In tax strategy and structuring work, there is a natural tendency to move quickly toward solutions. A problem is identified, and the next step is often to recommend a specific structure, credit, or approach. While this instinct can feel efficient, it often skips the most important part of the process.
Strategy.
Without strategy, solutions are applied to symptoms rather than systems. They may address an immediate issue while creating unintended consequences elsewhere. Over time, this leads to complexity that feels reactive instead of intentional.
The philosophy at Parkhill was built in response to this pattern. Mark Bianchi, who founded Parkhill after years of working through complex tax and charitable planning scenarios, has long emphasized that most planning breakdowns occur not because the wrong tools were used, but because the right questions were never asked first.
Rather than asking what should be implemented, Parkhill begins by asking what should be designed.
Why Solutions Without Strategy Create Risk
Solutions are appealing because they are tangible. They offer action and a sense of progress. However, when solutions are introduced without a strategic framework, they often become fixed answers to poorly defined problems.
A structure may be created without clarity on how it should function across changing income cycles. A charitable strategy may be implemented without understanding how it interacts with future liquidity events. Tax tools may be layered without evaluating how they behave together.
When this happens, planning becomes corrective rather than intentional.
Strategy provides direction before execution begins.
Strategy as Design
At Parkhill, strategy is treated as a design discipline rather than a preliminary step. It involves understanding how capital is generated, how it moves, what constraints exist, and what outcomes matter most over time. This context shapes every decision that follows.
Designing strategy first allows solutions to serve a purpose rather than dictate it. It also reduces the need for constant revision, because decisions are made with awareness of how they fit into a broader system.
This design-oriented approach reflects a core belief that planning should anticipate change rather than react to it.
Separating Objectives From Tools
One of the defining elements of the Parkhill philosophy is separating objectives from tools.
Tools are abundant. Objectives are specific.
When tools are introduced before objectives are clearly defined, planning can drift toward what is available rather than what is appropriate. By clarifying intent first, Parkhill ensures that structures and strategies are evaluated based on fit, timing, and alignment.
This principle is especially important in charitable planning. Giving decisions carry emotional, financial, and long-term implications. Strategy first thinking ensures that charitable contributions support stated goals and values rather than being driven solely by short-term tax considerations.
Mark Bianchi’s work at Parkhill reflects a simple reality: without clear intent, even well structured solutions can produce outcomes that feel misaligned over time.
Context Determines Effectiveness
No strategy exists in isolation. Its effectiveness depends entirely on context.
A structure that works well in one environment may become restrictive in another. A charitable approach that is effective in a high income year may be inefficient when circumstances shift. Without strategic context, these distinctions are easy to miss.
By grounding decisions in context, Parkhill reduces the risk of misalignment and ensures that strategies remain relevant as conditions evolve.
Clarity Before Complexity
Starting with strategy often leads to simpler outcomes.
When objectives are clear, unnecessary solutions are easier to identify and avoid. Complexity is introduced only when it serves a defined purpose. This restraint improves manageability and preserves flexibility.
Rather than equating sophistication with intricacy, the Parkhill philosophy treats clarity as a marker of strong design.
A Long-Term Orientation
Strategy before solutions reflects a long-term orientation.
Instead of optimizing for immediate results, decisions are evaluated based on how they behave across changing regulatory environments, income patterns, and life stages. This approach supports continuity and keeps charitable intent connected to execution.
Mark Bianchi frequently describes this mindset as designing for endurance rather than efficiency alone, recognizing that strategies must remain functional long after implementation.
How Strategy Shapes Engagement
A strategy first philosophy also shapes how work is approached.
Conversations focus on understanding rather than prescribing. Decisions are evaluated through a shared framework rather than isolated preferences. This clarity improves execution and reduces friction, especially as circumstances change or new decision makers become involved.
Strategy before solutions is not about slowing progress. It is about sequencing decisions correctly.
When strategy leads, solutions follow with greater precision. Planning becomes deliberate rather than reactive. And even as tools evolve and conditions shift, the underlying design remains intact.
That philosophy sits at the center of how Parkhill approaches its work and why its strategies tend to age well rather than require constant repair.
