Building Your Trusted Advisor Group
You’ve figured out your values. You’ve interviewed and vetted your financial advisors. Now it’s time to build out your full support system, what we call a Trusted Advisor Group, or TAG.
By Miguel A. Delgado, CFP®, Josh Broward, and Luis Pieruzzini.
This is your go-to crew of experts in accounting, tax, legal, and financial strategy. When things get complicated (and they will), your TAG should work together like a coordinated unit, not a bunch of siloed specialists tossing spreadsheets back and forth.
What Makes a TAG Work?
A great TAG isn’t just about individual talent. It’s about synergy.
Look for people who:
Understand how to collaborate across financial, legal, and tax functions
Know when to lead and when to stay in their lane
Don’t let ego get in the way of problem-solving
You want a group that can connect the dots between complex decisions; like how a funding round impacts tax exposure or equity splits. Ideally, these professionals already have experience working in startup ecosystems where speed, adaptability, and cross-functional thinking are the norm.
Be Careful with One-Stop Shops
Avoid firms that say they “do it all” under one roof. That setup can seem convenient, but it often creates conflicts of interest. If you want the freedom to swap out a specific advisor, it’s much harder when they’re bundled inside a larger firm with shared agendas. You need flexibility.
Build your TAG with independent pros who are used to collaborating, not competing with other experts.
Who Belongs in Your TAG?
Here’s a breakdown of the core roles and when to bring them in.
Tax Advisor
Timing: Early-stage or post-revenue
Why: You don’t want to wait until you're profitable to start tax planning. The right advisor can help you minimize liability, set up the right entity, and stay compliant, especially if you're collecting revenue in multiple states or countries.
Legal-Financial Expert
Timing: Around funding, equity decisions, or early cap table structuring
Why: Someone who understands both the financial and legal implications of fundraising, equity distribution, and founder shares can save you a lot of headaches later. Think less “lawyer who reads contracts” and more “partner who helps structure deals with your long-term upside in mind.”
Personal Financial Advisor
Timing: Post-traction, especially when founder income increases
Why: Once you start taking home real money, you need a plan. A personal financial advisor helps you manage equity, avoid lifestyle creep, and make decisions that support both your business goals and personal freedom.
Corporate Financial Advisor
Timing: Series A or once your startup has consistent revenue
Why: This is your financial co-pilot. They help with strategic cash flow planning, financial modeling, budgeting, and preparing for major events like fundraising, M&A, or exits. They’re the person helping you see around corners.
Executive Coach
Timing: Honestly? As early as possible
Why: Scaling a startup doesn’t just require technical skill — it demands leadership growth. A coach helps you level up how you make decisions, lead your team, and manage your own mindset during high-stakes situations.
Scale Your TAG With Your Startup
Don’t feel pressure to build the full squad on day one. Start lean, bring in specialists as the complexity increases, and reassess often. Your TAG should evolve as your business does.
And remember: compliance is just the starting point. Your goal should be to build a proactive, forward-looking advisory team that drives real strategic value, not one that just checks boxes at tax time.
Final Thoughts
Hiring financial advisors isn't just a box to check; it's a strategic move that can make or break your growth. The right team will help you scale smarter, avoid costly mistakes, and give you the clarity to make bold, informed decisions.
Whether you’re still early in your startup journey or staring down your next funding round, remember this: your advisors should feel like partners, not vendors. They should challenge your thinking, understand your vision, and have the experience to help you turn big ideas into executable plans.
Start small. Stay intentional. Build your Trusted Advisor Group one great fit at a time.
The information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only, and the information should not be construed as a provision of personalized investment advice or an offer to sell a particular product or service.