The Tax Mistakes That Are Silently Killing Your Investment Returns

By Matt Frankel, CFP – Mar 28, 2026 at 7:22AM ESTAs a Certified Financial Planner®, I've seen all sorts of investment mistakes. And while getting your general investment strategy right is the most important part of a solid long-term wealth creation plan, you might be surprised at how much of an impact optimizing the tax consequences of your investments can make. In this video, I'll share the five most common tax mistakes I see investors make, so you can avoid them. *Stock prices used were the morning prices of March 25, 2026. The video was published on March 28, 2026. Read NextMar 28, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsPresident Donald Trump Has Dug a Nearly $169 Billion Hole for Social SecurityMar 28, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFPPresident Trump Wants to Make a New Retirement Plan With Up to a $1,000 Match. Here's What It Could Look LikeMar 28, 2026 •By Adam Levy3 Secrets to Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits That Go Beyond the BasicsMar 28, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanThis Move Could Protect Your Retirement Savings Big Time in 2026Mar 27, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanThe 1 Retirement Budgeting Mistake Too Many People Risk MakingMar 27, 2026 •By Justin PopeWhat Does a Comfortable Retirement Actually Cost in Florida in 2026?About the AuthorMatt Frankel, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in the real estate and financial sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, Globe St, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his real estate, financial, stock market, and investing expertise.TMFMattFrankelX@MattFrankelCFP