If you’re a financial advisor, your credibility shows up in how well you anticipate tax season chaos.
And let’s be honest: You probably didn’t become an advisor to chase down 1099s, estimate Q1 tax payments, or decode K-1 delivery delays.
But your clients expect you to stay ahead of all of it.
In the latest Retirement Tax Services podcast, RTS founder and CPA Steven Jarvis sat down with Brooke Cecil, VP of Financial Solutions at BELAY, to dissect exactly what advisors need to do now to prepare for the 2026 tax filing season.
Insight → Action → Impact
Here’s what you’ll learn (and why it matters):
Insight #1: Deadlines Aren’t Optional. But Who Owns Them Is.
From January 15 estimated payments to October 15 filing extensions, every financial advisor needs a proactive system for tax calendar management. But Steven and Brooke make it clear: these dates should not live solely in your head.
"Go through the full list of dates and put someone’s initials next to each. If it’s all you? That’s a capacity red flag." – Steven Jarvis, CPA
Key dates to know now:
- January 15 – Final Q4 estimated payments for 2025
- January 31 – 1099s due for retirement distributions, dividends
- March 15 – S Corp & partnership return deadline
- April 15 – Individual return deadline + Q1 estimated payment for 2026
- September 15 – Extended S Corp/partnership deadline + Q3 estimates
- October 15 – Extended individual filing deadline
Miss one, and your client notices. Nail all of them, and they feel fully supported.
Insight #2: Delegation is a Financial Planning Strategy
Many advisors are still manually tracking tax forms, scrambling for receipts, or answering client questions about why their 1099 hasn't arrived on January 20.
“You don’t need three letters after your name to track a tax deadline. That’s delegation, not genius.” – Brooke Cecil, BELAY
Brooke’s point?
You don’t need to own every task to deliver value. BELAY’s Financial Experts and Executive Assistants take on the administrative lift so advisors can stay focused on high-impact client work.
Insight #3: Tax Proactivity = Client Stickiness
Clients don’t remember that you called in April to answer their questions. They remember if you proactively told them what to expect in January.
“If you’re not talking about March 15th until it’s already March, you’ve missed the moment to lead.” – Steven Jarvis
That’s why Retirement Tax Services partnered with BELAY to create the 2026 Tax Calendar, a downloadable list of every important 2026 date financial advisors should track. It’s built to be delegated and referenced throughout the year.
Want the Download?
Click here to get your free copy of the 2026 Tax Calendar, organized, simplified, and built for delegation.
Final Thought: Tax Leadership Isn’t Optional
If you're reactive about tax deadlines, you're just another advisor. But if you can lead, delegate, and systematize the tax season before it starts? You become irreplaceable.
Start by getting the calendar.
Then put names next to dates.
Then stop doing work someone else can do better.