Tax Architect Strategy — FIRM1040®
Award-Winning CPA Firm
FIRM1040®
Large enough to lead · Small enough to serve

Tax Architect Strategy

Tax planning as a discipline, not a deadline. Proactive, year-round counsel for clients whose tax position deserves to be designed rather than discovered.

Our Approach

Two clients with identical income often pay materially different tax over a decade. The difference is rarely luck. The decisions that actually move a tax bill are made months before the return is filed — often by someone who didn't realize they were making them. Our work is making those decisions deliberately.

I
Your Information
A few basics to get started
Are You an Existing FIRM1040 Client? *i
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Last Name *
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Preferred Contact Method *i
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Filing Status *i
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II
Income Profile
Approximate household income
Approximate Annual Income *i
Under $200K
Below threshold
$200K–$500K
Strategy tier
$500K–$1M
High earner
$1M–$3M
Complex planning
$3M+
Sophisticated structures
Please select your approximate income range.
A note on fit: Tax strategy engagements are designed for households where income complexity creates real planning opportunities — typically $200K+. If your income is lower, the work may not yet justify the fee. You may be better served by our individual tax preparation service. You're welcome to continue if you'd like, particularly if you have significant investments, real estate, or business income.
III
Your Situation
Helps us recommend the right tier
Do you have taxable investments outside retirement accounts?i
Do you have employer equity compensation (RSUs, ISOs, ESPP)?i
Do you have retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth, etc.)?i
Do you own real estate beyond your primary residence?i
Do you own a business or have self-employment income?i
Sole Proprietor / 1099
Single-Member LLC
Multi-Member LLC / Partnership
S-Corporation
C-Corporation
Not Sure
Do you have dependent children?i
Is anything specific prompting this inquiry?i

Three Engagements

Each tier scoped to a different level of complexity. Most clients know which one fits after the first conversation. Pricing reflects scope, not just time — we'll confirm exact pricing within the range after the first call.

Recommended Based on Your Answers
Recommended
Tier 1
The Planning Call
$500
$425 for existing clients · save 15%
For One Focused Decision

There are moments when a client doesn't need an ongoing engagement — they need an hour with someone who can think clearly about a single decision. One conversation, focused entirely on your situation, with direct guidance on what to do next.

Common Reasons Clients Book
  • Starting a business and unsure what you'll need to succeed
  • Getting QuickBooks set up properly — or cleaning up what's there
  • A property sale, inheritance, or move across state lines
  • An RSU vest or equity event you want to plan around
  • A second opinion on advice that didn't quite sit right
If the matter warrants ongoing work, the fee is credited toward a longer engagement. If it doesn't, the hour stands on its own.
Recommended
Tier 2
Tax Architect
$1,500–$3,000
$1,275–$2,550 for existing clients · save 15%
For Households Earning $200K+

For the high-income professional whose financial life has outgrown the firm that files the return. The W-2 is substantial. RSUs vest on a schedule that nobody is actively managing. ESPP, ISOs, deferred comp, and a growing brokerage account each carry implications that compound across years.

The Engagement Includes
  • Multi-year tax projections built from your returns and account statements
  • Withholding and quarterly estimate calibration so April holds no surprises
  • RSU and equity strategy — sell-at-vest framework, hold decisions, concentration management
  • Tax-loss harvesting coordinated with your portfolio rather than imposed on it
  • Retirement and benefits optimization across 401(k), HSA, mega backdoor Roth, deferred comp
  • Charitable giving structured for impact and efficiency
  • Year-round access for time-sensitive decisions
Payment structure: 50% upon engagement, 50% at completion.
Recommended
Tier 3
Tax Architect Plus
$2,500–$15,000
$2,125–$12,750 for existing clients · save 15%
For $200K+ Households With Business or Real Estate

When a client owns a business, holds real estate, or runs income through multiple entities, the planning conversation changes shape. The question is no longer how a given dollar is taxed, but where it sits, how it is characterized, and how the entire system fits together. Structure becomes the lever, and structure compounds.

Beyond Tier 2, Includes
  • Entity structure review and optimization — S-corp election, holding companies, separation for liability
  • Reasonable compensation analysis for S-corp owners
  • Real estate strategy — cost segregation, depreciation, 1031 exchanges, short-term rental rules, REPS
  • Trust tax planning — grantor trusts, irrevocable trusts, distribution planning, K-1 coordination
  • QBI (Section 199A) optimization to preserve the 20% deduction
  • Owner compensation across salary, distributions, and benefits
  • Advanced retirement design — solo 401(k), SEP, defined benefit, cash balance plans
  • Direct coordination with your bookkeeper, attorney, and financial advisor
Pricing reflects only the strategies that apply to your situation. Clients with focused needs (e.g. real estate only) typically land at the lower end of the range.
Payment structure: 50% upon engagement, 50% at completion.

Begin with a Private Conversation

Inquiries are reviewed personally · We respond within two business days

I'm Ready
Lock in my tier and get started
Confidential Consultation
A private call to discuss fit before committing
?
I Have Questions
Send us your questions first
You're ready to begin

Once you submit, we'll send an invitation to our secure tax planning portal, where we'll collect documents and start the engagement. Payment structure for Tier 2 and Tier 3 engagements is 50% upon engagement and 50% at completion. We'll follow up within two business days with next steps.

Speak with us directly

For a private conversation, call us at (973) 339-7773. You're also welcome to submit this form and we'll reach out within two business days to schedule a confidential call.

What would you like to ask?

Share your questions below. We'll respond personally within two business days.

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REF #: FRM-2026-XXXX
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"Cherie completely changed how I think about my taxes. She showed me strategies my old CPA never even mentioned."
266+ Five-Star Reviews · Building Wealth Through Tax Strategy Since 2006