A Planning Ally Who Stays in Their Lane—and Keeps You in the Loop
You're often the first person to see a client's RSU concentration, an under-funded 401(k), or a business owner with no coordinated exit plan. You don't need to become their financial planner to make sure they get good advice—you just need someone reliable to send them to.
Bradly Stevens, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, WMCP®, CEPA™, CLTC®, AIF®, LUTCF® — Forbes Best-In-State Top Financial Security Professional, 20+ years advising San Diego professionals and business owners.
- Prepare tax returns or offer tax advice—that stays with you
- Push products before understanding the full picture
- Make a move without looping you in first, when your client wants that
- Treat the introduction as a one-way street
You See the Problem First—We Help Solve It
Tax season surfaces things a client's own planning has missed: equity compensation that vested without a strategy, a solo 401(k) that hasn't been reviewed in years, a business owner with no coordinated retirement or succession plan. You see it clearly. But flagging it and fixing it are two different jobs, and most CPAs and EAs don't want to take on the second one.
BAS Financial works with clients the same way we'd want a referral ally to work with ours: listen first, then build a coordinated strategy around what's actually going on—not a product recommendation made before the conversation even starts. That's the same standard we hold ourselves to in how we handle a referral relationship with you.
Situations That Often Justify a Warm Introduction
A client's RSUs, ISOs, or a single employer's stock make up an outsized share of their net worth, with no diversification or tax-aware plan around vesting.
You're filing the return, but no one is looking at how the client's investments, retirement accounts, and tax picture work together across the year.
A business owner client has no retirement plan, an outdated one, or a 401(k) that hasn't been benchmarked for cost or design in years.
A sale, exercise deadline, inheritance, or other liquidity event is approaching and the client has no plan for what happens to the proceeds.
How the Referral Relationship Works
A quick email, a warm intro on a call, or just having your client mention your name—however's easiest. No paperwork on your end.
A complimentary conversation to understand the client's situation. If there's nothing there worth pursuing, we'll say so—plainly, and to the client directly.
With the client's permission, we stay in touch on planning decisions that intersect with tax prep—so you're never blindsided by a move you didn't know about.
"Will This Affect My Client Relationship?"
No. We view ourselves as a specialist you bring in for a specific need, not a replacement for the relationship you've already built. Your client's tax work stays with you, and we're direct about that with every client we work with together.
Credentials & Approach
MBA · ChFC® · CLU® · WMCP® · CEPA™ · CLTC® · AIF® · LUTCF® — Forbes Best-In-State Top Financial Security Professional. Education-first, listen-first planning, built around each client's full financial picture rather than a single product.
What CPAs & EAs Usually Ask
Do you prepare tax returns or compete with my practice?
No. We don't prepare returns, and we're not trying to build a tax practice. Our work is investment management, retirement planning, and coordinated financial strategy—work that sits alongside what you do, not in competition with it.
What if my client doesn't want to move any accounts?
That's fine. Plenty of engagements start with coordinating what a client already has rather than moving anything. The first conversation is about understanding their situation, not a sales pitch for a transfer.
How do you keep me in the loop?
With the client's permission, we can loop you in directly on planning decisions that intersect with tax prep—timing of Roth conversions, equity sales, retirement contributions, and similar items. How much or how little contact makes sense is something we work out together.
Is there any cost to my client for the first conversation?
The initial conversation is complimentary. Any ongoing fee structure is discussed directly with the client during a complimentary review, based on their specific situation.
Reach Out Directly
Whether you have a client in mind or just want to talk through how a referral relationship would work, this goes straight to Bradly Stevens. Fill out the short form below to get started.
Let's Talk Through How This Would Work
No obligation, no scripts—just a conversation about the kinds of clients you're seeing and whether a referral relationship makes sense.
What We Send Clients You Refer
Bradly Stevens is a Registered Representative/Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0F60819. This page is educational and does not constitute tax or legal advice; clients should continue to rely on their CPA or EA for tax preparation and tax advice.The Forbes award is not issued or endorsed by Guardian or its subsidiaries. The annual Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Top Financial Security Professionals is based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC. No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results.