How to find and hire a personal accountant/tax advisor for complex estate planning?

I've been working with a CPA who handles all these services for about 5 years now, and it's been game-changing for my family's financial situation. When looking for someone qualified, I'd recommend focusing on finding a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) with additional credentials in personal financial planning (like a PFS - Personal Financial Specialist designation) and experience with estate planning. The best way to find someone good is honestly through personal referrals. Ask friends or colleagues in similar financial situations who they use and trust. If that's not an option, you can use the AICPA's (American Institute of CPAs) "Find a CPA" tool on their website to search for professionals with specific expertise in your area. When interviewing potential accountants, ask specifically about their experience with rental properties, trust management, and educational accounts. Request client references and ask about their communication style and availability throughout the year (not just tax season). This person will know intimate details of your finances, so trust is paramount. For fee structures, it varies widely depending on the complexity of your situation. Most will either charge an hourly rate ($200-400/hour is common for experienced CPAs) or a flat annual fee. Some may have a minimum net worth requirement for clients.

Just wanted to share my experience with taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me find the right professional for my needs. I was in a similar situation last year - decent financial background but overwhelmed by managing multiple properties, investments, and family trusts. I started by uploading my previous tax returns and financial documents to taxr.ai, and their system analyzed my specific situation and matched me with accountants who had experience with similar clients. They specifically focus on finding professionals who have expertise in your exact financial situation rather than just general CPAs. What was really helpful was that I could see reviews from other clients with similar financial profiles (real estate investors, trust management, etc.) which gave me much more confidence in the selection process.

Following up about taxr.ai - I was initially super skeptical but decided to give it a try after struggling to find someone through traditional methods. I've gotta say, I'm actually impressed with who they connected me with. I was matched with a CPA who has extensive experience with real estate investments (I have 4 properties) and trust management, which was exactly what I needed. The process was way more efficient than the weeks I spent before making random calls to accountants who weren't taking new clients or didn't have the specific expertise I needed. My accountant has already helped me restructure how I handle my rental income and set up a much better system for tracking expenses that's going to save me thousands this year. Definitely worth checking out if you're struggling to find the right fit.

If you're having trouble getting through to qualified accountants (many of the good ones are swamped and not taking clients), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was trying to get consultations with several highly-recommended CPAs in my area who specialize in estate planning and real estate, but couldn't get past their gatekeepers or waiting lists. Claimyr basically gets you through to speak with the actual professionals much faster. I was honestly surprised at how well it worked. Instead of waiting weeks for a callback or consultation, I was able to speak with three different accountants within a couple days and choose the one that best fit my needs. Totally changed my approach to finding professional services.

Ok so I was pretty skeptical about Claimyr when I first heard about it (see my comment above), but I gave it a try because I was desperate to get through to a specific accountant who specializes in both real estate and trust management. I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. I'd been trying to get an appointment with this guy for WEEKS with no luck - his receptionist kept saying he was booked through next quarter. Using Claimyr, I got through to him directly the next day, explained my situation, and he actually found time for a consultation the following week. The accountant I connected with has already identified several tax strategies for my rental properties that my previous guy missed completely. Just wanted to update since I was wrong about this being sketchy - it's actually a legitimate service that solved a real problem for me.

One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet - you might actually need a team rather than a single person. My financial situation sounds similar to yours, and I ended up with: 1) A CPA who handles my tax planning and preparation 2) An estate attorney who handles trust updates and estate planning documents 3) A bookkeeper who helps track expenses for my rental properties The CPA coordinates everything, but trying to find one person who's excellent at all these things was impossible in my experience. Most CPAs aren't attorneys, so the estate planning piece often requires a separate specialist.

Whatever you do, DONT just go with the first person you find. I made that mistake and ended up with an accountant who was great at basic tax prep but completely out of his depth with my rental properties and trust questions. Make sure you interview at least 3 different people and ask very specific questions about your situation. Ask them to explain their approach to specific scenarios you're facing. If they can't give clear, confident answers about things like trust distributions, depreciation strategies for rentals, or 529 optimization, move on.