Hannah Smolinski vs Wendy Barlin: Tax Service Models
Compare Hannah Smolinski and Wendy Barlin by public service model, client fit, complete fees and implementation. Published by AE Tax Advisors.
Compare the contracted service
Compare fractional CFO ownership with accounting, compliance and advisory services under the actual firm contract. Assign forecasts, monthly books, payroll and tax filings separately.
Published by AE Tax Advisors, a competing tax advisory provider. This is a commercial analysis of public offerings, not an independent ranking, endorsement or firsthand customer review. No customer rating is assigned.
Hannah Smolinski / Clara CFO Group
Clara CFO Group identifies Hannah Smolinski as a CPA, founder and CEO. Its public platform includes educational resources, a podcast and YouTube links.
The firm describes fractional CFO work including forecasting, budgeting, reporting, KPI tracking, finance leadership and implementation support. Its FAQ says it works alongside existing accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers.
The FAQ describes CFO services for businesses generally in the $2M–$20M revenue range and coordination with existing tax professionals. Confirm fit and current scope; a CFO engagement should not be treated as an automatic replacement for tax preparation.
Fee evidence for Hannah Smolinski
The reviewed FAQ says most clients invest $3,500–$10,000 per month depending on CFO ownership and complexity. That recurring CFO range is not a like-for-like quote for AE’s defined tax advisory engagement.
Questions for the actual engagement
- Who owns forecasting, budgeting and finance-team leadership?
- How does the CFO coordinate with my tax preparer?
- Which system implementation and transaction support are included?
- What monthly scope, reporting and additional fees apply?
Give each bidder the same entity list, prior returns, current books, property details and deadline. Request a complete fee and written assignment for advice, implementation and filing. Share sensitive records only through the chosen provider’s secure intake process.
Name-specific research
Wendy Barlin / Wendy Barlin education / Roth&Co
Roth&Co identifies Wendy Barlin as its Director of Client Accounting Services and an author with tax and accounting experience.
The firm biography covers outsourced bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, tax compliance, CFO and advisory services. Her separate shop offers digital workshops about business deductions and incorporation.
The personal shop includes older About Profit ownership language, while the Roth&Co biography describes a firm sale in 2021 and a current Roth&Co role. Confirm the current entity rather than equating those descriptions.
Fee evidence for Wendy Barlin
The personal shop advertises a $97 tax-strategies workshop and $37 incorporation session. Those education prices do not quote Roth&Co client accounting, advisory or tax compliance; confirm availability and current terms.
Questions for the actual engagement
- Which firm contracts for the client service?
- Which bookkeeping, payroll and tax tasks are included?
- Does the workshop include any personal record review?
- How are CFO, advisory and filing fees scoped?
Give each bidder the same entity list, prior returns, current books, property details and deadline. Request a complete fee and written assignment for advice, implementation and filing. Share sensitive records only through the chosen provider’s secure intake process.
Name-specific research
Compare total scope before selecting
AE Tax Advisors provides tax planning for business owners and real estate investors. Standard advisory is $7,800 and complex advisory is $9,800. Returns, amendments, property studies and other implementation work are separately scoped and priced. Confirm the support period and responsibilities in the written engagement; the standard advisory engagement has no required annual planning renewal.
Request the same entities, records, deadline and implementation assignments. Education, legal work and tax filing can require different contracts. A preliminary tax-saving estimate and a course fee do not establish comparable project costs.
Sources, methodology and review date
Official pages reviewed November 8, 2026. Statements about identity and offerings are attributed to those pages. AE has not independently verified marketed savings, customer results, licensing status or delivery. Confirm current availability, terms and the actual contracting entity.
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Discuss your priorities, upcoming decisions and whether a study or advisory engagement fits. Detailed analysis, implementation or filing work follows an agreed written scope.