Podcasts about CPA

Kiera is joined by Alexis Gallati, founder and lead tax strategist at Cerebral Tax Advisors, to talk about tax strategy not just for 2025 success, but 2026 and beyond. They discuss asking your CPA the right questions, shifting income from your higher tax bracket down, the Augusta rule, and a ton more. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: The Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and today I am super jazzed. I have an incredible guest joining us on the podcast today ⁓ to talk about last minute tax strategies before April 15th. Like why not? I mean, hey, maybe you were like, you're not the early bird. You were like, shoot, I forgot. Like what things can I do? And so I'm super excited. Alexis Gallati, she reached out to us. ⁓ She is founder and lead tax strategist at Cerebral Tax Advisors.   Ansari Real Wealth Academy. And I was so excited about this topic because I know you guys know I love to geek out about this and I have it on my vision board of tax expert ahead. Like I hate taxes. I love taxes. I believe that taxes are such a beautiful way for us to pay to be in this incredible country. But you better believe I don't want to pay a penny more than I need to. So really figuring that out just a little bit about her is she is got a dual master's degree in business administration and taxation, which is super rad because   Let's be real, she gets the business side of it. She gets the taxation and we were chatting before and she was like, what people make like their top line revenue versus their take home pay are two different things. And I was like, amen sister, preach on. She's enrolled agent, NTPI fellow and certified tax strategist. She also is the author of advanced tax planning for medical professionals. She specializes in high level strategic tax planning and multi-state tax preparation for healthcare professionals and business owners. She's raised in a family of physicians and married to one.   She empathizes with the financial challenges medical professionals face. This personal connection inspired her to create accessible, unbiased tax solutions tailored to their busy lives. Driven by passion and guided by cerebral thinking, Alexis forms Cerebral to help professionals keep more of their hard earned money. Amen sister. That's what we want. That's why you're here. Their approach breaks the mold of traditional financial advice, offering a unique perspective for medical professionals and business owners. So while yes, she's not 1000 % dental guys were in the healthcare world and she's so brilliant. So Alexis, welcome to the show today. How are you?   Alexis Gallati (01:54) Thank you so much for having me. I'm doing very well. Hope you had a wonderful holiday season.   The Dental A Team (01:58) Yes, likewise. And I was so excited when I heard that you would be a guest on our podcast. I geek out about this, Alexis, I know it's like our first day meeting, but ⁓ I just think the world of tax is such the game of monopoly. And I'm like, if you would have just told me that rule, I could have played and won the game better. But I feel like it's always as ever changing, ever evolving. And I know there were some big things that happened in 2025 that are impacting like our our taxes. And so, yeah, definitely a timely and   exciting podcast to throw out there. So Alexis, I know I gave you a very welcomed ⁓ bio and intro, but yeah, tell us a little bit about who is Alexis. You're married to a physician. You're in this world of tag. How does one become obsessive about CPA? I'm truly just curious. How do you like, how does this happen? How did you become this?   Alexis Gallati (02:49) Yeah, so I love law and I love money. And so when I was in undergrad, I took a tax and accounting class and loved more the tax side than the accounting side, I do admit. And so after meeting my husband in college and us starting to go through that full medical journey, was about a year and a half out from him.   The Dental A Team (02:54) you   Alexis Gallati (03:18) from him finishing his residency. And I really saw the writing on the wall. Even at that time, with him being in residency, about four months of his salary was going towards taxes. And I was like, that's not right. That's not right. With   The Dental A Team (03:36) No.   Alexis Gallati (03:38) hard he works and how hard   medical community works in general. ⁓ my gosh, that's not right. So that's when I really dedicated myself to   finding out, why do the Warren Buffets and the Bill Gates of the world have this really low to sometimes non-existent tax bracket? And I really dove into that tax planning. ⁓ And so, you know, what's very unique about, ⁓ you know, the way that I work and my business is that my husband and I are in the same exact position as majority of our clients. And so, yes, I'm looking for   strategies for my clients, but I'm also looking for those strategies for myself.   The Dental A Team (04:19) You're like, hey,   it's me. I'm going to help myself out. I'm very motivated to do this.   Alexis Gallati (04:25) Very motivated. And I love it. I love it. It's like you said, it's ⁓ Congress keeps us on our toes, changing the laws consistently year after year. ⁓ it's like a puzzle. Like, hey, how can I just keep more of what I'm earning?   The Dental A Team (04:43) Yeah, and I, this is what I get obsessed about. what I learned, gosh, it's like, I was so naive when I started the company. was like, marketing is marketing. I just need to hire a marketer they can do everything. And then I was like, oh, there's a content marketer. There's a copywriter marketer. There's a strategist. There's a growth marketer. There's like an AEO marketer now. There's an SEO. Like you guys, this thing is like a web. They're a content marketer. And then I started realizing it's similar to CPAs and financial planners that like,   I thought you hire a CPA, Alexis. Like I'm so naive to business. I'm shocked that I've made it this far. Like truly I'm proud of like the journey we've been on, but like not all CPAs are created equal. And then I realized like CPAs play by different rules. Like it's the same rule, but there's shades of gray. They're how comfortable are you with this and how uncomfortable are you with it? Like there's one CPA that told me like, here, you can totally go skiing in Tahoe. Just like put your logo on your skis and you can totally ride it off and like put your logo on your boat and you can ride it off.   And then there's like the Alexis of the world was like, oh, hard pass. No, you're going to like totally get flagged. But I'm like, what rule is right? And so I realized that there are, like you said, tax strategy and for higher wealth earners. I do believe that there's a game, like you said, how did the Warren Buffett's, how did the Bill Gates, like they're not paying this. And then you get into the real estate game and you get into all these other things. You're like, how can we do this? And so Alexis, I'm just jazz. This is me being nerdy. And I'm going to ask you a bajillion questions and I can't wait.   to learn. So let's kind of talk about most of your clients, what's the size of take home net pay that they do. So that way we know like what brackets were in. So that way right clients come to you. I also learned not all financial advisors take all people. I was like, I make 30 grand. They're like, great. So we're going to help you out just a little bit. And then like, when you get to this level, we'll chat with you. ⁓ tell us kind of that. And then let's dig into how do we keep more money, Alexis, legally.   Alexis Gallati (06:10) I love it.   The Dental A Team (06:39) I'm here for legal advice. I'm willing to go gray, but not go to jail. So that's my line. So as long as we're on the same page, I think we are, I'm here for it.   Alexis Gallati (06:40) Yes.   Definitely, yeah. I am more than happy to play in the gray areas. We just have to feel comfortable defending it in an audit. And so that's our line in the sand. ⁓ But yeah.   The Dental A Team (06:55) Mm-hmm.   She's like, this is why I went to law guys. This is why I like the law side and the CPA.   I like it. I like your style. It's so unique and I just am excited. So, okay, I'm ready.   Alexis Gallati (07:07) Yeah.   