1124 PhoenixTaxConsultants profile - r2p21_Layout 1 1 / 6 / 25 4 : 56 PM Page 1 b y B I L L D O N A H U E p h o t o g r a p h y b y N I N A L E A P H O T O G R A P H Y turns , Phoenix Tax Con - taxpreparation . This “ new way of doing taxes ” sultants strives to engage marries the intimacy of a face - to - face meeting clients in “ next - level con - with the convenience of remote technology . versations ” that have the “ It’s like coming to a brick - and - mortar lo - potential to affect their cation but without having to come to our financial lives for the office , ” she adds . “ Basically , we schedule a long term . One such meeting through an online conferencing plat - conversation may help form . We can gather information through a Julia Brufke Wenger , an entrepreneur realize secureportal and have face - to - face conversations the owner and founder taxsavings by changing in a very personal way . Some of our clients of Phoenix Tax Consultants LLC their small business to used to live in the area but have moved else - a different legal entity , where , and this technology has allowed us to while another may help movewith them . I have clients from when we a pre - retiree utilize a re - first started this practice , and they have since tirement account more become multigenerational clients . I want the effectively . same for our virtual clients , too . ” “ We can recom - Besides leading Phoenix Tax Consultants , mend making changes Wengeris a partner with a locally based wealth - in contributions to a re - management firm , Bala Financial Group Inc . Phoenix tirement account that Theaffiliation ultimately benefits clients of both completely change the entities , she says , because strategic tax planning tax return , ” Wenger says . and financial planning go hand in hand . “ For example , if you are “ Frankly , I can’t understand how a financial a taxpayer with a child plannercan give recommendations without the Rising incollege , you have avail - perspective of a client’s tax situation , ” she says . ability to a significant ed - “ Someone can get a great return on an invest - ucation credit . But if you ment , but if they lose money on a bad tax deci - Industry disruptor Phoenix Tax Consultants make too much money , sion , they’re clearly not getting the best outcome . you may be unable to We’revery holistic from that standpoint . ” LLC combines strategic tax planning , unparalleled participate in that credit . Wenger finds satisfaction in getting “ great expertise , and pioneering technology to offer “ a new We could recommend results ” for her clients . As the tax - filing deadline putting a certain amount looms , she looks forward to helping more way of doing taxes . ” inyour 401 ( k ) , which re - new clients realize the long - term benefits of With this year’s tax - filing deadline quickly leases the education credit , that in turn pays her practice’s strategic approach . approaching , a sense of unease permeates for the 401 ( k ) contribution . Software won’t “ If someone drops a $ 100 bill on the side - the air . Taxpayers across the country wring tell you that . ” walk , they have no problem spending an hour their hands as they prepare for the task at Since Wenger founded Phoenix Tax Con - to go back and look for it , ” she says . “ At the hand . Perhaps their returns have become too sultantspractice in 1990 , the practice has grown same time , we find that some people are OK complex , or they feel that changes in federal to provide year - round advisory services to ap - with losing thousands of dollars a year on law have muddied the waters , or they fear proximately 2,000 clients across the country , taxesbecause it’s not tangible to them . People making a mistake that could dramatically un - concentrated mostly in the Philadelphia area . work hard for their money , and they should dercut or delay their refund . All of the practice’s tax specialists — CPAs , en - take the time to find out how to preserve it . ? Julia Brufke Wenger , EA , CFP © , ChFC © , rolledagents , and tax attorneys , among them — That’sour job . ” MSFS , understands taxpayers ’ apprehension . haveobtained advanced degrees and certifica - After all , she believes that tax filing should be tions . Some of them hail from the area’s most left to the professionals . She cautions , however , prestigious local universities , such as Drexel , that not all tax preparers are created equally . Penn , Temple , and Villanova . “ Tax filing should not be a DIY activity , ” “ It’s a really important relationship , so we says Wenger , the owner and founder of Phoenix want clients to work with people they feel com - Tax Consultants LLC , which is based in fortable with , ” Wenger adds . “ Everyone on our Phoenixville . “ We’ve caught mistakes on even team is a good technician , but chemistry is im - the most basic returns . Philosophically , we in - portant , too . Our clients should feel like they corporate strategic planning into every return . have a good rapport with our people so they Whether it’s someone just starting out who can get to those next - level conversations . ” has a straightforward W2 or it’s a high - net - Wengerdescribes Phoe - worth client with a very complex return that nix Tax Consultants as a D PHOENIX TAX CONSULTANTS LLC includesinvestments and stock options , strategic “ disruptor ” in the industry 300 Bridge Street | Phoenixville , PA 19460 taxplanning benefits everybody . ” in part because of its pio - ( 610 ) 933 - 3507 | taxtacklers.com As part of its approach to handling tax re - neering embrace of virtual SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 16 ISSUE 3 | 21