E375: Why Tax Alpha Could Matter More Than Investment Returns

What if the biggest source of alpha for taxable investors isn’t stock picking—but minimizing friction inside the portfolio itself? In this episode, I sit down with Brent Sullivan, independent tax analyst and author of one of the leading research platforms on tax-aware investing, to discuss why tax alpha has become one of the fastest-growing themes in wealth management. Brent explains how long-short tax-loss harvesting strategies evolved from niche institutional products into mainstream planning tools, why tracking error is often misunderstood, and how sophisticated investors think about balancing risk, leverage, and after-tax returns. We also explore trader funds, operational risk, and why tax management may matter more than active management for many investors.