Yeah. at Cerebral, we work with those that earn at minimum $400,000 per year in taxable income. So we have lots of businesses, which by the way, 99.9 % of our clients are medical professionals. I think we have like maybe two clients that have zero ties to the medical industry. And so the practices we work with, you know,   generally range from anywhere from maybe about $700,000 in gross revenue all the way up to eight figures. So we tend to not work with those that are larger practices, that usually over 50 employees. And that's just because once you get above 50 employees, yeah, it changes quite a bit. So we're definitely in there with those smaller to medium sized practices.   The Dental A Team (07:56) Tax co-changes. Yep.   Amazing. No, that's super helpful. And I know we were talking before, like the average of your clients, about 700,000 like net pay is typical where you guys are at. You have some that are higher, but that minimum of 400,000, which is great because I do think that there are thresholds. ⁓ And I did learn through going through business that who Kiera needed as a tax support and advisor when I was in that 30,000 range compare and as a business owner, I thought it was so funny.   Gosh, taxes, like they hurt so bad sometimes. Like, whoa, easy come, easy go. Like I've never, I've always been a W-2. So that was such a fascinating world for me. But yeah, let's dig into some of the things you've seen for the medical world. Cause I know I have friends that were physicians and they're really big on real estate. And like I took the real estate Kool-Aid and I'm just like, is this really real? There's gotta be easier ways than doing this. And so I'm just jazzed to kind of go through what are some of the things we can do now before April 15th.   What are things that we can do even past April 15th to set us up for great success for 2026? So Alexis, this is your show. I'm just excited, kind of riffed us through it. Of course, I'm gonna geek out and ask probably about way more questions than you care to even be asked, but I'm really excited to learn more today.   Alexis Gallati (09:20) Yeah, great. Well, yeah, I hate to be a little bit of a Debbie Downer in the beginning and that when your past December 31st, ⁓ the number of tax strategies that are available to you are before you actually go to file your tax return are limited. It's just the nature of the code.   The Dental A Team (09:37) I agree. was super, when you were   like, what are the tech? I was like, I want to know because most of the times like when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, it's like game over and we start again. But yes, which is why I want to know what are like the small ones, but then also Alexis like, let's set our listeners up for like, what things can they do this year to be better prepared for it in conjunction? So yes, before April 15th, but selfishly I want to know what else can I do this year that maybe I haven't thought of.   Alexis Gallati (09:52) Yeah.   you   The Dental A Team (10:06) because the clock hasn't struck midnight in 2026. So like we've got time. So yeah, for 2025 filing, but also for 2026 as well.   Alexis Gallati (10:09) Yeah.   Yeah, so let's talk about 2025 filing first. Especially if you're a business owner, there are actually a number of things that you could still put together for yourself that can impact your 2025 financials. ⁓ So even basic things like if you haven't been taking advantage of your home office deduction or ⁓ vehicle expenses ⁓ and unreimbursed business expenses. So those are expenses that you paid   personally, but our business expenses. So all of those items, you can still go and report on your 2025 return. So if you haven't taken the time to sit down and say, how much should I pay in my home utilities or insurance, repairs, et cetera, and take the percentage. So let's say your home office is 7%.   of your total square footage of your home. Well, then you can write off 7 % of your home expenses on your taxes. the treatment's a little bit different depending upon if you're a sole proprietorship or an S corporation. But in general, you still have that time to take advantage of that. And a lot of you might be like, oh, Alexis, it's such a little amount. I don't even know if it's worth it. Believe me.   All these little things can really add up together. And easily, I usually see between $10,000 to $20,000 of really ⁓ easy to grab savings for yourself if you just take even a few hours to gather all the information. ⁓ And you can even use ⁓ personal financial apps like Monarch Money or You Need a Budget, things like that to help.   organize that information for you throughout the year so it's a little more automated.   The Dental A Team (12:10) Yeah, that's amazing. I do love the YNAB. You're throwing me back to like pharmacy school days of you need a budget. I was like, oh my gosh, got to answer this every time. They have updated so much, but I love that you said like 10 to 20 grand, I think is worthwhile, but more than it being pennies or dollars, I think it's the discipline of having it prepared for next year too. So that way we don't, I think it's like, well, it might not be enough this year, but I'm like, you take that this year and we compound over the next year and the next year and the next year. I think these little things to me at least,   Alexis Gallati (12:15) Ha ha ha.   The Dental A Team (12:41) Like I said, it's their game of monopoly. And I'm like, okay, maybe I didn't get it that time, but I'm going to take that rule and I'm going to apply it this year and the next year and the next year. So I'm even taking notes over here, guys. So Alexis, if you see me, I'm writing it like, okay, I'm going to check in on that, check in on that. So make sure, make sure that they're being taken into consideration because I don't prep my own taxes. I don't even know half the stuff. Like they just tell me. So I also think being a good steward as well and always double checking your CPA to make sure like, are we maximizing every deduction we can?   Alexis Gallati (12:53) Good, I like it.   Of course.   Yeah. And being proactive is like you said, the number one thing because the IRS can deny deduction if you don't have that itemized receipt or you don't have the proper documentation. And 99 % of any fight with the IRS is that documentation. And I did a three year fellowship in IRS representation. So I'm obviously very focused on that tax savings, but also very focused on making sure   that everything's set up properly. So if the IRS were to challenge it or even the state, you're in good hands. then that way, you can just give them the stuff and say, go away.   The Dental A Team (13:51) Exactly. And I heard somebody once tell me, they're like, Kiera, it's not a matter of if I'll be audited, it's when. Like every business will most likely be audited at some point. I hope and pray like we're not. I think about that a lot of like cross my T's, dot my I's, make sure that I'm constantly trying to be compliant with things. But your wealth of knowledge on that Alexis of what things and how to become, I mean, shoot three years of IRS. Girl, you got my vote. That's impressive. And like love the love the authority piece that you're bringing to our podcast today.   Alexis Gallati (14:20) Thank you. Thank you. So some other things that you're able to do before you file that tax return, and this is a big one, is retirement. So you actually have until the filing of a tax return, and that includes extensions. So for example, if you're an S corporation or a partnership, have the original due date, which is March 15th, or the extended due date, which is September 15th, to go and   open and fund that retirement plan. So if you have employees, it can get obviously a little bit more complicated, but you still are able to do it and ⁓ do that employer contribution. And that's obviously really one of the lower hanging fruits when it comes to not only tax savings, but also wealth generation.   The Dental A Team (15:12) Yeah, no, I love that. That's a great idea. And I think a lot of people miss that. And again, CPAs, tax strategists, wealth advisors, they're all playing in their own lanes, but how can we make sure all of them are maximizing together? Because you as a human are trying to build that wealth. So I love that.   Alexis Gallati (15:30) Yeah. And don't forget as well, you know, kind of in the same vein as retirement is that health savings account. So if you had a high deductible plan throughout the year, but maybe your employer didn't actually provide a ⁓ health savings account, like so if you're a W-2, for example, or even if you're self-employed, you can still go open up your   own Health Savings account through, I think Fidelity has some, ⁓ Optum Bank, HSA Bank. So there's a whole bunch of different providers out there. can just Google and find the provider that works best for you.   