The Blog
Should I form an LLC to save taxes in California?
Thinking about forming an LLC to reduce your taxes in California? Here's what actually works, what doesn't, and how to make the right decision for your situation.
Divorce Financial Planning in Newport Beach: What High-Net-Worth Clients Need to Know
Katherine Leonard, CPA and CFP in Newport Beach, helps high-net-worth clients navigate divorce with clarity on asset division, tax consequences, and long-term financial structure.
Looking for a Tax Strategist in California Who Does Financial Planning Too? Here's What to Know.
Most high-income W-2 earners in California need more than a CPA or a financial advisor. Katherine Leonard, CPA and CFP in Newport Beach, offers integrated tax strategy and financial planning for executives and high earners.
Why High-Income Earners Still Owe Taxes (Even With Withholding)
Earning $300K+ in Newport Beach and still owing taxes? Katherine Leonard, CPA and CFP, explains why withholding fails high-income W-2 earners and what to do about it.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a self-employed professional in California?
If you’re a high-income, self-employed professional in Newport Beach, California or Corona del Mar, the right answer is not a flat percentage. You need a tax strategy tied to real income, timing, and California’s unique payment structure.
Why Clients Need Integrated Tax and Financial Planning
For high-net-worth clients making complex financial decisions, the issue is rarely a lack of advice, it is a lack of coordination. As a financial planner and financial advisor working with high-income clients, I consistently see clients earning $250K to $1M+ who have a CPA, an investment advisor, and a plan on paper, yet still feel uncertain. Integrated financial planning brings decision into one system, so clients can move forward with clarity instead of managing disconnected pieces.
Who Should You Work With: CFA vs. CFP vs. CPA?
The financial services industry is characterized by a complex array of professional acronyms. Choosing which to work with as your primary advisor matters immensely, especially for high-net-worth individuals in high-tax states like California. A CFA, CFP, and CPA each solve different problems, but tax-efficient wealth management requires integration, not silos. In my work with high-net-worth clients, the biggest gaps show up when tax strategy is disconnected from investment and planning decisions. A financial planner who integrates CPA-level tax strategy with CFP-based planning is typically best positioned to reduce tax drag and create clarity across complex financial decisions.
Choosing a Financial Planner in Newport Beach and Corona Del Mar
The best financial planner in Corona Del Mar or Newport Beach, California for high-net-worth individuals is someone who can connect tax strategy, investments, and overall planning into one clear system. If you’re making complex financial decisions, especially with high income or significant assets, you don’t need disconnected advice. You need someone who understands how everything interacts. In Orange County, that level of complexity is normal, so the planning needs to be practical, proactive, and specific to your situation.
How to Maximize Your Deductions Before Year-End
The final weeks of the year are the most effective time to reduce your tax bill. Smart planning now can increase your deductions, improve cash flow, and position you for a stronger start next year.
Why Not All Assets Are Equal in Divorce: Understanding What Your Settlement Is Really Worth
In divorce, asset valuation is not about equality on paper. It is about real-life financial impact.
Two assets may share the same number but result in very different futures. When you understand liquidity, taxes, risk, income, expenses, and growth, you take control of your financial life instead of settling blindly.
Maximize Your Retirement Contributions to Lower Taxes
Contributing to retirement accounts is one of the simplest and highest-ROI moves in personal finance. It reduces your current tax bill, builds long-term wealth, and creates financial stability that compounds for decades. Yet many high-income earners still underuse the accounts available to them or contribute without a strategy.
Financial Planning for Women Going Through Divorce
Divorce is complex, but your financial future does not have to feel uncertain. With the right guidance, you can protect your stability, make informed decisions, and begin the next chapter of your life on a strong foundation.
Charitable Bunching: A Simple Strategy to Maximize Deductions in High-Income Years
The standard deduction is high, which means many generous people no longer receive a tax benefit for their annual charitable gifts. Charitable bunching solves that problem. It’s a strategic way to group multiple years of giving into one tax year so you can itemize when it counts and still support your favorite charities over time.
Donating Appreciated Stock: How to Maximize Your Charitable Impact and Minimize Taxes
Donating Appreciated Stock: How to Maximize Your Charitable Impact and Minimize Taxes
The Rise of Women as Financial Decision-Makers
Women are now leading long-term planning, handling investment decisions, running small businesses, and stepping into leadership positions across a wide range of companies. WSJ reporting also confirms that female leaders made meaningful gains across industries in 2024. These shifts have created a growing need for advisors who offer clear communication, strong organization, and a planning style that reflects real everyday demands.
Donor Advised Funds
For high-income individuals, business owners, or anyone looking to be more intentional with their giving, a DAF can turn generosity into a strategic tax opportunity.
Year-End Tax Planning for High Income Individuals and Business Owners
Last-minute tax-saving moves for high earners and business owners. Maximize deductions, retirement contributions, and avoid surprises before Dec 31.