Who AE Tax Advisors Serves

AE Tax Advisors provides tax planning and advisory services, with a focus on business owners and real estate investors. This page describes, in general terms, the situations the firm's work is designed for and where another kind of firm may be a better fit. The point is to help you decide whether a conversation is worthwhile.

Business Owners

Owner-operators are a core audience. This includes sole proprietors, single-member LLC owners, S corporation shareholders, partners, and owners of closely held companies. Typical planning questions include entity choice, owner compensation, retirement plans, deductions and credits, payroll setup, estimated taxes, multi-state issues, and preparing for a sale. The companion site for business owners explains these topics in detail.

Real Estate Investors

Investors who own rental properties, including long-term and short-term rentals, are another core audience. Typical questions include depreciation and cost segregation, passive loss rules, real estate professional status, short-term rental rules, exchanges, entity structures for rentals, and record keeping. The companion site for real estate investors explains these topics.

High-Income Professionals

Physicians, attorneys, technology employees, consultants, and other professionals with complex income also have planning needs, such as retirement contributions, equity compensation, side income, and estimated taxes. Some of these situations overlap with business ownership and real estate.

Situations That Often Benefit from Planning

Planning tends to be most valuable when there is a decision ahead or when facts are changing. Examples include:

• Rising income or profit.
• A planned purchase, sale, or move.
• A new business, entity, or property.
• Concerns about prior returns.
• A desire to be less surprised at filing time.

Situations Where a Different Kind of Firm May Fit Better

Not every situation is a match. You may be better served elsewhere if:

• You need only simple return preparation and have no planning questions.
• You need legal services, such as drafting contracts or litigating a dispute. An attorney provides those.
• You need bookkeeping or payroll processing as a primary service, unless those are part of the engagement.
• Your matter is outside the firm's focus, such as certain specialized industries or international matters.

The firm can tell you during a discovery call if your needs are outside its focus. A candid answer is a good sign.

Size and Complexity

Clients range in size and complexity. A firm's experience with your level of complexity matters, so ask. If your situation includes multiple entities, several states, or significant transactions, ask how the firm handles that work and who would be involved.

Location

Clients are not limited to one place, since much of the work can be done remotely. If you prefer in-person meetings, ask what is possible. See Remote or Local Tax Advisor: How to Decide.

What the Firm Asks of Clients

Clients are asked to provide accurate information, respond to questions, keep records, and tell the firm about changes. Planning works best as a partnership. A client who is willing to keep records and follow through is better positioned to benefit from planning.

How to Decide

If you are unsure whether the firm is a fit, describe your situation on a discovery call and ask directly. You can also use the guides on this site to compare the approach with other firms. See The Discovery Call: What to Expect.

Examples of Questions That Fit

To help you judge fit, here are examples of the kinds of questions that are typical: Should I change my entity as my profit grows? How should I set my salary and retirement contributions? Could a cost segregation study help with a property I own? How do the passive loss rules apply to my rentals? What should I consider before selling a property or a business? Did a prior return miss a deduction or an election? If your questions resemble these, a conversation may be worthwhile. If your questions are quite different, ask whether the firm has experience in that area or can refer you.

How Fit Is Discussed

Fit is a two-way judgment. The firm considers whether it can help, and you consider whether the approach suits you. Neither side should feel obligated. A candid conversation is the best way to find out.

Complexity Is Not a Barrier to Asking

Some people worry that their situation is too small or too complicated for a planning firm. Small situations can still benefit from a clear conversation, and complicated situations are often where planning helps most. The important thing is to describe your situation honestly and to ask whether the firm can help. If not, a good firm will say so and may suggest what kind of professional to look for.

What to Bring If You Want a More Productive Conversation

A short written summary of your situation, including your entities, properties, income sources, and goals, makes any first conversation more productive. It does not need to be formal. A page of bullet points is enough, and preparing it often helps you clarify your own thinking.

Educational purposes only. This page is general education and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Descriptions of how AE Tax Advisors approaches engagements are general, and the scope, timing, and fees for any engagement are confirmed with you directly. Tax laws change and outcomes depend on individual facts. No result is guaranteed.