The Dental A Team (16:07) Interesting. And I know like I just wrote that down because a lot of dentists don't have HSA. Like we are the providers for it. But hearing that that might even be a resource to attract people into your business if you were able to like, don't necessarily provide it, but these are some companies that we could help our employees get if they wanted to have an HSA because I know that that's something that my husband works at a hospital. So there's an HSA there, but as sole proprietors and S-Corps, a lot of times they aren't provided. That's actually really like, I think just a great tool and resource to   possibly provide to our employees, depending upon what it looks like for your business.   Alexis Gallati (16:40) Yeah, definitely. And then one other thing that you ⁓ may be able to do, depending upon your state, ⁓ to help with state taxes, is go and contribute to a 529 plan, which is for education for yourself or other dependent. And some states like Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, South Carolina, there's a number of them. They allow you to make that contribution all the way up to the   filing of the tax return.   The Dental A Team (17:13) Interesting. I did not know that I wrote that down. That's fascinating. I love this. This is like so fun. Keep going.   Alexis Gallati (17:20) Yeah. Yeah. So that, you know, is, a good, especially for, you know, higher earners. ⁓ that's kind of a good summary of what you can be doing before this, ⁓ April 15th or even the extended due date as well. ⁓ but when you start looking into 2026, who, that book, that book opens up, there is.   The Dental A Team (17:39) It does, right? It's like the   monopoly Bible. Like it's so big. Like how do I play the game of taxes? So I truly, and I think like for all the listeners, like the home office, the HSA, ⁓ retirement, the 529 plan, like there's still time. So go look at those things. And even if you can't contribute or do those things now, having that set up for next year, like, Alexis, truly, I'm like, I'm getting the popcorn. I'm getting my notepad. Like,   I am so excited because half these things I haven't heard of. And so it's very fun to just hear different perspectives. And I do love that you've got a legal background too. I love that you're in IRS. I love that you're in medicine and healthcare and like for your own personal savings too. It's like you're the Nancy Drew of like, how can I do the most amount through all of this? It's a very fascinating perspective you bring today.   Alexis Gallati (18:27) thank you. I appreciate that. yeah, when obviously when you are a W-2 employee still that your options are not as open for those that have a business. But ⁓ besides obviously retirement HSA that you can do all year, one thing that a lot of W-2 employees forget is to actually check with your employer to see what their reimbursement policy looks like.   The Dental A Team (18:29) course.   Alexis Gallati (18:55) because if you're maybe in a private practice with a large group, and I mean, these could even be groups that have sometimes hundreds of physicians in it, or even if it's just a hospital system, they'll have actually pretty generous reimbursement policies for things like your CME, your new loops, or going and   doing your mileage in between different hospitals or clinics, things like that. So making sure that you are keeping track of those things. Obviously, if you're a business owner, you definitely want to keep track of those. But some of my favorite for those that own their own practices, my absolute favorite is hiring your kids.   The Dental A Team (19:36) Of course, yeah.   Alexis Gallati (19:48) It seems so basic, but believe me, there are definitely steps in place that have to be done in order to make sure they ⁓ qualify. for me, the ⁓ court tested age is seven. So I usually don't recommend my clients going and hiring their kids until they're at least that age. You can do it younger, but the old my kids are models strategy is kind of ⁓ antiquated now just because ⁓   everybody has these great cameras now on their phones. And so it's kind of devalued, being a model ⁓ for those that aren't professionals basically. ⁓ But that's a really great way to shift income from your higher tax bracket down to their non-existent tax bracket.   The Dental A Team (20:21) Totally.   Right?   Alexis Gallati (20:40) and you can then put that money into a Roth IRA for them. And if you do that, let's say over like a 10 year period in 2026, that amount is 7,500 is the max you can put in. They're easily, by the time they're age 65, gonna have at least 2 million plus dollars in savings. So it's a really great way to create a legacy for your kids and give them a little headstart.   The Dental A Team (20:48) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, that's amazing. And I think so many people are like, I don't know how to help my kids with college or different things like that. And it's like, these are great ways to prepare them for the future for when they retire for things like that. I mean, how awesome I know a couple of ⁓ doctors because   The bulk of our audience, Alexis, are not W-2 earners. They are self-employed, like dental practice owners. ⁓ But I know that there were several that didn't tell their kids that they had done this for them. And then the surprise when they graduated college of, we've been putting this into place for you. I mean, shoot, that money's going to go to the government or to your kids. Why not invest in your children? You're going to pay that money regardless. So ⁓ definitely think that that's such a brilliant idea. And I've heard people, they're like,   their real job, like they have to have a real job. They're like a paper shredder. Like they like literally shred the paper or they open the mail or they like pick out the cards or they pick out the toys for the prize boxes, like actual legit jobs that they employ them for. But I think what an amazing gift and legacy to give your kids as well.   Alexis Gallati (21:51) they   Yeah, exactly. All four of my children are, obviously cerebral isn't a dental practice, but they're hired through cerebral. So that way they are earning enough to put that money into their Roth IRA. ⁓ And a lot of ⁓ my clients are like, man, I don't know what my kids can do. And like you said, there's a lot of admin work that they can do. Even a seven-year-old can.   like you said, shred paper, stamp envelopes. They can help with doing their ABCs and filing things away if you're an older ⁓ practice owner and they have ⁓ still the paper file system. ⁓ yeah, it really is a wonderful way to not only teach responsibility, but also to save. ⁓ I highly recommend ⁓ doing that. And even if you have parents that you financially support, you could even   The Dental A Team (22:45) Yeah.   Yeah.   Alexis Gallati (23:02) go and hire your parents through your practice ⁓ and write off their support. Of course, again, they need to also have a legitimate job in the business. with parents, you have to be careful if they have any benefits like social security or Medicare. Then you just want to make sure that you're not pushing them out of those benefits because of their income ⁓ or making any part of their social security taxable. So that takes a little bit more. ⁓   finesse than hiring a child.   The Dental A Team (23:36) No, that's great. That's a really good idea too, because I hadn't thought about parents. I have heard about children, but you're right, parents are retired. And if there's ways that you can support and give back rather than like, again, I love the government. I am happy to pay taxes, but if there's ways that I can support my own family, ⁓ I think it's great because I'm going to pay that money anyway, but paying it to people that I love and care about is really a great idea.   Alexis Gallati (24:00) Yeah. Another popular one I'm sure that you've seen on TikTok or other social media is the Augusta rule. ⁓ and this is where you're renting your home to your business. ⁓ and this is perfect example where documentation is absolutely critical. ⁓ but basically what happens is you rent your home to your business for 14 days or less. Those days do not have to be consecutive and your business gets to   The Dental A Team (24:07) Mm-hmm.   