Find Your Tax Specialist

Find a CPA Who Understands Your Situation

Life transitions bring complex tax implications. Finding the right CPA who specializes in your specific situation can save you significant money and stress.

This tool helps you identify what expertise you need, find qualified CPAs in your area, and prepare the right questions for your consultations.

Why Specialized Help Matters

  • Generic CPAs miss opportunities: A CPA who handles your specific situation regularly knows strategies a generalist might overlook
  • Timing is critical: Many tax-saving strategies have deadlines that pass quickly after life changes
  • State rules vary: Your state has unique tax rules that a local specialist understands
  • The stakes are high: The right advisor during a transition can save tens of thousands in taxes

How This Works

1
Answer a few questions about your situation (takes about 2 minutes)
2
Get a personalized summary of what expertise to look for
3
Search for qualified CPAs in your area with a pre-built query
4
Use tailored interview questions and a comparison worksheet
Your Situation
Question 1
What best describes your situation?
Recently widowed
Step-up basis, filing status change, survivor benefits
Recently divorced
Asset division, alimony, filing status, QDROs
Recently retired or planning retirement
Social Security, RMDs, Roth conversions, Medicare
Location
Question 2
Where are you located?
Timing
Question 3
When did your spouse pass away?
This year (2026)
Can still file jointly this year
Last year (2025)
Qualifying widow(er) status may apply
2+ years ago
Now filing as single
Assets
Question 4
What types of assets did you inherit?

Select all that apply

Primary residence
May have significant step-up value
Investment/brokerage accounts
Step-up basis can reset cost basis
Retirement accounts (IRA, 401k)
Special spousal rollover rules apply
Rental/investment real estate
Depreciation and basis rules differ
Business interest
Valuation and succession planning needed
Value
Question 5
Approximate total value of inherited assets?
Under $500,000
Standard planning typically sufficient
$500,000 - $1 million
Roth conversions become valuable
$1 million - $2 million
Multi-year planning recommended
$2 million - $5 million
Estate planning integration needed
Over $5 million
Advanced planning essential
Income
Question 6
What are your current income sources?

Select all that apply

Social Security (your own)
Up to 85% may be taxable
Social Security (survivor benefits)
May switch between own and survivor
Pension
Check survivor benefit elections
Required Minimum Distributions
May need to take spouse's RMD too
Still working
Affects Social Security and Medicare
Documentation
Question 7
Has the step-up in basis been documented for inherited assets?
Yes, with appraisals/valuations
You're ahead of most people
Partially documented
Some assets need attention
No / Not sure
This is a high priority
Priorities
Question 8
What are your biggest concerns?

Select up to 2

Reducing taxes now that I'm filing single
Bracket jump is often significant
Deciding what to do with inherited investments
Rebalancing without triggering taxes
Understanding Roth conversion opportunities
Lower income years are opportunities
Planning for my own heirs
Estate and inheritance tax planning
Just need help understanding my new situation
Guidance and clarity
Timing
Question 3
When was your divorce finalized?
This year (2026)
Filing status changes this tax year
Last year (2025)
First full year filing separately
2-5 years ago
May still have open tax issues
5+ years ago
Focus on ongoing optimization
Alimony
Question 4
What is your alimony situation?
Receiving alimony
Tax treatment depends on agreement date
Paying alimony
Deductibility depends on agreement date
No alimony
Clean split on this front
Not yet determined
CPA can help negotiate tax-efficiently
Retirement
Question 5
Were retirement accounts divided in the settlement?
Yes, with a QDRO
Qualified Domestic Relations Order in place
Yes, IRAs only (no QDRO needed)
Transfer incident to divorce
No retirement accounts divided
Not part of the settlement
Not sure
A CPA can help you figure this out
Property
Question 6
What happened with the family home?
I kept it
Basis and exclusion rules apply when you sell
We sold it
Capital gains exclusion may apply
Ex-spouse kept it
Transfer was likely tax-free
Still deciding
Timing matters for tax treatment
Dependents
Question 7
Do you have dependent children?
Yes, I claim them
Head of Household status and child credits
Yes, ex-spouse claims them
Different filing status implications
We alternate years
Tax planning varies year to year
No dependent children
Filing as single
Priorities
Question 8
What are your biggest concerns?

Select up to 2

Alimony tax treatment
Rules changed significantly in 2019
Property settlement tax basis tracking
Important for future sales
Optimizing my new filing status
Head of Household vs Single
Child tax credits and dependency
Who claims what matters
Just need help understanding my new situation
Guidance and clarity
Timing
Question 3
When did you retire (or plan to)?
Already retired
Focus on withdrawal optimization
Within the next year
Critical planning window
1-3 years from now
Time for Roth conversions and planning
3-5 years from now
Strategic pre-retirement positioning
Social Security
Question 4
What is your Social Security status?
Already taking benefits
Focus on taxation optimization
Planning to start soon
Claiming strategy matters
Delaying until 70
Maximizes benefit amount
Not sure when to start
A CPA can run breakeven analysis
Accounts
Question 5
What retirement accounts do you have?

Select all that apply

401(k) or 403(b)
RMDs required at age 73
Traditional IRA
Roth conversion candidate
Roth IRA
Tax-free growth, no RMDs
Pension
Lump sum vs annuity decision
Deferred compensation
Distribution timing is critical
Value
Question 6
Approximate total retirement account balance?
Under $500,000
Basic withdrawal planning
$500,000 - $1 million
Roth conversions worth evaluating
$1 million - $2 million
Multi-year Roth ladder strategy
$2 million - $5 million
IRMAA planning becomes important
Over $5 million
Complex withdrawal and estate planning
Strategy
Question 7
Have you considered Roth conversions?
Already doing Roth conversions
Need help optimizing amounts
Interested but haven't started
Want professional analysis first
Not sure what this is
A CPA can explain the opportunity
Not interested
Have other priorities
Priorities
Question 8
What are your biggest concerns?

Select up to 2

Social Security claiming strategy
When to start matters a lot
Roth conversion planning
Minimize lifetime tax burden
Understanding RMD rules
Avoid costly penalties
Tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing
Which accounts to draw from and when
Just need help understanding my options
Guidance and clarity
Preference
Question 9
What's your preference for meeting with a CPA?
Want someone local (in-person)
Face-to-face relationship
Virtual/remote is fine
Expertise over proximity
No preference
Show me all good matches

Finding Your CPA

Here's what to look for and how to reach out

What to Look For

Find CPAs Near You

We've built a search query based on your needs:

When You Reach Out

Copy this summary to include in your initial email or consultation request:

Questions to Ask in Your Consultations

Tailored based on your situation. Use these to evaluate which CPA is the right fit.

CPA Comparison Worksheet

Print this worksheet and fill it in after your consultations to compare your options.

Factor CPA 1 CPA 2 CPA 3
First impression
Understood my situation
Explained their approach
Fee structure clear
Availability
Overall fit (1-5)