Alberto Guzman, Partner & Managing Director, AbitOs

Invest: sat down with Alberto Guzman, partner and managing director of international tax services firm AbitOs, to discuss how data integrity, cross-border compliance, and state and local tax complexity are shaping professional services in Miami. As international entrepreneurs continue to choose South Florida as a base, Guzman emphasized disciplined planning and careful use of emerging tools. “Data is everywhere now. The question is whether that’s good data,” Guzman said.

What role do you see data playing in South Florida’s business landscape, particularly as AI becomes more common in professional services?

Data has always been central to how we deliver services. We rely on information from established tools and subscription-based platforms, and that foundation hasn’t changed. What has changed is the volume and speed of information available, and the growing assumption that all data is equally reliable.

AI is entering the space, but we’re careful about how it’s used. We’re not interested in plugging sensitive client work into generic platforms. Instead, we focus on AI capabilities embedded within trusted professional tools, where the source material and controls are clearer.

Data is everywhere now. The question is whether that’s good data, and whether it actually addresses the specific issue you’re trying to solve. In tax and compliance, precision matters. Generic answers don’t work when the facts, jurisdictions, and structures are nuanced. That’s where expertise comes in.

South Florida has a high concentration of entrepreneurial and closely held businesses. How does AbitOs support founders as they scale?

We work with clients at every stage. Some start small and grow over time. Others come to us already operating at a significant scale. The key is aligning advice with where the business actually is.

For smaller businesses, timing is everything. Certain restructures or planning strategies simply don’t make sense early on. The cost and complexity can outweigh the benefits; however, early on, we can implement simple structures that evolve as the business continues to grow. In those cases, we stay close, help them operate cleanly, and prepare them for the next phase.

As businesses grow, the focus shifts to systems, entity structure, and long-term planning. Most of our clients fall into the middle-market range, and we’re used to helping companies move from small to midsized and beyond. The goal is sustainable growth, not overengineering too early.

How does Miami’s role as a gateway to Latin America affect tax and compliance work?

Cross-border compliance is our core business. Many of our clients are based in South America, with others coming from Canada and Europe. The work can span almost any country, as long as it’s coordinated properly.

One common trend is the desire to use U.S. entities even when the underlying activity happens elsewhere. A company may be operating in Latin America or Europe, but still want a U.S. structure. That decision creates U.S. tax and reporting obligations, even without significant U.S. operations.

From Miami, we often coordinate transactions involving Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, or Spain. That means working closely with attorneys and CPAs in each jurisdiction to ensure the structure works on both sides.

For many clients, the United States represents stability. It also offers a clearer exit path. Selling a U.S. entity is often more straightforward than selling a foreign one, depending on the buyer.

With more companies and individuals relocating to South Florida, what planning considerations matter most right now?

We emphasize planning ahead, especially for individuals relocating to the United States. From a tax perspective, we ideally want to start two to three years before the move. That’s when you have the most flexibility.

In practice, most clients come to us much later. Sometimes, just months before relocating, or after they’ve already arrived. At that point, options narrow. Planning is still possible, but it’s more constrained.

Entity selection is another critical area. The most efficient structure in the United States may not be efficient in another country. That’s why coordination with local professionals is essential.

State and local taxes have also become increasingly complex. Every state has different rules, thresholds, and allocation methods. When a business operates in multiple states, you have to analyze each one individually. We rely heavily on scenario modeling and putting real numbers on paper so clients understand the impact of their decisions.

Which industries are driving the most foreign investment activity in South Florida?

By far, it’s real estate. Over nearly 30 years, real estate has consistently dominated our foreign client base. Commercial, residential, leasing, construction, development. It’s the primary entry point for many international investors.

Beyond real estate, activity is more dispersed. If I had to highlight other areas, marketing and advertising stand out, along with software development. We also see restaurants, hotels, and professional services, but real estate remains the clear leader.

What real estate trends are you seeing, and how are you advising clients in this environment?

The past couple of years have been unusual. We haven’t seen as many acquisitions, though we have seen some sales. Florida behaves differently than many other states, particularly in commercial and rental markets.

Cost segregation remains a valuable tool for the right properties, especially commercial and rental buildings. Many investors still don’t use it, but it can significantly improve after-tax cash flow. We consistently evaluate it where appropriate.

Like-kind exchanges are often discussed, but they’re not always feasible for foreign investors, particularly those investing through pooled developments. Opportunity zones can be an option in certain cases, and financing strategy matters as well. Portfolio loans, when structured correctly, can create efficiencies and help clients manage scale.

How does AbitOs help clients stay compliant as tax rules continue to change?

Staying current is an ongoing process. We monitor rule changes through professional resources and share updates regularly. But knowing the rules is only part of the challenge. The harder part is identifying which clients are affected. Large clients are easier to track, but smaller entities can still be impacted by changes that aren’t immediately obvious. That’s why we invest heavily in our internal systems and databases so that we can match new rules to the right clients.

Compliance requires constant attention, investment in technology, and experienced people who understand how the rules apply in real-world situations.

Are there perspectives within professional services you think deserve more visibility in Miami?

Tax attorneys focused on international compliance and offshore issues can add real value to the broader conversation. Miami’s cross-border environment is sophisticated, and those voices complement the work CPAs and advisers are already doing.