Alexis Gallati (24:28) right off the cost of that rent. So obviously lowers your taxes. But then you as the individual do not have to pay tax on that rental income. Now, if you do it for 15 days and you've ruined the strategy and you have to pay tax on all 15 days. So that's really important you do 14 days or less. But this is again a really great way if you have monthly board meetings, that's 12 days right there.   Or if you have employee parties, if you have colleagues over in discussing business, though, as long as you have a rental agreement in place between yourself and your business, and you document through meeting minutes everything that occurred during that event, then that is the documentation that the IRS would need in order to substantiate that.   strategy. And obviously a reasonable rental rate as well.   The Dental A Team (25:27) Yeah, no, didn't realize,   I did not realize that you needed a rental agreement. Can you expand more on that? like we check all the Airbnb's and the VRBO's in the area to see what does our house actually go for and like keep that documented every single year and then have an actual agenda and like have it in the calendar. So it's in our Google calendar. It's got an agenda. It's got a PDF didn't attach. But how does the rental agreement work? like, yeah, how do you, I didn't realize that that was a necessary piece to it.   Alexis Gallati (25:57) Yeah, so you can even just use ChatGPT to create it. ⁓ But essentially what you do is it's just that agreement between the business and personal. So ⁓ you just want to think about it like any other rental that you would do. If you were to go to a conference room in a hotel, for example, or go rent that Airbnb, you're going to be signing some sort of agreement saying that this can happen.   that this event can happen on this date. ⁓ you can either do one agreement for the entire year, spelling out like, here are the days that we're going to be doing these things, ⁓ or you can have an agreement for each time that it happens.   The Dental A Team (26:43) Very cool. That's super helpful. Yeah, I do love the addresses for all anything people. And I mean, I've had CPAs and like, don't go crazy. Like that's where I say like check Airbnb, check VRBO like what you think your house is worth versus what market value says your house is worth. Like, let's make sure that we are accurate on that. But yeah, that's definitely an amazing one that I think is great for offices to surely do.   Alexis Gallati (26:51) Yes.   Yep. Go and get two to three comps. So then that way can just take an average. I feel like that's a very safe way to, ⁓ show reasonableness. You're not just like, Hey, I'm taking the highest one on the block. You know, it's taking a few of them.   The Dental A Team (27:21) Totally. No, definitely agree. I love that. Okay, Alexis, what other ideas? know we're, I'm like just like sitting here. I'm like, I love this writing it down. Great ideas. What are some of the ones that like, yeah, anything else that's going to save us? Um, because like taxes are taxes and we are going to pay them, but like, what else can we do to, like you said, Bill Gates or, um, like Warren Buffett, what are the things that you found for like these higher net worth earners? Like, do they need to get into real estate and like use the big, beautiful tax bill or like,   Alexis Gallati (27:23) Yeah.   Okay.   The Dental A Team (27:50) anything else that you've seen that like really moves the noodles or is like, no, just the small consistent things are really going to help them out.   Alexis Gallati (27:57) Yes, well, they all help out. ⁓ But if you are looking for more of that, hey, Alexis, what's like Hail Mary that I can be doing to act to really save? ⁓ You can look at real estate. ⁓ That could be a whole podcast by itself. ⁓ But in general, you you tend to ⁓ get into real estate when you're not talking about like reets or things I can do through the stock market.   The Dental A Team (28:14) Right.   Alexis Gallati (28:26) ⁓ You're either doing like real estate syndications, ⁓ direct ownership, like long-term rentals or short-term rentals. And ⁓ each of those are treated differently and have different ways of making that ⁓ a tax deduction for yourself. So when it comes to, in general, ⁓ real estate syndications, this is where you're   The Dental A Team (28:49) Mm-hmm.   Alexis Gallati (28:54) buying into a partnership that maybe owns an office building. And you go in with other partners and ⁓ it's syndicated. So it's very passive. There's no way for you to write off any losses in that current year. ⁓ When it comes to direct ownership, the IRS basically says, hey, that real estate is considered passive unless you have real estate professional status or you do that short-term rental   deduction or excuse me, short-term rental exclusion. And so what ⁓ happens if you can qualify for the short-term rental exclusion or real estate professional status is that those what would have been passive losses that you can't use against your current income will be considered active losses. And then you can use it against your   active income, when I say active income, things like your W-2 or your business. So you're getting a current year deduction from that. And you can do cost segregation study to help accelerate depreciation. ⁓ So this is very, very much in the nutshell sort of explanation. ⁓ But it can really be a great way to lower your taxes if   The Dental A Team (29:57) Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   Alexis Gallati (30:16) you essentially want a second job. Just know that real estate is not as passive as the social media gurus go and ⁓ try to glamorize. It really does take a lot of extra work. You want to make sure that you are following the rules properly so that you can get that tax benefit in the current year. ⁓ But if you   The Dental A Team (30:19) Yeah.   Alexis Gallati (30:41) do have that prerogative and you want to learn and get do things properly, then it can really save you quite a bit of money.   The Dental A Team (30:48) Yeah. Are there any other things, Alexis, that are like real estate that save that much but don't require that much work? I'm asking you for the weight loss drug of taxes, please. What's our easiest way with the most amount of bang for buck that you've seen? These are the big hits that if you want, because agreed, real estate's great. If you do that short-term thing, but it is a lot of work. With the big, beautiful tax bill that came through, that 100 % depreciation is pretty fantastic. But like you said,   Alexis Gallati (30:54) Yes.   Mm-hmm.   The Dental A Team (31:17) got to have it rented out, you got to have the pieces, you got to like reno it like there are and you have to have it done by the end of the year and like it's a stressful zone. ⁓ So are there other things that you've seen that might be like 50 or 100 or 200,000 off taxes that aren't necessary real estate? The Augustus one, yes. Like paying people, there's things but is there anything else you've found that are like some of those bigger chunks that maybe people don't think about they don't recognize? Yes of course they're going to take a little bit more work but...   Alexis Gallati (31:17) You gotta work for it.   The Dental A Team (31:45) that you found that could be benefits to our audience.   Alexis Gallati (31:48) OK, so let's talk about my Hail Mary for tax savings. I   love this one towards the end of the year because you're going to want to know, have a good idea of where your tax situation is going to end up. So I use this a lot for year end planning. And this is oil and gas. When you ⁓ invest in oil and gas, again, just like with real estate, there's a lot of different options.   But my favorite is our drilling funds and this is where you invest in a partnership that owns oil and gas wells and these this allows you in that first year to Essentially write off usually somewhere between 80 to 95 percent of the investment that you've put in So let's say you invest a hundred thousand dollars Then you're getting about and let's say conservatively an eighty thousand dollar deduction that can go a   against your ordinary income. So if you're W2 or your business. usually, a good rule of thumb is that, let's say, if you're putting in $100,000, you're saving $30,000 in tax. You're putting in $200,000, you're saving $60,000 in tax. And then after year one, you're earning overall, during the life of the investment, about a 2x   The Dental A Team (33:10) Bye.   