The Founding of AE Tax Advisors
AE Tax Advisors was founded with a mission to provide high-income professionals, business owners, and real estate investors with proactive tax planning that goes beyond compliance. Rather than waiting until April to prepare taxes, AE Tax Advisors works throughout the year with clients to structure business decisions, investments, and compensation strategies that minimize lifetime tax liability.
Our Founding Philosophy
Most tax preparation firms are transaction-focused: gather last year's information, file the return, collect the fee. AE Tax Advisors operates with a strategic philosophy: understand your business and financial objectives, then structure your affairs to align taxes with those objectives. This forward-looking approach saves clients significantly more than traditional tax preparation.
Building Expertise in Complex Tax Strategies
Our team developed deep expertise in specialized strategies that matter for six-figure earners and business owners: cost segregation studies, 1031 exchanges, S-corporation election optimization, passive loss rules and Real Estate Professional Status, qualified business income deduction planning, partnership entity structuring, and tax-efficient exit strategies. These specializations are available to clients through comprehensive tax planning engagements.
Real Estate Investment Focus
AE Tax Advisors has particular expertise in real estate investor tax planning. Our team understands the complexities of multi-property portfolios: depreciation, passive loss limitations, Real Estate Professional Status qualification, 1031 exchange planning, and cost segregation. Many of our clients are real estate investors with seven-figure portfolios generating six-figure tax savings through strategic planning.
Business Owner and Executive Specialization
Beyond real estate, AE Tax Advisors serves business owners and corporate executives. Services include S-corporation election planning, entity structuring optimization, business exit planning, and compensation strategy (W-2 salary, bonuses, stock option planning). For executives with deferred compensation and equity, we coordinate the tax impact of compensation with overall financial planning.
Proactive Client Engagement Model
Rather than engaging clients only at tax time, AE Tax Advisors maintains year-round client engagement. Quarterly planning sessions keep clients updated on anticipated tax liability and identify optimization opportunities before year-end. Quarterly check-ins ensure strategic tax planning is being implemented, not just discussed.
Credentialed and Compliant Advisors
Our team includes CPAs with strong tax credentials and deep industry experience. We maintain continuous professional development to stay current with tax law changes, IRS guidance, and strategy updates. Client trust is built through demonstrated expertise, ethical practice, and consistent delivery of tax-saving strategies.
Local Montana Roots, National Reach
Based in Billings, Montana, AE Tax Advisors serves clients locally and nationally. Our local presence means personal relationships with clients; our national reach allows us to serve out-of-state clients via phone and video consultation. We understand Montana tax issues (state income tax, agricultural deductions, real property considerations) while maintaining expertise in multi-state and national planning.
Commitment to Client Education
AE Tax Advisors believes informed clients make better financial decisions. We provide clients with educational resources, tax strategy guides, and detailed explanations of planning recommendations. Understanding the "why" behind strategies empowers clients to implement planning confidently and sustain strategies long-term.
Technology and Security
Our client portal and document exchange system provide secure, encrypted communication. Clients can share tax documents, financial statements, and sensitive information confidently. We maintain SOC 2 compliance and follow industry-standard security practices to protect client data.
Our Commitment Going Forward
AE Tax Advisors continues to develop expertise in emerging tax strategies (Opportunity Zones, qualified opportunity businesses, cost segregation expansion) and emerging client needs (crypto taxation, remote work multi-state planning, equity compensation for startup employees). We're committed to staying ahead of tax law changes and bringing those insights to clients.