High-Income Earner Planning
Why High-Income Earners Need More Than Basic Tax Filing
Up to around $200K of household income, the tax code is relatively linear and a competent preparer covers most of what's needed. Above that, phaseouts, surcharges, and bracket cliffs create planning opportunities that don't appear on any tax form — and don't get caught by software.
Phaseouts that quietly increase your effective rate
QBI deduction phaseouts. Itemized deduction limitations. Education credit phaseouts. Each one adds 1–3 percentage points to your effective marginal rate without ever showing up as a 'bracket.'
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Additional taxes that kick in
Net Investment Income Tax (3.8%) above $200K/$250K. Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) above the same thresholds. AMT on certain income types. State surcharges on top earners.
Decisions that need cross-year modeling
Equity exercise timing. Roth conversions. Charitable bunching. Defined benefit funding. Real estate acquisitions. Each one has a tax answer that depends on this year's income plus next year's expected income.
Coordination across advisors
Financial advisor, attorney, insurance broker, business CPA, personal CPA. Without coordination, each makes decisions in their lane that don't optimize together. Planning becomes the connective tissue.
What 'planning' actually delivers
Mid-year projection. Q4 review with specific recommendations. Multi-year scenarios. Coordination calls with your other advisors. Not just a different return — a different set of decisions during the year.
Want to apply this to your situation?
Book a consultation with a Kuuni Partners advisor — Georgia-based, serving clients nationwide.
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