Alexis Gallati (33:11) you put   100,000, you're getting about 200,000 back. And so it's considered a very conservative investment. And just because the length of the investment, and this is one of the cons of it, is that it's usually about a 10 to 12 year period. So it's generally only about a 7 % return on investment over the life of the investment. the great thing about it is that   you let's say if you did put in that hundred thousand, you're getting that 30,000 in savings, and then you can go put that into something else that will earn you even more money. So then this is something that you can do every single year. And, you know, just depends on how much money you want to save and so that how much you put in for that investment.   The Dental A Team (33:57) Gosh, that's such a good one. And these are things of like just fun, like tips and topics. Like I said, it's the rules of monopoly. I caught like, how do we play tax strategy better? Alexis, what are any like resources? I feel like you guys have some resources. Like I feel the world of tax is so daunting. And so it's like, we hear from podcasts and we hear snippets and we see TikTok and it's like real estate games. like, where do people go if they like want to dig a little bit deeper and really become like more tax expert and more tax savvy and.   like tax strategy, like what are any resources you found or ways for people just to become a little bit more literate in the tax world.   Alexis Gallati (34:33) Yes, so ⁓ of course I'm to do a little shameful plug. My book, The ⁓ Advanced Tax Strategies for Medical Professionals, it's really just that it's a brain dump of all different types of strategies, whether it's for your business or W-2 only, charitable, these alternative investments. And so it's really a space.   The Dental A Team (34:36) as you should.   Alexis Gallati (34:58) for readers to learn more about their options. So then that was the way they can go online and do more research or bring it to their current advisor. So, you know, it's just about opening those possibilities. Otherwise, you know, one resource that is really great for especially medical professionals is the White Coat Investor that Dr. Dali, he has a wonderful, wonderful site and he puts out really good material.   The Dental A Team (35:11) Yeah.   Alexis Gallati (35:25) when it comes to not only taxes, but also for ⁓ just finances in general. And then, of course, on ⁓ CerebralTaxAdvisors.com, our website has wonderful ⁓ material that I put out all the time. There's lots of goodies there, as well as ⁓ different resources and worksheets and stuff like that.   The Dental A Team (35:52) Yeah, no, that's super helpful.   But Alexis, what do you find ⁓ as you go through this? Like one, how often are you meeting with your clients? Because I feel like so many CPAs and tax strategists meet with them in like December 1st and they're like, hey, you owe this much money. Is that how you guys plan? Like how should tax planning actually work?   or is that normal? Like I'm just trying to find a vibe of how this should work in the industry.   Alexis Gallati (36:15) Yeah.   Yeah. So when a medical professional first starts working with us, I design a tax plan for them. And that's really critical because right then and there, OK, what can we be doing to dramatically lower your taxes, legally, of course, and set you up for success? And then we meet with our clients at minimum twice a year. So we do a mid-year tax projection and a year-end tax projection.   The Dental A Team (36:34) course.   Alexis Gallati (36:45) And especially with medical professionals, your income is so variable throughout the year, depending upon insurance reimbursements or seasonality and things like that. And so we really want to make sure that we have a good, clear understanding, good six plus months in advance. Hey, what are you going to be owing tax wise? What does cash flow look like? What quarterly estimated payments do you need to make?   All of these things should not be a surprise. So that's why when I built Cerebral in the packages we have, I was really focused around how do we eliminate those surprises.   The Dental A Team (37:23) Yeah, no, I love that. that's super helpful because I feel like so many just wait till December and it's like, no, like there's things I could have been doing and if I would have known. So that's super helpful. And then I think the other question is like, okay, you guys are tax strategy. Are you CPA? Are you bookkeeping? Like kind of differentiate. Are you in the financial advisor world? Like what specifically would we say I need you for XYZ, but I'm going to need these people again, like marketing, right? Like what facet of my wealth management are you?   and who do I need paired with you?   Alexis Gallati (37:54) Yep, so we are your tax compliance, tax planning, your bookkeeping, and CFO services, and also business advising as well. So we're able to set up entities for you ⁓ as well as provide ⁓ just a lot of the years and years of experience that we have in running businesses and seeing different types of practices, et cetera. ⁓ We are not investment advisors, so we won't   say, buy Coca-Cola versus Pepsi. But we will introduce you to different investments that have tax benefits. And one very unique quality of Cerebral that's very different from other firms is that we do not take any commissions or kickbacks on any strategies we recommend or vendors we recommend. And we don't sell any products. So we're very education-based. I'm very focused on   you understanding your options so you can make a educated decision on what you want to move forward with. And then we are a white glove done for you firm that will implement those strategies on your behalf and make sure they're reported properly on your tax returns. Because that's what we've found being in this industry, especially specializing in medical professionals, is there's a lot of people out there that know about these strategies.   but they do not know how to implement them properly. And that honestly is 80 % of the fight when it comes to doing any of these strategies.   The Dental A Team (39:26) Yeah, no, that's incredible. So, and again, this is just like naiveness on my side. Do I need a CPA or are you guys the replacement of a CPA?   Alexis Gallati (39:35) Yeah, we're the replacement of CPA. We are CPAs. We are EAs. So we are taking care of your tax preparation, so personal and business. We do it all. I try to keep these packages as comprehensive as possible because I hate being nickel and dined. communication's a top priority for us. And so we don't want our clients to hesitate whatsoever to connect with us. And so that's why we don't.   The Dental A Team (39:56) Totally.   Amazing.   Alexis Gallati (40:05) shot like I, my gosh, I just got like a bill from my attorney the other day and it was for stuff that I talked to him about like in August. I'm like, I hate those pop-up bills. So that's yeah, that's, why I try to make it as comprehensive as possible.   The Dental A Team (40:10) Yep.   Right.   Awesome.   No, that's fantastic. That's really helpful. And I know a lot of people are very nervous to switch from their CPA. CPAs, feel like we're so embedded and we trust them with our souls. Truly, I see this. ⁓ So is there complementary calls we have with you? how do we start with that? Because I know, honestly, untangling from a CPA is such a pain. It is so annoying. so ⁓ how does that process work if people want to work with you, Alexis?   Alexis Gallati (40:46) So the best thing you can do is go to our website and go to the contact page. And you will ⁓ go through a very quick questionnaire to make sure that you're a good fit for us, because we also want to make sure we're a good fit for you. And we will ⁓ have a tax discovery session. And during that session, we will. We'll talk about what your needs are and what it's like to work with us. ⁓ I'm very focused on that return on investment. We actually have a guarantee.   with the design of our plans that I will save you at least two times what you pay us in ⁓ tax savings or you get the plan for free. And on average, our clients actually achieve 4.5 multiple with the design of our plans. So again, it doesn't make sense for us to work together if I can't save you more than what you're paying us.   The Dental A Team (41:39) That's amazing. No, that's incredible. And that's a great guarantee. And ⁓ then let's say hypothetical, we do get audited. How often do you guys go through audits and like success rate? Like I'm imagining if you were three years in IRS, you're probably pretty fantastic at that. But these are always things that I'm just curious. Like how does that work? And how often are your clients audited? And like, how is your success rate on that? And if you don't want to share this, I hope you do. We're just going to go for it. Like, yeah, I'm just going to ask the weird questions. Why not?   