Southern New Hampshire University

TAX 705: Personal Finance and Advisory Services

A study guide to SNHU's TAX 705, the graduate course on personal financial advisory services, tax planning, estate strategies and retirement advice.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

TAX 705 is a graduate course at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on personal financial advisory services as they relate to tax planning. SNHU lists it at 3 credits and offered online.

The course expects you to think like an adviser: understand a client's situation and goals, work out the tax implications of different strategies, and recommend a way forward. The difficulty is joining several topics into one coherent plan.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversitySouthern New Hampshire University
Code and titleTAX 705 Personal Finance and Advisory Services
LevelGraduate, 3 credits
Subject areaTax-aware personal financial planning
FocusClient situation and goals, gift, trust and estate strategies, retirement advice

What TAX 705 Covers

Part of the descriptionWhat it means in practice
Analyze a client's situation, needs and goalsGathering information and setting priorities
Tax implications of gift, trust and estate strategiesComparing how each approach is treated for tax
Advising on retirement planningRecommending optimal financial strategies

Key Concepts Explained

Start with the Client

A plan is only useful if it fits the client. Summarize their assets, income, family situation, goals and constraints before suggesting strategies. This summary is often the first part of an assessment.

Illustration (invented client, method only): A client in their fifties wants to retire at a given age and leave something to their children. Your analysis would list assets and income, state the goals in order of priority, and identify which strategies serve each goal and what each means for tax.

Comparing Strategies

Gifts, trusts and estate arrangements each have different tax consequences. Use a table with the same criteria for each: purpose, tax treatment, flexibility, cost and risk.

Recommendation with Caveats

Advisers explain why one approach fits better than others and note assumptions, such as the law staying as it is. State those assumptions clearly.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

The course sets exact tasks. These formats are general guidance only.

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Client situation analysisInformation gatheringSummarize facts, goals and constraints clearly
Strategy comparisonTax implications of optionsUse a consistent comparison table
Retirement recommendationAdviser judgmentMatch strategy to goals and explain trade-offs
Client plan or letterCommunicationPlain language, clear next steps

Building the Client Fact-Find

AreaInformation to gather
Income and assetsSources, amounts and types
Family and goalsDependants, intentions for gifts or legacy
RetirementTarget timing and income needs
ConstraintsRisk tolerance, liquidity and timing

A tidy fact-find helps you spot which strategies matter. If an assignment gives limited facts, state what you assumed.

Writing Advice a Client Can Use

Lead with the recommendation, then explain why it fits the goals. Give the tax implications in plain language and note the main risk. End with next steps the client can take.

Avoid long lists of every possible strategy. A shorter list of well-explained options is more helpful and shows better judgment.

What a Strong TAX 705 Submission Looks Like

A strong submission starts with the client, not the tool. It summarizes the situation and goals, selects strategies that serve those goals, and explains the tax implications of each in plain language.

It should also show how the parts fit together. For example, a retirement recommendation should be consistent with gift and estate choices made in the same plan, and any conflict should be noted and resolved.

Preparing Before Each Module

Skim the module outcomes and list the terms you do not recognize. Look up each in your course materials and write a one-line definition. A short glossary makes it easier to write client-friendly explanations, because you will already have simple wording for each concept.

Questions to Ask Your Instructor

Ask whether cases are fictional, which tax year's figures to use, and how formal a client letter should be. Ask also whether you should present one recommended plan or several scenarios. Answers to these questions shape the whole assignment, so ask before you start drafting.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for TAX 705

How We Help with TAX 705

Send the prompt, client facts and rubric. A writer with tax and financial planning knowledge can explain the concepts, prepare a custom plan for a comparable case, or review your draft for logic and clarity. Verify figures against official sources.

GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with SNHU. Our work is a study and reference aid; submit your own work under SNHU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request, and are refunded in full if late.

Build a Clearer TAX 705 Client Plan

Share your assignment and draft. We prepare a custom plan or review your own for logic and clarity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits is TAX 705?

SNHU's catalog lists it as 3 credits at graduate level.

What does TAX 705 cover?

Personal financial advisory services related to tax planning, including gift, trust and estate strategies and retirement planning.

Is TAX 705 online?

The catalog lists it as offered online.

Do I advise a real client?

The description refers to analyzing a client's situation; your course instructions explain whether cases are fictional.

How is TAX 705 different from TAX 650?

TAX 650 focuses on individual returns; TAX 705 focuses on advisory planning including estates and retirement.

Can you help me compare strategies?

Yes. We can help you structure the comparison and check your reasoning, while you submit your own final work.