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TAX PLANNING • GROWTH • PRIVATE MARKETS
High earners often feel the pressure of rising tax bills, especially in years when compensation, bonuses, or investment gains come in waves. The good news is that tax planning does not need to be complicated or overwhelming. With the right mix of planning, structure, and investment choices, you can meaningfully improve your after-tax outcomes.
At Citizen Mint, we help advisors and investors build portfolios that work smarter. That includes identifying strategies that naturally support better tax efficiency over time.
Below are some of the most effective levers we see high income investors use today.
Start with the essentials. Maxing out 401(k)s, IRAs, and deferred compensation programs remains one of the easiest ways to reduce taxable income in high earning years. These plans create space for long-term compounding while lowering your current tax burden. Catch-up contributions for investors over 50 add even more flexibility.
Equity awards reward performance, but they also create real, predictable tax events. Understanding vesting schedules, exercising stock options at the right time, and deciding when to sell can prevent surprise income spikes. Many investors opt for a simple approach: sell RSUs as they vest, lock in value, and redeploy proceeds into a diversified plan.
Health Savings Accounts are one of the most efficient accounts available. Contributions reduce taxable income, growth is tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Many high earners who can pay medical expenses out of pocket choose to invest HSA funds for the long run.
Tax-loss harvesting can offset gains from liquidity events or portfolio rebalancing. Used thoughtfully, losses today can help manage taxable income across multiple years. Just remain mindful of the wash sale rule, which limits repurchases of similar positions within the restricted window.
This is where many investors overlook valuable opportunities. Private markets often generate income and gains that behave differently from traditional stocks and bonds. Real estate strategies may deliver depreciation benefits. Infrastructure and private credit can offer stable, predictable cash flow with attractive risk-adjusted returns. Longer hold periods can defer taxable events while offering exposure to sectors that historically move independently from public markets.
Citizen Mint curates private market strategies that support both portfolio construction and tax efficiency. You can explore these approaches here.
Donating appreciated securities helps avoid capital gains and creates a tax deduction at fair market value. Donor-advised funds let you make a single large contribution in a high-income year, then distribute grants over time. For more complex assets, charitable trusts can provide tax benefits and long-term income streams.
Backdoor Roth conversions, municipal bond interest, and certain types of insurance structures can create a mix of income sources with lower tax exposure. Business owners have additional tools like the Augusta Rule, which allows limited tax-free rental income from their home.
Business owners can hire children for legitimate work, shifting some income into lower tax brackets. Families saving for education can use 529 plans to grow assets tax-free for future qualified expenses. Front-loading several years of contributions can be especially useful during high-income periods.
Mortgage interest, property taxes, medical expenses, business expenses, home office deductions, and charitable gifts add up. Consistent documentation makes all the difference. The more organized your approach, the easier it is to capture the deductions you are entitled to.
Taxes are one of the few areas where careful planning can create immediate and long-lasting results. High income investors have more levers to pull, but also more complexity. The right structures, accounts, and investment mix can reduce today’s tax burden and support tomorrow’s growth.
If you are interested in exploring how private market strategies on Citizen Mint can support tax-efficient planning, you can learn more here.
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