The Long Game

It’s the start of a new year, and that means one thing for business owners and high-income earners: it’s time to dial in your Q4 tax strategy.

In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Dolan (licensed tax pro + advisor on our team) to break down everything you need to know about Q4 estimated payments, the 110% vs. 90% safe harbor rules, and how to avoid surprise tax bills or penalties in April. We cover:

• The difference between estimated payments and withholding (and how to use each strategically)

• Why the “effective tax rate” savings method often falls short

• When annualizing your income makes sense (especially for seasonal earners)

• How to plan for Q1 payments now so you’re not scrambling later

• Why overpaying a little in Q4 might be better than under-saving all year

In this episode, we break down how to effectively manage your lifetime taxes & how they effect your investment decisions. Cody shares insights from his recent book, "Tax Planning to and Through Early Retirement," which has already sold over 8,000 copies. Some highlights:

- Understanding your income sources in retirement

- The impact of tax rates on your financial decisions

- Strategies for maximizing tax efficiency through Roth conversions and traditional contributions

- Real-life examples of clients navigating their retirement planning

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

In this episode, I cover key steps to make sure you’re financially prepared for the journey ahead. Some takeaways:

1. Update Your Life Insurance: Why having proper life insurance is essential once you have a child and how to determine the right amount for your family

2. Health Insurance for Your Newborn: The process of adding your baby to your health insurance plan and why it’s important to do this sooner than later

3. Creating an Estate Plan: Protect your family’s future and ensure your wishes are honored

4. Budgeting for Baby Expenses: How to adjust your budget to accommodate new expenses, including daycare and one-time costs for nursery essentials

5. Leveraging Dependent Care FSA: How to take advantage of pre-tax benefits for childcare expenses, which can save you money in the long run

6. Planning for Your Child’s Future: Various options for saving for your child’s education, including the benefits of 529 plans

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow advisor, Mark Cecchini, to talk about what it takes to build a modern advisory career. We have similar practices today, but got here in completely different ways, so we walk through both paths and what we would do if we were starting over. Some highlights:

• Understanding your role as an advisor (whether as a lead advisor or a background planner)
• Finding your niche and how it can impact your business
• Strategies for building a personal brand & leveraging social media to attract clients
• The challenges of client relationships and the importance of knowing when to part ways
• Developing a successful client onboarding process

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

In this episode, I sit down with Wes Gray to break down one of the most powerful and misunderstood tax strategies available moving to Puerto Rico under Act 60. Wes has lived there for years, so you’ll hear the real story behind the numbers, the rules, and the lifestyle.

What we cover:

• What bona fide residency actually requires
• How 0% capital gains treatment is applied
• When the 4% business tax can make sense
• Lifestyle factors people forget to consider
• How to evaluate whether the move fits your situation
• Why this strategy is not for everyone

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

Most people neglect their taxes until it's too late, leaving money on the table. In this episode, I share strategies for managing your taxes before April, including:

• Understanding your projected income and quarterly payments
• Maximizing contributions to 401(k)s, HSAs, and 529 plans
• Utilizing tax loss harvesting and Roth conversions
• The impact of charitable giving and new AGI rules
• Reviewing your business entity structure for optimal tax benefits

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

Want to use real estate to cut your tax bill? In this episode I'm joined by CPA Nate Sosa to break down the real tax advantages of owning real estate, especially for business owners and high-income earners. You’ll learn:

• The difference between active and passive real estate tax treatment
• When real estate losses can (and can’t) offset your W-2 or business income
• How depreciation, bonus depreciation, and cost segregation work
• Why short-term rentals can be a powerful (but tricky) tax play
• The truth about depreciation recapture and what to plan for
• How to time real estate investments in high-income years to legally save thousands

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

If you've ever wondered how to make the most out of your credit card rewards, this episode is for you. We break down how they can be a powerful tool for those looking to maximize their spending. Colin shares his thoughts on:

• Why Credit Cards Can Be Beneficial: Using credit cards responsibly and how they can offer significant advantages, especially for those with higher incomes
• The Basics of Earning Points: The benefits of cash back cards vs travel rewards cards
• Redemption Strategies: How to leverage your points effectively, including tips on transferring points to airline and hotel partners for maximum value
• The Two-Card System: A simple two-card strategy that allows you to optimize your spending without overwhelming complexity

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

In this episode, I break down the importance of understanding your pay stub. Many people overlook it, which can lead to missed tax opportunities, under-saving for retirement, and overpaying for benefits. Some highlights:

• Gross Pay: Understanding your full earnings before deductions
• Pre-Tax Deductions: How these can lower your taxable income and what to look for
• Taxes Withheld: Knowing your federal and state tax withholdings
• After-Tax Deductions: Mega Backdoor Roth 401k and ESPP
• Employer Benefits: What to track and consider for your overall compensation
• Net Pay: Knowing what you actually take home

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

In this episode, I'm joined by Zach Ashburn to discuss the intersection of financial planning and personal freedom. Some highlights:

• The journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship
• How effective financial planning can empower you to make life-changing decisions
• The importance of liquidity and cash flow in achieving your ideal lifestyle
• Real-life stories of how financial planning has transformed lives (including Zach's experience as a foster parent and the impact it had on his family's decisions)
• How to maintain flexibility in your financial life

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✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.