Steven Gabrielsen, CEOWhy does traditional tax preparation often miss opportunities to legally reduce taxes?
For most taxpayers, working with a CPA follows a predictable pattern: gather documents, file the return, and hope the number owed isn’t too painful.
But according to Steven Gabrielsen, CEO of Creative Advising, that approach misses the real opportunity.
“Traditional CPA firms focus almost entirely on tax preparation,” Gabrielsen explains. “The problem is that by the time you’re filing the tax return, it’s already too late to change anything.”
Creative Advising was built to solve that problem. Instead of reacting to taxes after the year is over, the firm focuses on proactive planning throughout the year—helping clients legally reduce their tax liabilities while building long-term wealth.
For many clients, the results are dramatic. On average, individuals and business owners working with Creative Advising are able to reduce their overall tax liability by 60% to 80% after implementing strategic tax planning.
The Story Behind Creative Advising
What led to the creation of Creative Advising and its proactive tax strategy model?
Gabrielsen founded Creative Advising after years of working inside traditional CPA firms and noticing a frustrating pattern. During tax season, he would meet with clients and explain how they could have saved tens of thousands of dollars if certain strategies had been implemented earlier in the year. Clients often agreed the strategies made sense.
But when they returned the following year, nothing had changed.
“They understood the strategies,” Gabrielsen says. “But they didn’t know how to actually execute them.”
That realization led to the creation of Creative Advising in 2018 with a different philosophy: tax strategy should be implemented throughout the year—not discussed after it’s too late.
Instead of a once-a-year meeting, the firm works with clients continuously to ensure strategies are executed properly and opportunities are never missed.
How does the firm’s quarterly strategy system help clients implement tax strategies?
One of the defining features of Creative Advising is its structured quarterly strategy process. Rather than waiting until tax season, the firm meets with clients throughout the year to review financial activity and adjust strategy in real time.
During these meetings, the team analyzes areas such as business structure optimization, investment strategies, real estate planning, deductions and credits, and long-term tax positioning.
Each client receives a customized plan designed specifically around their income structure, business activities, and long-term financial goals.
“There are firms that push cookie-cutter strategies,” Gabrielsen explains. “We build strategies around the individual client and what they want to accomplish.”
For some clients that means layered corporate structures. For others it may involve real estate investments, cost segregation strategies, or alternative investments that create tax advantages. The objective is simple: reduce taxes legally while building sustainable wealth.
Real Clients. Real Savings
The impact of proactive tax planning can be significant. One client, a real estate broker earning roughly $1 million per year, was in the process of building a new office building valued between $2 million and $3 million. Through strategic planning, Creative Advising implemented a cost segregation study that generated approximately $1.2–$1.3 million in depreciation losses. Instead of owing between $300,000 and $400,000 in taxes that year, the client actually received a refund. The strategy created an estimated $200,000–$300,000 in immediate tax savings.
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There are firms that push cookie-cutter strategies. We build strategies around the individual client and what they want to accomplish.
In another case, a business owner approached the firm after being told by their previous CPA that they would owe roughly $65,000–$75,000 in taxes.
After reviewing the situation, Creative Advising discovered the business had been structured incorrectly. By electing S-corporation treatment and identifying deductions that had been missed, the firm reduced the tax liability to roughly $30,000—saving the client more than $30,000 within a matter of weeks.
Who Creative Advising Works With
Which clients benefit most from advanced tax planning and ongoing strategy guidance?
Creative Advising primarily serves high-income individuals and business owners where advanced tax planning can produce meaningful results. Typical clients include entrepreneurs, real estate investors, executives, and professionals with significant income.
For W‑2 earners, the firm generally recommends working together when annual income exceeds roughly $750,000 to $1 million. For business owners, the typical threshold is around $650,000 or more in net income. At these income levels, strategic tax planning often produces six‑figure opportunities that traditional tax preparation alone would miss.
A Nationwide Virtual Firm
Creative Advising operates as a fully virtual CPA firm serving clients in all 50 states.
The firm has experienced strong growth—expanding roughly 30% to 45% year over year—and continues to scale through technology, automation, and strategic acquisitions of other accounting firms. Despite the growth, Gabrielsen emphasizes that the firm’s core focus remains unchanged.
“This is a people business,” Gabrielsen says. “When we take care of our team and our clients, the results follow.”
How to Get Started
The process of working with Creative Advising begins with a free 15‑minute consultation where the team reviews a prospective client’s income sources, business structure, investments, and financial goals.
From there, clients can choose from three simple service levels:
• Basic Package – starting at $1,000 per month, including tax preparation and limited strategy calls
• Strategy Package – starting at $1,500 per month, including quarterly strategy meetings and open access to advisors
• Full-Service Package – starting at $3,500 per month, including strategy, bookkeeping, payroll management, and financial oversight
Most clients choose the quarterly strategy package, which provides ongoing planning and guidance throughout the year. For high‑income individuals and business owners who feel they may be paying more tax than necessary, a strategic review can reveal opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed. Creative Advising serves clients nationwide and offers consultations to help determine whether strategic tax planning is the right fit.
