Ryan Layne, EA

 

Partner

 

Ryan Layne is an Enrolled Agent and founding partner at Legacy Advisory Services, LLC. He brings more than 15 years of experience in tax, advisory, and accounting services and advises ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, senior executives, entrepreneurs, and real estate owners to make complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence. His work centers on aligning tax strategy with broader investment, ownership transition, and legacy objectives in a way that anticipates outcomes rather than reacts to them. 

 

Ryan’s practice spans strategic tax planning, partnership structuring, real estate entity optimization, and sophisticated transaction advisory. He is particularly recognized for deep expertise in real estate taxation and Section 1031 exchanges, having advised on more than one billion dollars in qualified exchanges across residential, commercial, and mixed-use assets. His client work includes professional service firms, manufacturing entities, investment partnerships, family limited partnerships (FLPs), and multi-tier partnerships, where he helps navigate partner basis issues, complex Section 754 step-ups, preferred return structures, and debt structuring to support long-term financial goals. 

 

Ryan’s advisory style blends technical mastery with practical judgment. He emphasizes thoughtful planning, seamless coordination across advisors, and proactive guidance so clients can make confident decisions at critical life and business milestones such as liquidity events, ownership transitions, and strategic investments.

Before founding Legacy Advisory Services, Ryan held senior tax and advisory roles at Seiler LLP and Armanino LLP, where he advised affluent families and business owners on sophisticated structural and tax challenges. His experience across large firm environments and boutique advisory contexts gives him a comprehensive perspective on strategic planning, compliance integration, and client experience design. 

 

Ryan is a licensed IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) and holds a degree in Business Management Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.