Learn how Range’s tax advice and 0% AUM fees ¹ saved one couple more than $10,000 in year one alone. ²

A tech executive couple earning $1.3 million annually faced a projected $435,000 federal tax bill with thousands in potential underpayment penalties. After joining Range and receiving strategic tax guidance, they were able to optimize their tax withholdings to eliminate underpayment penalties, unlock $44,500 in tax-free Roth conversions, and establish ongoing tax-advantaged growth opportunities—all while eliminating the 1.3% assets under management fees they were paying at their previous brokerage. ¹

The Client's Tax Challenge

After years of building wealth at a tech company, this senior executive and his spouse found themselves in a familiar position for high earners: Despite their financial success, they felt like they were hemorrhaging money through mounting tax bills and investment fees.

Their financial profile:

• Senior executive at a tech company
• Combined annual W2 income: $1,300,000+
• Spouse not currently working
• Strong desire to optimize taxes
• Over $300,000 in unrealized gains across multiple brokerage accounts

Their initial projections painted a stark picture:

That’s what they found at Range, where they were able to unlock thousands of dollars worth of tax savings.

Uncovering Hidden Tax Opportunities

Range's comprehensive discovery process went beyond surface-level tax projections, examining how RSUs, IRAs, charitable giving, and investment accounts could work together for maximum tax efficiency.

The most significant discovery: $44,500 in after-tax contributions made from 2019-2025 that weren't properly tracked as nondeductible on Form 8606. This revelation opened the door for Range to guide the couple through a powerful tax-free Roth conversion strategy.

Here’s how the Roth conversion worked:

• Rolled the pre-tax IRA portion to the 401(k)
• Converted the $44,500 basis to a Roth IRA with zero tax liability
• Result: Unlocked decades of tax-free growth

For the couple in question, this meant transforming after-tax money into a powerful wealth-building vehicle that could grow tax-free and be accessed without RMDs in retirement.

The Comprehensive Implementation Plan

But Range was set to do more than just uncover a previous slip-up. Our team put together a plan that addressed the couple’s immediate needs while building long-term wealth:

RSU Optimization Strategy

Range guided the couple in implementing an immediate-sale-at-vesting policy to simplify taxes, improve liquidity, and prioritize portfolio diversification.

Withholding Adjustments

After concluding that the couple’s current tax withholding was too low, Range advised them on making strategic increases to avoid owing underpayment penalties.

Here’s how they did it:

• Increased RSU tax withholding from 30% to 37%
• Bumped federal withholding by $700 per paycheck
• Result: Eliminated the risk of owing a $2,025 underpayment penalty come tax season.

Donor Advised Fund Setup

Range guided this couple through making their charitable contributions work to their advantage by putting together a framework for donating appreciated securities instead of liquidating before making a donation. This strategy enables donors to receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of their donation while avoiding capital gains tax entirely.

Portfolio Consolidation

The couple was able to consolidate all their accounts into our 0% AUM fee portfolio management service, eliminating the 1.3% management fees they were paying with previous providers. ¹

Considering the couple’s holdings, this saved them upward of $15,000 in AUM fees.

What could Range potentially save you? Use our Financial Advisor Fee Calculator to find out.

Unlocking Tax-loss Harvesting

By managing their investments through Range, the couple has access to automatic tax-loss harvesting. For high-income earners in the 37% tax bracket, harvesting just $3,000 in losses to offset ordinary income can save approximately $1,110 annually. When applied systematically across a diversified portfolio, tax-loss harvesting can generate meaningful savings year after year. 

Establishing Annual Backdoor Roth Contributions

To tap into every available tax-saving strategy, Range also guided the couple in systemically setting aside $7,000 annually for tax-free Backdoor Roth contributions.

The Financial Impact

After implementing these integrated strategies, the transformation was remarkable:

Through their partnership with Range, the couple transformed their tax strategy from reactive to proactive wealth building. 

Making Advanced Tax Strategies Work for You

For high-income earners with similar profiles, tax season often brings an unwelcome reality: unexpected tax bills that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. While many accept this as an inevitable cost of success, at Range, we know there are steps you can take to keep a larger portion of your earnings. 

Next-level tax planning goes beyond tax filing. Your tax strategy needs to connect with your complete financial landscape in order to potentially reduce your tax liability and work towards building long-term wealth.

Range's integrated approach to wealth management combines multiple tax optimization strategies—including tax-loss harvesting, backdoor Roth conversions, and tax-efficient charitable giving—into one cohesive plan. When paired with our flat-fee structure that eliminates traditional AUM fees, these strategies can create substantial savings that can compound over decades.

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^Disclosures

^{1 Brokerage fees, transaction charges, and other applicable platform fees imposed by our custodian are not included in your membership and will be passed through to you as the Member. Additionally, fund fees charged by third-party managers (such as mutual fund or ETF expense ratios) will apply; these fees are separate from your membership and are not received or shared by Range in any way.}

^{2 Strategic tax planning and projections, equity comp planning, and real estate planning are only available to Platinum and Titanium tiers which cost $5,950 or $9,950 annually, respectively.} 

^{This case study is for illustrative purposes only and is based on the specific circumstances of one Range client. Individual results will vary and are not guaranteed. The strategies and outcomes referenced may not be appropriate for every investor and do not reflect all client experiences. Past performance, including tax outcomes or fee savings, is not a guarantee of future results. Clients should consider their own financial situation and consult with a financial or tax professional before implementing any strategy.}

^{This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. The strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Tax laws and regulations may change, and the impact of tax strategies will vary based on individual circumstances.} 

^{Range Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Range Advisory, LLC does not guarantee any specific outcome or return.}

^{Flat membership fees described refer to Range’s current pricing model, which may vary over time or by relationship type. Fee comparisons are provided for illustrative purposes and are based on assumed AUM fee percentages; actual cost savings will vary. Please see Range’s ADV Part 2A for more information.}

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