Alexis Gallati (42:01) Yeah.   I love the weird questions. They're the best. So yeah, that's one thing I can never guarantee that you won't be audited because of course there are always random audits that happen. We've only had three audits since I started Cerebral over 10 years ago. In 2014, I started Cerebral. ⁓ And ⁓ one of them was for the mortgage interest deduction. there's a limitation in that.   The Dental A Team (42:18) It's incredible.   Alexis Gallati (42:28) Um, and that was just, unfortunately, a client had not provided the correct information. And so we were easily able to just change it and be on our way. Um, and then another two were regarding actually real estate professional status. And that was just New York state saying, Hey, like we don't, we don't think that you're actually qualified for this. we're like, Oh, yeah, we do. Here's the paperwork. And they're like, Oh, okay. See you later. So yeah.   The Dental A Team (42:50) Yeah.   That's amazing.   That's a huge thing. And I'm so glad I asked the question because I think for me, that's something I'm curious on of like, I get it. Like you said, you can't guarantee that, but as long as you back in, do you guys charge extra for those audits or is that part of the plan? Like, nope, we stand behind it. Like, how does that work? Cause I know there's some firms that I have chatted with and if we do get audited, it's like 375 an hour for the audit. And I'm like, okay, like I'll just plan for that. But how does that work for you guys?   Alexis Gallati (43:18) Yep, so we back up all of our work and all of our packages. If you do receive a notice for anything that we prepare, you send it to us and we help you take care of it. So yeah, we 100 % back up our work. If you come start working with us and you have some a notice from a year that we didn't handle, like we didn't prepare, we'll still help you handle it. But that would be just.   at our hourly rate, depending upon the extensiveness of the notice. But to go back to your original question about making that change, I 100 % get it, especially if you've been with somebody for so long. And so you just have to look at that cost benefit and see, hey, staying with this person, how much is that costing me in tax savings versus   The Dental A Team (44:01) Right.   Alexis Gallati (44:12) going with somebody like cerebral and we try to go and make that process as seamless as possible when it comes to getting ⁓ up to date in your history and then ⁓ getting access to your bookkeeping and getting your tax returns. ⁓ And so, because I completely understand it can be daunting, but. ⁓   Happy to have a conversation around it when we meet about the discovery session and to see if it's something you'd want to move forward with.   The Dental A Team (44:43) Amazing. Alexis, has been such a great podcast and I just love meeting great individuals. I love how much you have a passion for the law and for the tax wealth and it's your own life and your own livelihood. So if people want to reach out, I know you said it before, how do they connect with you? So yeah, they can get started if they're interested.   Alexis Gallati (45:01) Yeah. So you can Google us or just go to CerebralTaxAdvisors.com. And which by the way, the reason why I have cerebral is because my husband is a private practice neurosurgeon and my dad's a retired private practice neurologist. hence cerebral in the brain. So if y'all can remember. But yeah, so CerebralTaxAdvisors.com is the best way to get a hold of us.   The Dental A Team (45:14) There you go.   I love it. Yeah.   Alexis Gallati (45:27) ⁓ And I look forward to potentially talking with y'all.   The Dental A Team (45:32) Well, Alexis, thank you so much for this. And for all of you listening, I hope you take advantage between now and April 15th. I hope you just like have a conversation. I'm always pro. I love CPAs. My CPA listens to this podcast and I'm always interested in meeting new people like Alexis, chatting with them. Are there different ways that they can benefit me? Because yes, I love my CPA, but I love more than that saving money and learning new strategies that maybe I didn't know about. So Alexis, I really hope a lot of them reach out to you, connect with you and for   All of you listening, thank you for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.  

Paul Hood, CPA, Personal Financial Specialist, and CEO of PaulHood, joins the show to share a raw and transformative journey from "the wrong side of the tracks" to the helm of the nation's largest single-owner CPA firm. He opens up about the grit required to break generational cycles of addiction and incarceration, and the humbling moment a Christian counselor challenged his entitlement, ultimately saving his 38-year marriage. Listeners will discover how adopting a "Kingdom stewardship" mindset can replace fear-based ambition with profound joy and explosive professional growth.Guest Links:Paul's LinkedInPaulHood94XBook: Roadkill Tastes Like ChickenCredits: Host: Lisa Nichols, Executive Producer: Jenny Heal, Marketing Support: Landon Burke and Joe Szynkowski, Podcast Engineer: Portside Media

This episode is part of our Client Seat series, where financial coaches get real-time financial coaching from Kelsa. It's a great opportunity to showcase what goes into a financial coaching session. If you're a financial professional, you can apply to be a guest on a future Client Seat episode.Being a financial coach doesn't mean your own money is always perfect. Different seasons of life require different systems, and sometimes what worked beautifully before stops working entirely.Michelle Kopp is a CPA and financial coach living in Guatemala. Before moving from the U.S., her money was completely under control. Then her family relocated internationally, and everything fell apart. Bills are now paid in cash. Day-to-day spending is cash. She went from total control to tracking every dollar in a Google form, which she hates doing.This week's episode is about what happens when your context changes so dramatically that you have to rebuild. Michelle needed someone else to help her see what she couldn't see on her own. That's completely normal, even for financial professionals.You'll hear how we worked through the comparison trap she'd fallen into, identified what was worth keeping from her previous approach, and created a concrete plan that gives her stability without trying to control every dollar. This is what it looks like to help someone stabilize first before trying to optimize everything at once. Needing to rebuild doesn't mean you're failing. It means your season changed.Links & Resources:How to Create Buy-in - Free WorkshopBe on a future Client Seat episodeJoin the Facebook groupMichelle's websiteKey Takeaways:When your context changes, your old system might not fit anymore. Michelle's Plan Ahead Method (now called SpendFirst™) worked perfectly in the U.S. but couldn't translate to Guatemala's cash-based economy. You're not failing if what used to work stops working.Comparison will keep you stuck. Michelle kept measuring her current spending against what she spent before the move, expecting Guatemala to be cheaper. That comparison made her feel like she was failing instead of recognizing she was rebuilding.Stabilize first, optimize later. The goal isn't to create the perfect system immediately. It's to create enough stability that you can work with what you have, then refine from there.Your effort might be scattered, not insufficient. Michelle was putting in tons of effort tracking every dollar, but that effort wasn't getting her anywhere. Sometimes you need to redirect your energy, not add more of it.Cash needs different routines than digital money. When most of your spending is cash, you can't rely on bank statements to tell you where money went. You need a withdrawal schedule that creates predictability.Even financial professionals need outside perspective. Michelle is a CPA and financial coach, but she couldn't see her own patterns clearly. Sometimes you need someone else to ask questions you can't ask yourself.Progress happens in layers. We didn't try to solve every aspect of Michelle's money in one session. We tackled the biggest chaos creators first so she could build from a stable foundation.

