Written by Mark Sipos, LFG Tax Director One of the most common breakdowns in financial planning happens quietly when investment strategy and tax strategy operate in silos. You can receive solid advice from both your financial advisor and your tax professional. However, if those two sides are not coordinated, the outcome is often far less efficient than many people realize. True planning happens when investments and taxes are aligned in real time, not after the fact. Tax-Loss Harvesting: Simple in Theory, Complex in Practice Take tax-loss harvesting as an example. On paper, it sounds straightforward. Realize losses to offset gains. In practice, execution and timing matter greatly. If investment trades are not coordinated with the broader tax plan, you can inadvertently trigger wash sales, mistime losses, or generate deductions that do not get fully utilized. What appears to be a tax-saving strategy can lose much of its benefit without proper coordination. Roth Conversions and Income Planning Roth conversions are another area where integration is critical. Deciding how much income to recognize in a given year affects more than just the current tax bill. It influences portfolio positioning, capital gains exposure, Medicare premiums, and overall risk management. If tax planning and investment management are not aligned, it is possible to unintentionally push someone into a higher tax bracket or create avoidable tax consequences. The strategy may be sound in isolation b