When it comes to what is a tax strategy, understanding the fundamentals is key. If you have never worked with a proactive tax advisory firm before, you might be wondering what the process actually looks like. At AE Tax Advisors, we do things differently from a traditional CPA. We are not just filing your tax return — we are building a comprehensive tax strategy designed to legally minimize your tax burden, recover missed deductions, and set you up for long-term wealth preservation.
Understanding What Is A Tax Strategy in 2026
Here is a complete walk-through of what to expect when you engage with AE Tax Advisors, from the first conversation through ongoing strategic guidance.
Step 1: The Initial Consultation
Everything starts with a conversation. When you reach out to us — whether through our website, a referral, or a phone call — we schedule an initial consultation to learn about your situation. This call is typically 30 to 45 minutes and covers:
Your current income sources (W-2, business, investments, rental properties), your existing entity structure, what your current CPA is doing for you, your real estate portfolio (if applicable), and your tax pain points — what is bothering you about your current tax situation.
This call is free and there is no obligation. Its purpose is to determine whether our services are a good fit for your needs and to give you an honest assessment of the potential savings we see.
Step 2: The NDA and Engagement Letter
If we both agree that working together makes sense, the next step is signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and our advisory engagement letter. The NDA protects the confidentiality of the financial information you share with us. The engagement letter outlines the scope of our services, deliverables, and fees.
Our advisory engagement is priced at $7,800. This is a comprehensive, all-inclusive engagement that covers everything described in the remaining steps — not a per-hour billing arrangement. You know exactly what you are paying upfront, and there are no surprises.
Step 3: Document Collection
Once the engagement is signed, we send you a secure document request. We collect:
Your tax returns from the past three years (federal and state), supporting schedules and workpapers, closing statements and purchase documents for any real estate, depreciation schedules, business financial statements (P&L, balance sheet), retirement plan documents, entity formation documents (LLC, S-Corp, partnership agreements), and any other relevant financial records.
We make this process as painless as possible. You can upload documents through our secure portal, and our team will follow up on anything that is missing. Most clients complete document collection within one to two weeks.
Step 4: The 3-Year Lookback Analysis
This is the core of what sets AE Tax Advisors apart. We perform a detailed, line-by-line review of your past three years of tax returns. We are looking for:
Missed depreciation and cost segregation opportunities, incorrect entity structure choices, unclaimed deductions (home office, vehicle, travel, professional development), misclassified income (especially STR income treated as passive when it should be non-passive), retirement plan contribution gaps, missed credits and exclusions, and any other area where you overpaid.
The 3-year tax lookback typically identifies $25,000 to $150,000 or more in recoverable deductions. We present our findings in a clear, detailed report that shows exactly what was missed, how much you can recover, and the steps needed to claim it.
Step 5: Tax Plan Delivery
Based on the lookback analysis and your current financial situation, we build a forward-looking tax plan. This plan includes:
Immediate recovery actions: Amended returns (Form 1040-X) for any prior years where deductions were missed, and Form 3115 filings for accounting method changes like lookback cost segregation.
Current-year strategies: Entity restructuring, cost segregation studies on existing or newly acquired properties, retirement plan setup and optimization, STR tax loophole implementation, and any other strategies applicable to your situation.
Multi-year projections: We model your tax liability over the next three to five years under different scenarios so you can see the long-term impact of each strategy.
We present the tax plan to you in a dedicated strategy call, walking through every recommendation, the expected savings, and the implementation timeline.
Step 6: Implementation
Once you approve the plan, we handle implementation. This includes:
Filing amended returns for prior years, performing cost segregation studies (handled entirely in-house), preparing and filing Form 3115 for accounting method changes, coordinating entity restructuring with your attorney if needed, setting up retirement plans with the appropriate providers, and making sure every strategy is properly documented and audit-ready.
We do not just hand you a plan and wish you luck. We execute it.
Step 7: Ongoing Quarterly Reviews
Tax strategy is not a one-time event. Your income changes, tax laws change, and your investment portfolio evolves. That is why our engagement includes ongoing quarterly reviews.
Each quarter, we check in to review your year-to-date financial position, assess whether any adjustments are needed to your tax strategy, discuss new opportunities (property acquisitions, business changes, retirement planning), and ensure you are on track with estimated tax payments.
These quarterly touchpoints ensure that you are never caught off guard at tax time and that we are continuously optimizing your position throughout the year.
What Is Included in the $7,800 Advisory Engagement
To be clear about what you get for your investment:
Comprehensive 3-year lookback analysis of all prior returns with a detailed findings report. Forward-looking tax plan with multi-year projections and strategy recommendations. Implementation support including amended returns, Form 3115 filings, and cost segregation coordination. Ongoing quarterly strategy reviews to keep your plan current. Direct access to our advisory team for tax questions throughout the year.
The $7,800 is a flat fee — not hourly billing. Most clients recover the cost of the engagement many times over through the deductions and savings we identify.
Understanding tax strategy is essential for maximizing your tax savings as a real estate investor.
When it comes to tax strategy, working with a specialized tax advisor makes all the difference.
Many investors overlook tax strategy, but it can be one of the most impactful strategies in your tax plan.
At AE Tax Advisors, we help clients navigate tax strategy to keep more of what they earn.
Tax strategy is one of the most important concepts for real estate investors to understand. When properly implemented, tax strategy can lead to significant tax savings that compound over time.
Many high-income earners miss out on tax strategy opportunities simply because their CPA lacks the specialized knowledge. A proactive approach to tax strategy can mean the difference between overpaying and optimizing your tax position.
Schedule Your Strategy Session
If you are ready to stop overpaying on taxes and start working with an advisory team that is focused on proactive strategy, we would love to talk. The initial consultation is free, and you will walk away with a clear understanding of the potential savings available to you.
Schedule your free tax strategy session with AE Tax Advisors today.
For more information, refer to the IRS.