Why Tax Planning Matters for Wealthy Families

For high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and families, taxes are often the largest and most persistent source of wealth erosion. High income levels, capital gains exposure, and complex estates can all amplify the consequences of poor tax planning.

Effective tax planning is more than just deductions or donations; it’s about building a comprehensive strategy around tax efficiency and regularly reviewing it. For multi-generational families, even a modest reduction in annual tax drag can lead to significantly improved outcomes over time.

At Segment, we view tax suppression as a quiet but powerful driver of long-term financial success. Our role is to ensure it’s not overlooked and never treated as an afterthought.

Rethinking Tax Planning for Wealth Strategy

At Segment Wealth Management, we approach tax planning with a focus on what we can control. While we don’t replace your CPA or offer tax preparation services, we are mindful of tax impact across the decisions we help guide, particularly in investment strategy, estate planning, and charitable giving.

Rather than treating tax planning as a reactive event, our philosophy emphasizes tax sensitivity, the idea that proactive awareness and coordination can help reduce unnecessary friction over time. For high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, even small efficiencies can have a profoundly compounding effect.

Whenever possible, we can collaborate with your existing CPA or estate attorney to explore strategies that align with your goals. These conversations may include:

• Evaluating the tax implications of philanthropic or estate strategies
• Exploring opportunities to harvest gains or losses
• Considering the timing of income, withdrawals, or liquidity events
• Aligning investment vehicles with your broader planning priorities

Our Tax Planning Process

Our role in tax planning is strategic, not transactional. We help identify opportunities and flag potential issues, particularly in areas such as wealth transfer, investment planning, and business transitions. Here’s how our team supports tax awareness as part of an integrated wealth strategy:

1. Foundational Review

When available, we review tax returns, investment accounts, and income sources to identify potential inefficiencies or planning opportunities. This helps inform conversations around investment strategy, asset location, and charitable orientation

2. Goal-Based Strategy Alignment

We help align financial plans with your long-term goals—from charitable giving and retirement income to intergenerational planning—while keeping tax implications in mind throughout the process.

3. Collaborative Implementation

When needed, we coordinate with your CPA or attorney to explore:

• Asset location strategies and tax-aware rebalancing
• Roth conversion scenarios and retirement distribution planning
• Support around stock options, 10b5-1 plans, or concentrated equity
• Considerations for donor-advised funds (DAFs), trusts, and gifting frameworks

4. Periodic Review and Ongoing Communication

While we do not offer formal tax monitoring, we remain available to revisit your tax-sensitive questions throughout the year, particularly when your financial situation, goals, or tax laws change.

What We Do (and Why It Works)

While we don’t offer in-house tax preparation, we provide comprehensive tax planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and families. Our services include:

Tax-Aware Portfolio Management

Whether considering tax location of investments or a step-up in basis,  we manage portfolios with tax impact in mind and tailored to your individual tax profile and goals.

Tax-Loss Harvesting Oversight

We monitor SMAs and other portfolios for loss harvesting opportunities to reduce realized gains and enhance after-tax returns.

Coordination with Tax Professionals

We work hand-in-hand with your CPA and estate attorney to ensure alignment across returns, gifting strategies, and estate structures.

Income Timing & Distribution Planning

We advise on when and how to take distributions or realize gains, especially for clients in transition, such as those approaching retirement, selling a business, or receiving an inheritance.

Legacy and Gifting Strategy Support

Whether you’re contributing to a DAF, planning lifetime gifts, or preparing for estate transfer, we help design tax-smart giving strategies.

Who We Serve

We provide high net worth individual tax planning across Texas and the U.S. Our clients include:

• Entrepreneurs before or after a liquidity event
• Executives with deferred comp, options, and RSUs
• Families with complex trust or partnership structures
• Inheritors navigating wealth for the first time
• Charitably inclined individuals seeking tax-smart giving

Why Choose Segment for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Tax Planning

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Segment is more than a wealth management firm; we’re a fiduciary partner who understands the long-term impact of tax suppression. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Fiduciary-first: Fee-only, no commissions, no conflicts
• GIPS®-verified since 2016: Transparent and accountable
• Team-based: CPAs, CFAs, and CPWAs at your service
• Custom SMA structures: Designed for tax control
• Year-round oversight: We don’t wait until April to plan
• Trusted by successful families nationwide

Let’s Minimize Friction and Maximize What You Keep

If you’re ready to explore tax planning for high net worth individuals, Segment is here to help. Let’s have a confidential conversation about how to integrate smarter tax strategies into your broader wealth plan.

Explore More Wealth Management Services

Tax planning is only one element of how we help clients preserve, grow, and transfer their wealth with confidence. Explore our full platform of comprehensive wealth management services to see how we integrate investment, estate, and legacy planning into one cohesive strategy.