Consulting and Advisory Services
Strategic Consulting & Advisory Services to Help You Plan, Build, and Stay Ahead
Our Consulting and Advisory Services are here to help you plan smarter and feel ready for what’s next. We start with practical tax planning that makes filing season less stressful and more predictable. We’ll walk you through a clear financial checklist so you know exactly where you stand. If you’re starting a new business or making changes, we can help with entity formation and choosing the best structure for your goals. We’re also here when you want to plan ahead with estates and trusts. Every session is personal and down-to-earth. Our Sebastopol office is here for you and all of Sonoma County whenever you need friendly, straightforward guidance.
Tax Planning Services
Let's optimize your tax strategy together! Our Strategic Tax Planning Service is designed to help you maximize savings and plan efficiently for both personal and business taxes. Ideally conducted in the fall, this review gives you ample time to implement changes before year-end. Whether you're an individual, family, or business owner, we're here to guide you through a friendly, thorough review of your tax situation.
How it works!
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We'll send you a simple questionnaire to get started
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Together, we'll create a financial checklist
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We'll identify areas of strength and opportunities you may not have considered
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You'll receive a clear, actionable summary
What we cover:
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Financial Plans or Goals
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Goal-setting and future planning
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Investment and savings strategies for current and future taxable events
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Risk management and insurance review
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Tax planning considerations
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Estate planning basics
Financial Checklist Service
Let's take a comprehensive look at your financial picture together! Our Financial Checklist Service is snap shot of your finances designed to help you get a clear view of where you stand and where you're headed financially and if your currently protected. Whether you're an individual, family, or business owner, we're here to guide you through a friendly, thorough review of your finances & assets and help you plan future events and their tax implications.
How it works!
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We'll send you a detailed questionnaire to get started
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Together, we'll review your current tax situation
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We'll identify areas for improvement and year-end savings
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You'll receive clear, actionable tax strategies
What we cover:
• Current tax strategy assessment
• Year-end tax-saving opportunities
• Retirement and investment planning
• Estate planning basics
• Business tax considerations
• Compliance and risk management
Entity Formation
Your business entity has a large impact on your taxes and other liabilities. Getting your business off to a good start involves understanding your options. What is the difference between a Sole Proprietorships, Business Partnership, LLC, Corporation, and S- Corporation? What are the tax implications of each? What would be best in your situation? We can help you understand the differences and make the best decision. Don't miss out on significant tax savings based on the nature of your business and the structure of your company.
Entity Formation Services Include:
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Entity Selection
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Bookkeeping and Payroll
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Cash Flow Projections
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New Business Consulting
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Restructuring Entity Services
Estates and Trusts
Estates and trusts must file income tax returns, just as individuals do, using IRS Form 1041. If trust and estate beneficiaries are entitled to receive income from the estate or trust, they must pay income tax, rather than the trust or estate, using Schedule K-1.
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Determining the tax liability for an estate or trust or for its beneficiaries can be complicated, especially since this is often a unique situation for the fiduciary or beneficiary. We help you file taxes for your estates and trusts.
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We Simplify the Tax Accounting Process for You
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For more than thirty years, Melissa Ochoa has worked with attorneys and estate and trusts beneficiaries on a wide range of estate and trust work. As your tax accountants, we can help you determine your tax liability.
Form 706
The executor of a decendent’s estate uses Form 706 to figure the estate tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Form 706 is also used to compute the generation-skipping tax (GST).
Form 1041
According to the IRS, Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, must be used by the fiduciary of a domestic decedent’s estate, trust, or bankruptcy estate to report:
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Income, deductions, gains, losses, etc. of the Estate or Trust
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Income that is either accumulated or held for future distribution or distributed currently to the beneficiaries
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Income tax liability of the estate or trust
Schedule K-1
The trustee or fiduciary of the estate must issue a Schedule K-1 to allow beneficiaries to correctly report income on their personal tax return. Beneficiaries of a trust or estate need to fill out the Schedule K-1.
Tax & Retirement Planning
If you are a few years away from retirement, it’s important to start thinking about how you will manage the “spend down’ of your retirement savings from a tax perspective. You need to know how your Social Security payments will be taxed, and when would be the best time to tap into your IRA’s. Melissa and her team can help you understand your options and plan for your future . Learn more about our strategic tax planning services by clicking below.