000
Advanced depreciation & credits
Bonus dep., Section 179, R&D or energy credits applied correctly
$10,000 – $60,000+
Family employment strategy
Legitimate payroll shifts income to lower tax brackets
$4,000 – $15,000
Health benefit structuring
HRA/HSA turns personal health costs into deductible business expense
$3,000 – $10,000
Entity maintenance & compliance
Avoids penalties, late fees, and corporate veil risk
$1,500 – $8,000
At the Architecture Tier ($36,000/year retainer + $6,500 diagnostic), a business owner generating $3M–$6M in revenue will commonly identify $80,000–$150,000 in annual tax savings across these levers in the first engagement year. That is a return of 2x–4x on total program cost — often in year one alone.
It is worth stating clearly what this program does not do: it does not manufacture deductions or encourage spending money simply to reduce a tax bill. Every dollar of value identified through CTAP comes from strategies that were already available to you — but not yet in place.
Ready to begin
The next step is a no-commitment Architecture Consultation — a 45-minute call where we review your current situation and identify the three highest-leverage opportunities available to you right now.
To schedule your consultation: [Contact / Booking Link]
Priority advisor access + 6 strategy calls per year (60 min each)
Quarterly Trifecta diagram updates
Deal structure and tax modeling for major transactions
All retainer fees are billed monthly with a 12-month minimum term. The diagnostic project fee is non-refundable once the Architecture Strategy Session has been delivered. Additional entity returns, amended returns, and audit representation are available as add-ons at $[rate] per hour.
Client Reference — Living Document
CTAP Master Checklist
For: [Client Name] · Check items off as you complete them throughout the year
Foundation — Trifecta
One-page Trifecta diagram created and on file
Estate plan reviewed — trust matches current assets and beneficiaries