Business Details
21 Years
experience
Trusted Forensic Accounting & Tax Solutions in Los Altos
Magnolia Group has been delivering specialized forensic accounting and income tax services in the Bay Area since 2005. Our founding partners and professional team combine decades of experience to address complex financial challenges faced by high net worth individuals and corporate executives. We focus on equity compensation, real estate, and family law disputes, providing court-recognized expertise in marital dissolution cases.Our approach emphasizes clear communication, personalized attention, and collaboration with clients' advisory teams to ensure strategic financial solutions. With a combined 50+ years of experience, we prioritize understanding the unique needs of each client to deliver actionable insights and compliance support tailored to their circumstances.
Services
Family Law Forensic Services
Income Tax Services
Separate Property Tracing
Stock Option Allocations
Retirement Account Allocations
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of combined experience in forensic accounting and tax planning.
- Our team includes court-qualified experts in family law financial disputes.
- We provide personalized service with direct access to founding partners.
- We specialize in complex financial issues unique to Silicon Valley executives.
- Our CPAs collaborate with estate attorneys and financial advisors for holistic solutions.
Associations and certifications
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants
- CFA Institute
Services
Family Law Forensic Services
We provide court-recognized forensic accounting expertise in family law disputes. Our services include separate property tracing, stock option allocations, and income analysis for spousal support. With experience in Silicon Valley's complex financial cases, we work directly with legal teams to deliver clear, defensible financial insights that help resolve high-stakes marital dissolution cases.
Income Tax Services
Our tax services focus on strategic planning for high net worth individuals and executives. We specialize in equity compensation, real estate, and complex income streams. While our tax practice transitioned to The Tate Group in 2024, we maintain collaborative relationships to ensure continuity for clients requiring integrated tax and forensic accounting solutions.
Stock Option Allocations
We analyze and allocate stock options in marital dissolution cases. Our experts provide detailed valuations and tracing for restricted stock units, ISOs, and NSOs. This service helps determine fair divisions of equity compensation while considering vesting schedules, market fluctuations, and tax implications specific to California's community property laws.
Separate Property Tracing
Our team conducts thorough financial investigations to trace separate property origins. We analyze bank statements, investment accounts, and real estate transactions to establish pre-marital asset boundaries. This service provides critical evidence for equitable property division in complex divorce cases involving significant wealth.
Retirement Account Allocations
We specialize in dividing retirement accounts during marital dissolution. Our services include QDRO preparation, valuation of 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions, and tax impact analysis. We ensure compliance with ERISA regulations while protecting clients' long-term financial interests in high-asset divorce cases.
People
Alice Kim
CPA, Partner
Co-founder with 25+ years in public accounting. Specializes in tax consulting for executives and stock option planning. Former KPMG and Ernst & Young auditor. Holds BS in Accounting from George Mason University.
Katie Sims
CPA, Partner
Co-founder and forensic accounting expert with 25+ years experience. Qualified as family law expert in California courts. Focuses on real estate and stock option tax planning. BS in Business Administration from University of the Pacific.
Wendy C. Bastis
CFA, Litigation Manager
20+ years in financial services. CFA charter holder pursuing Master's in Forensic Accounting. Manages family law forensic cases. BS in Business Administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Connie Buenrostro
Office Manager
Bilingual office manager handling billing, calendars, and case management. Primary point of contact for client inquiries. Ensures efficient operations and client communication for the forensic services team.
Renae Lisec
Staff Accountant
Staff accountant summarizing financial transactions for litigation cases. Former customer service and program management professional. Holds BS in Kinesiology from San Jose State University.
Questions
What forensic accounting services do you offer for family law cases?
We provide separate property tracing, stock option allocations, retirement account divisions, and income analysis for spousal support in marital dissolution cases.
Do you still handle income tax services?
Our tax practice transitioned to The Tate Group in 2024, but we maintain collaborative relationships to ensure continuity for clients needing integrated services.
How do you handle complex equity compensation in divorce cases?
We analyze restricted stock units, ISOs, and NSOs, considering vesting schedules and tax implications to determine fair divisions of equity compensation.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve the Bay Area, with expertise in Silicon Valley's unique financial challenges involving technology executives and high net worth individuals.
