Stop Missing These Costly Tax Mistakes | Leyder “Aiden” Murillo

Today, Ben welcomes Aiden Murillo of Wolfpack Wealth Management for a timely, post–tax season conversation on what actually defines a good tax professional—and why many people may be settling for less than they realize. Drawing from real client experiences, the two unpack the difference between transactional tax preparation and relationship-driven advisory work, highlighting how missed details, lack of communication, and blind trust can lead to costly errors or lost opportunities. Aidan shares examples ranging from mishandled cryptocurrency losses to “ghost preparers” who don’t sign returns, while Ben emphasizes how incomplete information, misunderstood tax documents, or even incorrect W-2 reporting can create downstream issues. Together, they stress that taxpayers ultimately bear responsibility for what they sign, making it essential to work with someone who not only prepares returns accurately, but explains positions, asks deeper questions, and understands the full financial picture. They also challenge common misconceptions—like judging a preparer based on refund size—and instead encourage listeners to prioritize transparency, education, and ongoing relationships. Ultimately, this conversation reframes tax preparation from a box-checking exercise into a critical component of long-term financial stewardship, where the right advisor can help clients avoid mistakes, reduce stress, and make more informed decisions year after year.

Key Takeaways:

• Tax season is high-pressure, deadline-driven work for professionals. Many taxpayers treat filing as a simple “check-the-box” task.

• “Ghost preparers” who don’t sign returns are a major red flag.

• Payroll or W-2 errors can create unexpected tax liabilities.

• Refund size is not a valid measure of tax preparation quality.

• As financial complexity increases, advisory-level service becomes more important.

• The best tax outcomes come from transparency, education, and ongoing collaboration.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) – Post Tax Season Reset

(04:57) – Fast Returns Red Flags

(07:35) – Crypto Loss Missed

(11:52) – Why Relationships Matter

(19:26) – Taxpayer Responsibility

(24:55) – Ghost Preparer Red Flags

(28:40) – Backdoor Roth Mistakes

(36:08) – When Tax Forms Are Wrong

(38:48) – Payroll Exempt Withholding Mistake

(43:15) – Refunds Don’t Measure Quality

(45:04) – How to Contact Aiden

Key Topics Discussed:

Catholic Money Mastermind, Catholic financial planning, Catholic financial planners, Catholic financial advisors, Ben Martinek, faith and finances

Mentions:

Wolfpack Wealth Management: https://www.wolfpackwealth.net/ 

Wolfpack Tax and Accounting: https://www.wolfpacktaxaccounting.net/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leydermurillo/  

More of Catholic Money Mastermind:

Catholic Money Mastermind Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Are you looking to hire an advisor? Browse our members.

https://catholicfinancialplanners.com/advisors/

Are you a Financial Advisor who is serious about the Catholic Faith? Join our network and email info@catholicfinancialplanners.com