NEWSLETTER
Xerxes Nabong, CFP®, CDFA®
Philip M. Maliniak, CRPC®
Nicole Brown-Griffin, CFP®, CDFA®, EA
Aaron Petty, Client Associate
Hampton Roads: (757) 394-3486
Greater Phoenix: (480) 687-9339
Orange County: (949) 660-8869
Wealth Avenue April 2026 Newsletter: Turning Your Tax Return Into a Plan
You filed your taxes.
That process tells us what already happened. What matters now is what we do next.
What Your Tax Return Is Actually Showing Us
Behind every return is a story:
- Where your income came from (salary, stock vesting, investment income, business income)
- What tax bracket you landed in and how close you may be to the next one
- How efficient (or inefficient) your overall strategy was across income, investments, and savings
For many, there are a few surprises — sometimes owing more than expected, sometimes realizing how much went to taxes despite strong earnings.
That’s not a bad thing. It’s direction. It gives us a clear starting point for improving outcomes moving forward.
5 Moves to Consider Right Now
April isn’t the end of tax season — it’s the beginning of planning season.
Here are a few areas we’re already working through with clients:
- Adjust withholdings or estimated payments
Avoid surprises next year by aligning payments with your current income, especially if bonuses, RSUs, or investment income are part of your situation. - Maximize retirement contributions early
The sooner dollars go to work, the more they compound. This includes 401(k), 403(b), and Roth strategies, along with evaluating whether pre-tax or Roth contributions make more sense based on your tax bracket. - Plan around stock and restricted stock unit (RSU) activity
This is a big one. Timing, cost basis, and sale strategy matter more than most realize. Missteps here can lead to unnecessary taxation or missed planning opportunities. - Be intentional with gains and losses
Volatility creates opportunity, not just risk, when managed correctly. Tax-loss harvesting and gain management can help smooth tax impact over time. - Evaluate Roth conversion opportunities
These decisions are best made throughout the year, not in December. Identifying lower-income years or gaps in income can create meaningful long-term tax advantages.
The Wealth Avenue Tax Map
We look at your strategy through three lenses:
- Tax Me Now – brokerage accounts including interest, dividends, and capital gains, vesting company stock, and current income
- Tax Me Later – pre-tax contributions to 401(k)s and accounts rolled into IRAs; you receive a tax benefit today, but distributions are taxable in the future
- Tax-Free – Roth strategies and properly structured cash value life insurance
It’s not just about how much you have — it’s about where your money lives and how it’s taxed over time.
Common Mistakes We See After Tax Season
A few patterns come up every year:
- Waiting until year-end to plan
- Selling stock without understanding cost basis
- Treating taxes and investments as separate conversations
- Letting excess cash sit idle after distributions or sales
Small decisions here can have a big impact over time.
One thing to note — while 4%–5% yields on CDs and cash accounts have been attractive, those rates have begun to decline with interest rate cuts over the past 18 months, and the income generated is still taxed at your marginal rate. That makes proper allocation and tax awareness even more important.
How We Strategize
Review past tax returns, especially 2025’s, together
Identify planning opportunities for 2026
Coordinate with CPAs where needed
Position portfolios with tax efficiency in mind
Map out income strategies ahead of time to avoid reactive decisions
For those retired and paying Medicare premiums, your total income can directly impact what you pay. While increases aren’t always avoidable, we pay close attention to where income is sourced—especially if you’re near a threshold—to help manage or potentially avoid higher premiums when possible.
Next Step
If you’re not sure what your tax return is telling you, ask us.
Discussing tax strategy is part of all of our conversations. Whether you’re actively thinking about it or not, we are — and we’re happy to continue the discussion with you.
Your Team at Wealth Avenue,
P.S. Thank you for your continued trust and confidence in us. We’ve had the privilege of receiving several introductions from you over the past few months, and we truly appreciate it!
Our practice continues to grow through relationships built on trust and thoughtful planning. We’re currently welcoming new clients who value long-term collaboration and clear, strategic guidance. If someone in your life has recently changed jobs, is approaching retirement, received an inheritance, or simply wants a more defined financial path, we’d be glad to connect.
We serve clients from our offices in Virginia Beach, Scottsdale, and Newport Beach, and also work with many families and businesses virtually.
Lastly, here’s a quick Forbes read on tax scams. The IRS recently released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list, outlining the most common schemes targeting individuals and businesses in 2026. From phishing texts and AI-driven impersonation calls to misleading social media advice, these tactics are designed to steal personal information or trigger fraudulent refunds.
Bottom line: if it feels urgent or too good to be true, it usually is! Staying informed and relying on trusted guidance remains your best defense.