When should you pay yourself? Paying yourself on the wrong payroll schedule can create IRS red flags, cash flow crunches, and painful cleanup later.In this episode, we break down monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll for S Corp owners. You'll learn what the IRS actually expects, how reasonable salary works, why quarterly “true-ups” can create cash flow problems, and how to structure payroll to stay compliant without overpaying in taxes.We also cover catch-ups, slowdowns, bonuses, zero payroll returns, and a critical but often-missed strategy involving self-employed health insurance and HSA contributions that can reduce FICA taxes.If you're an S Corp owner trying to pay yourself the right way and avoid IRS attention, this episode walks you through exactly how to do it. 

This episode reveals the major CPA shortage happening right now and why it matters for business owners. You'll learn why so many CPAs are retiring, why new graduates are leaving the profession, and how this creates real problems for anyone who relies on basic tax prep. We talk about the difference between compliance and tax planning, and why tax savings come from strategy—not old-school accounting. You'll hear real stories of business owners who saved tens of thousands once they stopped relying on outdated firms. This episode shows you what to look for in a tax partner and why getting help now can protect your business and your money. Listen to learn how to keep more of what you earn before it's too late.   Next Steps:

Do you ever feel like you're doing everything right – solid clients, fair prices, full days – and yet the hours and money still aren't quite where you want them?That tension usually isn't about missing one thing.It's the accumulation of small leaks most CPAs learn to live with: time lost re-reading emails, tracking tasks in your head, chasing clients for missing info, and doing quiet cleanup work that never shows up on an invoice.Pricing is one major leak.Systems is another.In this episode, Suzanne Green shares how tightening a few simple systems – not adding software or staff – helps her save 8–10 hours a week.Same clients, same output, less mental load, and the equivalent of a 17% higher effective hourly rate.It's a grounded, relatable conversation about where hours really go when your systems aren't doing their share of the work.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/383…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it's not because of the work – it's how you've priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It's free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn't want to do it alone. You'll make progress faster and with more confidence. …

In this conversation, Ken Gee shares his journey from a commercial lender and CPA to a successful entrepreneur in the multi-family real estate sector. He discusses the challenges of finding deals, the importance of building relationships, and the value of transparency in business. Ken emphasizes the significance of helping others and giving back, reflecting on how his experiences have shaped his approach to life and work.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

What do you get when you mix a CPA, a homeschooling mom of three, two podcasts, and a “try anything once” mindset? In today's episode, I'm joined by my friend Teran Sands - CPA, content creator, and host of What Your CPA Wants You to Know and Well This Wasn't the Plan. She shares what it's like to co-host two different podcasts and how her path led her into podcasting in the first place. With over 364,000 Instagram followers and a rapidly growing online presence, Teran breaks down why she approached the launch of her second podcast differently than her first, why waiting for things to be perfect can hold you back, and how she treats her content like a real business by using data to guide growth. We also dive into navigating negative comments, why online success rarely happens overnight, and how consistency and experimentation fueled her momentum. We wrap things up with a live coaching session focused on monetizing her homeschooling podcast, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the same strategic questions and ideas I use in my one-on-one podcast consultations. Key Topics CoveredCo-hosting multiple podcasts with different dynamicsLaunching a podcast before everything feels “perfect”Treating podcasting and content creation like a real businessHow to legally pay your children through your small businessHandling negative comments and online criticism as a creatorWhy growth on social media doesn't happen overnightUsing analytics and numbers to guide content strategyOutsourcing podcast production and the time it can saveCreative and outside-the-box podcast monetization ideasLinks:Follow Teran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teransands/Listen to Teran's CPA Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NzUggPyGYZungtsy4yYB8?si=99c3daebbea04c25&nd=1&dlsi=5f9800eba7424a79Listen to Teran's Homeschooling Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-this-wasnt-the-plan/id1832360658Teran's Freezer Meal Prep: https://stan.store/teransands/p/get-my-freezer-meal-guide-now?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnjIWzABVbPXgAJt9Zt0iyr9A7zTEAipRpxEyRe61fs8lIpttemxxPb0_tclg_aem_pmy6xSWhqkwV7FzMjdLl8QSponsors:Visit CASACAMPO'S website: https://visitcasacampo.com/Follow CASACAMPO on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/visitcasacampo/Let's Connect! Book Your Podcast Consultation Today: https://www.pivotballchange.com/services Follow Pivot Ball Change on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pivotballchange/ Visit Pivot Ball Change's Website: https://www.pivotballchange.com/

For sole proprietors and self-employed professionals, taxes can feel confusing, time-consuming, and easy to get wrong. What counts as a deduction? How do you save money on your taxes? And how do you stay organized when you're doing everything yourself? In this episode, CPA and tax expert with TurboTax, Lisa Greene-Lewis breaks down how solo business owners can make taxes simpler, smarter, and less stressful. We talk about common mistakes new business owners make, overlooked opportunities to save money, what they need to know for the upcoming season, and how the right tools and systems can help you stay focused on growing your business—not wrestling with paperwork. With the business tax filing deadlines are approaching quickly, with many returns due March 16, 2026, understanding what has changed and acting on it with the right guidance may be one of the most practical decisions a solopreneur makes this year. Learn more about filing your taxes with Intuit TurboTax, visit https://turbotax.intuit.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathe Barrington is a CPA specializing in construction. Before finding her true passion in cost accounting and then the construction industry, Kathe worked in different industries, including software, hardware, real estate, retail, and non-profits. Working directly with owners, banks, bonding agents, and CPA firms, Kathe helps bringing the entire team together so that they can make the best management decisions for the organization's sustainability and future growth. Some of the services she provides include budgeting, forecasting, cost segregation, basic bookkeeping, and software implementations.  Key Takeaways - Understanding over-billings and under-billings. - Why under-billing is always a warning sign.  - The impact of billing patterns on bonding and banking relationships. - Owner responsibility and accountability. - Over-billing and customer relationships.  - Treating over-billed cash with discipline and clarity.   Connect with Kathe Barrington LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337/  Website - kbcpa.biz/  FaceBook - web.facebook.com/people/Kathe-Barrington-CPA/100072271041746/   Previous episodes with with Kathe Barrington WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability Physical Progress vs. Financial Reporting in Construction Projects

Nobody talks about their diversified asset allocation at a dinner party, but they do talk about the tax strategy their advisor helped them implement to save thousands. In this episode, host Wes Young and co-host Justin Lakin dive deep into why most advisors are missing the boat on one of the biggest opportunities in holistic planning: proactive tax intelligence. You'll hear why tax strategy often falls in the “too hard” pile, how to shift from avoidance to opportunity, and what tools and frameworks you can use to bring immediate value to clients, without crossing compliance lines or becoming a CPA. Wes also shares a powerful mindset shift: when you start seeing the tax code as a playbook instead of a problem, you unlock a new level of client transformation and professional referability. What to expect from their conversation: Why most advisors avoid tax planning (and how to stand out if you don't) Tools like Holistiplan, narratives checklists, and Q4 strategy sessions Tips for integrating CPAs and navigating pushback with confidence Practical tax concepts to build referability and efficiency Resources: Submit your podcast question here! Transform your practice! Previous Episodes of Interest: Setting Expectations: How to Define Planning ROI Early Heritage vs. Inheritance: Legacy Conversations That Stick Making a Family Bank Work for Real Life Other Listening Platforms: Listen on Apple Podcasts Stream on Spotify Watch on YouTube Connect with Us: Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Wes Young Live Website

