Turning Tax Records into Wealth Management Strategies with Kevin Knull
Episode 110: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Kevin Knull, CEO of TaxStatus. With more than 30 years in financial services and fintech, Kevin has led growth and innovation at companies like MoneyGuidePro, YCharts, Symetra Financial, and Hartford Leaders. Throughout his career, he's been dedicated to advancing the industry by helping advisors deliver smarter, higher-quality advice to their clients.
Kevin talks about how TaxStatus leverages access to IRS data to help financial advisors get a complete picture of a client's financial life. He explores the opportunities this presents for organic growth, building relationships with COIs, and providing better, more holistic advice. From his early days in the U.S. Coast Guard to leading FinTech and advisory firms, Kevin shares how his career has been fueled by one mission: delivering better advice and better outcomes.
In this episode:
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(00:00) - Intro
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(02:01) - Kevin's money moment
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(04:42) - Why "better advice, better outcomes" is harder than it looks
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(06:15) - How tax data can serve as the foundation for holistic advice
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(09:27) - How TaxStatus can access clients’ IRS data
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(11:13) - Consent, compliance, and how advisors can use IRS data responsibly
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(13:01) - Turning tax data into organic growth opportunities
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(16:20) - Partnering with CPAs and COIs through smarter data sharing
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(19:16) - The importance of a standardized process for data collection
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(24:28) - The role of AI in the future of the industry
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(31:22) - Kevin's Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
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Advice is both an art and a science. Financial planning requires connecting multiple disciplines—tax, investments, estate planning, and risk management—rather than operating in silos.
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Start with the source of truth. The IRS holds the most complete financial picture of clients. Leveraging that data helps advisors deliver more accurate, holistic advice.
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Organic growth lives with existing clients. The fastest way to grow isn't always new leads. It's uncovering assets, businesses, and properties that clients already have but haven't disclosed.
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Data builds trust with COIs. CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals benefit from cleaner, real-time data. Advisors who bring value here strengthen partnerships and referrals.
Quotes
"There's science and there's art to this industry. And unfortunately, because the industry evolved, each discipline is operated separately." ~ Kevin Knull
"The IRS is the source of truth. They have everything. So if you're going to render advice, that's the first place to start." ~ Kevin Knull
"Financial planning, investment advice, and wealth management are art and science. Just like insurance and tax, there's a whole lot of gray. That gray is where firms, advisors, and professionals are going to differentiate themselves." ~ Kevin Knull
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