Why Every Financial Advisor Needs to Understand Taxes With Stephen Jarvis

Taxes influence virtually every financial planning recommendation, yet many advisors hesitate to make tax planning part of their client experience. In this episode of The Blueprint | FPA NexGen® Podcast, hosts Mike Zarrelli, CFP®, EA and Alison Miller, CFP®welcome Stephen Jarvis, CPA, founder of Retirement Tax Services, for an in-depth conversation about bridging the gap between financial planners and tax professionals. Stephen explains why every advisor should incorporate tax awareness into their planning process—even without becoming a tax expert. He shares practical advice on building stronger CPA relationships, requesting tax returns from clients, creating successful referral partnerships, evaluating tax designations, and developing communication skills that accelerate career growth. The discussion also explores why experience matters more than additional credentials, how advisors can confidently begin offering tax planning, and why taking action on new ideas is the key to long-term success. Whether you're an aspiring financial planner or an experienced advisor looking to strengthen your tax planning process, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement immediately. Executive Producer: Jadah Riley What You'll Learn Why tax planning belongs in every financial planning engagement The easiest way to start incorporating taxes into your advice process How to build stronger relationships with CPAs and tax professionals Why requesting tax returns can uncover planning opportunities Strategies for creating long-term referral partnerships The pros and cons of tax designations for advisors Communication techniques that separate top advisors from the rest Why implementation matters more than information Key Takeaways Every financial decision creates tax consequences. Advisors don't need to become CPAs—but they do need tax awareness. Strong CPA relationships begin with understanding each other's value. Asking for tax returns is one of the simplest ways to improve client outcomes. Real-world experience develops tax planning skills faster than collecting credentials. Difficult conversations are a career-defining skill for advisors. Recording and reviewing yourself is one of the fastest ways to improve communication. Knowledge only creates value when it's followed by action. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Stephen's Favorite Tax Code Oddities 02:20 Stephen Jarvis' Journey into Tax Planning 06:00 Why Every Financial Decision Has Tax Consequences 10:00 Building Better Relationships Between Advisors & CPAs 15:15 The First Step Into Tax Planning 19:10 Breaking the Ice with Tax Professionals 24:10 Building Referral Partnerships That Actually Work 29:10 The Future of Tax Planning in Financial Advice 33:00 Should Advisors Pursue Tax Designations? 35:10 How to Get Clients to Share Their Tax Returns 37:10 Career Advice: Communication & Difficult Conversations 38:15 Podcasting as a Communication Tool 39:13 Knowledge Only Matters If You Take Action