What happens when IRS tax data meets AI in the middle of an advisor shortage?

In this episode of Beacon: 1% Better Every Day, host Chip Kispert sits down with Kevin Knull, CFP®, and Browning Mank of TaxStatus to explore how their platform is reshaping advisor growth strategies and client service models.

Kevin shares his journey from the U.S. Coast Guard to fintech leadership, highlighting how solving big problems with technology and helping people has always been part of his DNA. Browning offers an unexpected but relatable story about dating that ties directly into why having better data leads to better outcomes.

Together, they reveal how TaxStatus helps advisors uncover held-away assets, prepare for wealth transfer, and scale fiduciary advice in a future where both financial advisors and CPAs will be in short supply.

What you’ll learn:

• Why incomplete data puts advisors at risk of giving partial advice
• How firms can discover hidden assets and unlock organic growth
• The staggering advisor and CPA shortage ahead, and the opportunity it creates
• Real-world use cases of how tax data transforms client reviews and prospecting

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Kevin Knull

• TaxStatus
• LinkedIn: TaxStatus
• LinkedIn: Kevin Knull

Connect with Browning Mank

• TaxStatus
• LinkedIn: TaxStatus
• LinkedIn: Browning Mank
• Email: browning@taxstatus.com

About Our Guests:

Kevin Knull is the Chief Executive Officer at Tax Status, where he is focused on building strong teams and creating innovative strategies that drive growth and performance in the fintech and financial services industries. Over the course of his career, Kevin has led teams and driven transformation at leading firms including MoneyGuide Pro, PIEtech (MoneyGuide’s Truth platform), YCharts, and Symetra Investment Management. With a background that began at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and included three tours of duty, Kevin brings a service-first mindset to every role. His passion lies in solving big problems, leveraging technology, and helping advisors deliver better outcomes for their clients.

Browning Mank is the Senior Vice President and Enterprise Account Executive at Tax Status. She brings decades of experience across wealth management, insurance, and asset management, with a career that spans corporate, entrepreneurial, RIA, CPA, and fintech sectors. Browning spent 18 years in leadership roles at Fidelity Investments, where she oversaw sales strategy and execution across retail branches, regional centers, and institutional RIA/Broker-Dealer channels. Following her time at Fidelity, she founded a successful executive recruiting and consulting firm, and later held strategic roles with Ackerman Capital Management, ForwardLane Inc., and other prominent RIAs and fintechs. She joined Tax Status in 2024, where she focuses on helping wealth firms harness IRS data to improve client outcomes and drive organic growth. Known for her collaborative approach and creative problem-solving, Browning is dedicated to elevating client and employee experiences and unlocking new opportunities for the professionals she serves.