Serving equity earners nationwide, virtually.
Your Equity Is Only as Valuable as Your Plan for It.
Kindled Planning works with equity earners year-round, so your tax strategy is in place before the event, not after.
You Might Be in the Right Place If…
You earn RSUs, ISOs, or NSOs at a public or pre-IPO company.
You've had a surprise tax bill, or you're worried you might.
You've changed jobs, had options expire, or have an IPO on the horizon.
Your equity income is now larger than your base salary.
You're making decisions about exercising or selling without a clear strategy.
You have multiple income streams (W-2 + equity + rental income, or a side business) and no one is coordinating the full picture.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're exactly who we built this for.
Most CPAs Meet You at the Finish Line.
Tax filing is a backward-looking exercise. By the time your return is prepared, every major decision has already been made, vesting events have occurred, options have been exercised, taxes have been withheld (or not). A traditional CPA records the history. We help you write your story as it happens.
Equity compensation is one of the most complex intersections of tax law and personal finance that exists. The decisions you make around vesting, exercising, and selling have compounding effects on your AMT exposure, your capital gains treatment, and your effective tax rate for years. Most generalist CPAs don't specialize here. We do.
Year-Round Planning. Not Year-End Scrambling.
We treat your equity compensation like the strategic asset it is. That means:
Reviewing your equity schedule at the start of the year, not after vesting.
Modeling tax scenarios before you exercise or sell.
Coordinating your equity strategy with your other income sources.
Identifying estimated tax obligations before they become surprises.
Walking you through your return so you actually understand it.
Three Ways to Work Together.
Filing
Best for: Equity earners who are comfortable planning on their own but want CPA-precision filing and a clear explanation of their return.
Includes: Expert CPA preparation of your federal and state returns, an equity and cost-basis audit, and a personalized video walkthrough of your completed return so you understand exactly what happened and why.
Guidance
Best for: Equity earners who want proactive planning, not just a well-filed return. The most common starting point for new clients.
Includes: Everything in Filing, plus unlimited email access, an Annual Tax Savings Roadmap, a mid-year strategy session, and a Q4 tax projection so you know exactly where you stand before April arrives. We build your plan before the events happen and make sure there are no surprises when they do. IRS notice protection included.
Strategy
Best for: Equity earners with high complexity, multiple vesting schedules, a side business, real estate income, or an IPO/exit on the horizon. Clients who want a true Personal CFO relationship.
Includes: Everything in Guidance, plus unlimited emails and calls, continuous scenario and liability modeling as your variables change, dynamic Q4 projections updated in real time, proactive outreach initiated by us, and priority response. We're not waiting for you to flag something. We're already on it.
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Filing
$195/mo
Tax Return Preparation
Equity & Cost-Basis Audit
Video Review of Results
Annual Tax Savings Roadmap
Mid-Year Strategy Session
Q4 Tax Projection
IRS Notice Protection
Year-Round Support
Scenario & Liability Modeling
Proactive Outreach
Relationship Model Compliance
Response Time Tax Season Only
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Guidance
$295/mo
Tax Return Preparation
Equity & Cost-Basis Audit
Video Review of Results
Annual Tax Savings Roadmap
Mid-Year Strategy Session
Q4 Tax Projection Annual Forecast
IRS Notice Protection
Year-Round Support Unlimited Email
Scenario & Liability Modeling
Proactive Outreach
Relationship Model Strategic Partner
Response Time Standard
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Strategy
$495/mo
Tax Return Preparation
Equity & Cost-Basis Audit
Video Review of Results
Annual Tax Savings Roadmap
Mid-Year Strategy Session
Q4 Tax ProjectionDynamic Modeling
IRS Notice Protection
Year-Round Support Unlimited Emails & Calls
Scenario & Liability Modeling Ongoing
Proactive Outreach
Relationship Model Personal CFO
Response Time Priority
Getting Started Is Simple.
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1. Discovery Call
We start with a conversation, no commitment, no jargon. You tell us what you're working with; we tell you exactly how we'd approach it and which tier makes sense for your situation.
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2. Onboarding & Planning
We get you set up in our secure client hub, review your equity schedule and prior returns, and build your initial tax plan. If there are immediate opportunities or risks, we identify them in the first 30 days.
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3. Ongoing Strategy
From there, we're your year-round partner. We work ahead of the events reaching out before vesting dates, modeling decisions before you make them, and keeping your strategy current as your situation evolves.
Questions We Hear Often.
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A traditional CPA prepares your return. We plan your year and then prepare your return. The difference shows up in your tax bill, your confidence in the decisions you're making, and the absence of April surprises.
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Yes, and that's exactly the intersection we're built for. Our Tax Strategy & Advisory page covers how we support business interests and real estate alongside your equity comp. Most clients with this profile start at Guidance or Strategy.
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Both. ISO planning before an IPO is one of the highest-stakes financial decisions an employee can face. We work with clients at public companies, late-stage startups, and anywhere in between.
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Entirely through our secure digital client hub and video consultations. No need to scan and mail documents or schedule an in-person visit. Our clients are nationwide, and the experience is designed to be seamless, secure, and genuinely time-efficient.
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Filing is a strong starting point if your equity situation is straightforward and you want CPA-precision filing done right. The video walkthrough is a meaningful differentiator, you'll understand your return, not just sign it. That said, most equity earners find that one surprise tax bill costs far more than the step up to Guidance. As your complexity grows, upgrading is simple.
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For most equity earners, Guidance delivers exactly what they need, no tax anxiety, no year-end surprises, and real savings year over year. More than 60% of our equity comp clients start and stay there. Strategy is for clients whose complexity doesn't sit still: multiple vesting schedules, a side business, real estate, or a pending IPO. Not sure which fits? That's what the Discovery Call is for.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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Ashley R.
★★★★★
Working with Matt at Kindled Planning was incredibly easy from start to finish. After moving from out of state, I needed a new tax advisor I could trust, and Matt handled my multi-state return seamlessly. He was thorough, patient, and always willing to explain things clearly along the way, which gave me a lot of peace of mind. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again and highly recommend his services!
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Suzanne M.
★★★★★
Kindled Planning is a great company and so supportive with assisting/answering any financial questions. Matthew ( the owner) was so helpful when completing my tax return. He walked me through every step and did his due dilligence.
Most of Our Clients Start With One Question.
Am I handling this the right way? Whether you've had a surprise tax bill, a vesting event coming up, or you've just never had a CPA who actually explained your return that's the right question to bring to us.
No commitment. No jargon. Just clarity on where you stand.