Florida Tax Advisors, LLC
Shannon Gardner is well aware that the 2012 tax deadline is just around the corner. Yet his office on Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill is calm. Clients come and go, seemingly without panic, even though less than two weeks remain to file their income tax returns.
Gardner explained that his clients are well versed in the importance of early preparation and organization, particularly when it relates to their money. A majority of them, more than 90%, are retirees. Many rely on fixed incomes and investment dividends. Their livelihood is dependent on making smart money choices.
Florida Tax Advisors, LLC, has built its foundation on providing financial services to a unique clientele. The company originated in 2002, bringing a fresh umbrella of financial services to Hernando County. Under the direction of Gardner, and his partner, Gary Fecarotta,Jr., it has grown to roughly 500 tax returns and 500 investment clients.
“Seventy percent of those clients do both taxes and investment services with us,” Gardner said. The relationship is recurring. “Our goal is to meet with our investment clients four times a year and with our tax clients, once to do their taxes and once to help them reduce their taxes after filing.”
Tax laws can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Gardner explained that many changes to tax laws might not show up for years. “For example, qualified dividends, that will affect a lot of people who take in dividend income, are set to expire at the end of this year,” he said. “That will have a huge impact because a lot of people who are receiving qualified dividends are currently paying a smaller tax percentage on them.”
Staying on top of the changes is Gardner’s job. In fact, the company specializes in many financial services designed to assist customers in keeping more of their own money in their pockets.
“Most accountants do a good job preparing taxes,” Gardner said. “Our job is to show clients how to reduce or even eliminate their taxes. We show them legal ways to reduce tax liability.”
Gardner also pointed out that the best time to think about next year’s tax deadline is now. “Tax planning should begin immediately after filing,” he said. “Don’t put away your tax return just yet. Once the year ends, you can’t do anything about it. Now is the time to do something about this year’s and future year’s taxes.”
He suggested that the first step in reducing their tax liability is to get a financial analysis done. “We have (new customers) bring in their last few tax returns,” Gardner said. He first looks for any errors in the returns and then evaluates how the client was being taxed.
“We match that up against their income and expenses to determine if they’re being taxed on money they’re not using,” he continued. “The bottom line is we look at every individual situation to determine if they are doing everything possible to keep more money in their pockets, which is critical in today’s times.”
Gardner explained that retirees are often hit harder with higher inflation rates than others simply because of the items they purchase. “They are actually at a higher inflation rate for things like extra insurance, food, gasoline… The inflation rate is based on a lot of criteria that retirees may or may not be buying. So they may be seeing a higher inflation rate than what is being quoted.”
Florida Tax Advisors can prepare any tax return, even those considered complicated. They have three independent Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and four total tax preparers.
In addition, Florida Tax Advisors offers a complete line of comprehensive tax, estate planning and financial services. They include Tax Return Preparation, Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Insurance Planning, Educational Savings Plans and Financial Road Maps.
Gardner has been in the industry since 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a long list of financial licenses decorating an impressive resume.
“I started in 1997 in Clearwater,” Gardner reminisced. “I came to Hernando County in 2001 with zero clients.”
His clients, he said, fuel his passion. “I get to work with people and put together a jigsaw puzzle without the picture,” he said.
“Ultimately what we’re out to provide is peace of mind for people.”
Biz at a Glance
Name: Florida Tax Advisors, LLC
Address: 258 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill
Telephone: (352) 398-4919 (Hernando); (727) 498-4250 (Pinellas & Pasco); Toll Free (866) 270-5075
Kim Dame is a correspondent for Hernando Today. She can be reached at [email protected].
