We'll ask four quick questions — your comfort with tax risk, your charitable goals, how hands-on you want to be, and your openness to leverage. Then we'll show which high-impact strategies fit your profile, and chart the return outlook for the ones that do.
This is your "Tax Risk Mindset." It sets how aggressive a strategy you're comfortable with — and how much IRS scrutiny and complexity comes with it. Pick the highest level you're comfortable with; we'll show everything at that level and below.
Some strategies only make sense if you genuinely want to give to charity. If you don't, those drop off the board automatically. (A "leveraged charitable" deduction play is treated separately — it isn't gated by this answer.)
Yes, I want to give
I have real charitable goals and want strategies that amplify my giving while reducing tax.
No / not a priority
Charitable giving isn't a goal. Strategies that require genuine charitable intent won't apply.
Several strategies need material participation — roughly 100+ hours per year of active involvement — for the losses to offset your active W-2 income. (Those same strategies need no work if you're only offsetting passive income.)
Yes, I'll put in 100+ hrs/yr
I'm willing to materially participate so deductions can offset my active / W-2 income.
No, keep it passive
I'd rather stay hands-off. Strategies that require 100+ hours to offset active income won't apply.
Some strategies use financing — a loan or other leverage — to magnify the deduction or stretch your capital. If you'd prefer to avoid debt entirely, those drop off.
Yes, open to leverage
I'm comfortable using financing or debt where it improves the outcome.
No, avoid debt
I'd rather not take on any loan or leverage. Debt-based strategies won't apply.
Source: "2026 Select Impactful Tax Strategies At A Glance" and the Tax Risk Mindset 1–5 scale. Risk levels reflect firm ratings with advisor adjustments (Financed Charitable = 3, Oil & Gas = 2, Leveraged Charitable = 4; Motion Picture & Solar shown at their level-3 entry with a 3–4 range). Material-participation strategies require ~100+ hrs/yr only to offset active/W-2 income. Educational tool for discussion, not tax advice; eligibility depends on full client facts. Edit the STRATEGIES array in this file to change ratings, ROI, or add strategies.
Each whisker spans a strategy's estimated Year-1 ROI range, read against the Y-axis and the break-even line; exact percentages are omitted from the tiles themselves. Actual results depend on the client's facts, the specific program, and implementation; this is not a guarantee. X-axis = tax risk tolerance (1–5). Edit the roiLow/roiHigh values in the STRATEGIES array to tune.