A candid conversation with Eric Brotman on why retirement planning needs structure, flexibility, and fewer assumptions. One of the things I've learned after years of retirement planning conversations is that most people aren't short on opinions — they're short on clarity. They've heard plenty of rules.They've absorbed countless headlines.They've picked up advice from coworkers, friends, and financial media. But when you slow things down and ask a simple question — “Why are you doing it this way?” — the answer is often some version of, “That's just what I've always heard.” I recently sat down on the “Don't Retire… Graduate!” podcast with host Eric Brotman (author of “Don't Retire, Graduate” and previous guest of my podcast back in the “Retirement Revealed” days) to discuss why building a better retirement plan starts with asking better questions. Eric is the author of Don't Retire, Graduate, and his core message is relatable to everyone entering retirement: retirement isn't a finish line. It's a transition — and transitions deserve thoughtful planning, not assumptions. As Eric put it during our conversation, “Most people think retirement is a decision. It's not. It's a process.” Why One-Time Decisions Matter So Much to a Retirement Plan When you're working, mistakes are usually correctable. Save too little one year? You can increase contributions later. Invest poorly early on? Time often smooths things out. Retirement doesn't work that way. Retirement is full of one-way doors — decisions you can't easily undo. Social Security claiming. Pension elections. Medicare choices. Tax strategies.  Once those decisions are made, you often live with them for decades. This is where many retirement plans quietly fail. Not because the investments are bad, but because the planning skipped the hard questions upfront. The Quiet Problem of Underspending One of the most interesting threads in our conversation was something I see often with clients but rarely see addressed directly: underspending. People spend decades being disciplined savers. They're rewarded for delaying gratification. Then retirement arrives — and suddenly they're supposed to flip a switch and start spending confidently? That transition is harder than most people expect. Eric described it bluntly: “A lot of retirement plans are designed to avoid failure, not to support a great life.” When plans are built entirely around extremely high “success rates,” the tradeoff is often living smaller than necessary. Retirees follow conservative rules, spend cautiously, and end up with more money at the end of life than they started with — not because they needed it, but because no one ever gave them permission to use it. That's how an effort to preserve your money in retirement can turn into a missed opportunity. Why Rules of Thumb Aren't Enough Rules like the 4% withdrawal guideline exist for a reason — they're simple and memorable. But that simplicity comes at a cost. Rules of thumb can be useful starting points, they become problematic when people treat them as guarantees rather than guidelines that require context. Markets change. Taxes change. Spending changes. Life changes. A retirement plan that assumes constant spending and ignores flexibility is solving a math problem that doesn't exist in the real world. What works better is a framework that expects adjustment — not perfection. Retirement as a Graduation, Not an Ending The phrase “Don't retire, graduate” isn't about working forever. It's about intention. Some people want to fully step away from work. Others want to consult, volunteer, or stay mentally engaged. Neither approach is right or wrong — but drifting into retirement without deciding is where dissatisfaction often starts. What makes a difference for most retirees? Having a purpose to your life in retirement as a new chapter, not a conclusion to the entire book. When you treat retirement as a graduation into something new, the planning naturally becomes more thoughtful. Spending decisions align with values. Time gets treated as intentionally as money. And confidence replaces guesswork. The Real Goal of Retirement Planning At its core, this conversation wasn't about beating markets or optimizing spreadsheets. It was about aligning math with real life. A good retirement plan doesn't just aim to avoid running out of money. It aims to help you live well — without constant second-guessing. For many, effective retirement planning isn't about dying with the most money. It's about using the money you've earned to live well, without fear or constant second-guessing. That's a goal worth planning for. If you're approaching retirement — or already there — this episode will challenge some comfortable assumptions and help you think differently about what your plan is actually designed to do. Don't forget to leave a rating for the “Retire Today” podcast if you've been enjoying these episodes! Subscribe to Retire Today to get new episodes every Wednesday. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retire-today/id1488769337  Spotify Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetireTodaySpotify About the Author: Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA is a retirement financial advisor with Keil Financial Partners, author of Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Income Plan in 5 Simple Steps, and host of the Retirement Today blog and podcast, as well as the Mr. Retirement YouTube channel. Jeremy is a contributor to Kiplinger and is frequently cited in publications like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Additional Links: Buy Jeremy's book – Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps Eric Brotman on LinkedIn “Don't Retire…Graduate!” podcast “Don't Retire…Graduate!” on Amazon BFG Financial Advisors BFG University on YouTube Build Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps Connect With Jeremy Keil: Keil Financial Partners LinkedIn: Jeremy Keil Facebook: Jeremy Keil LinkedIn: Keil Financial Partners YouTube: Mr. Retirement Book an Intro Call with Jeremy's Team Media Disclosures: Disclosures This media is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not consider the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any consumer. Nothing in this program should be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice, nor as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or to adopt any investment strategy. The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and any guest, current as of the date of recording, and may change without notice as market, political or economic conditions evolve. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Legal & Tax Disclosure Consumers should consult their own qualified attorney, CPA, or other professional advisor regarding their specific legal and tax situations. Advisor Disclosures Alongside, LLC, doing business as Keil Financial Partners, is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or expertise. Advisory services are delivered through the Alongside, LLC platform. Keil Financial Partners is independent, not owned or operated by Alongside, LLC. Additional information about Alongside, LLC – including its services, fees and any material conflicts of interest – can be found at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/333587 or by requesting Form ADV Part 2A. The content of this media should not be reproduced or redistributed without the firm’s written consent. Any trademarks or service marks mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. Additional Important Disclosures

In this episode, I break down why we re-drafted nearly our entire team over the last 12 months — from fuel and payroll to insurance, CPA, and bookkeeping. Growth changes the game, and the people who got you here aren't always the ones who can take you where you're going. We talk about how to evaluate your team, when it's time to make a change, and why drafting the right people is one of the most important leadership decisions you'll ever make. Lawntrapreneur Academy (The #1 Resource for Starting, Growing and Scaling a Successful Lawn & Landscaping Company). - https://www.lawntrepreneuracademy.com/  Granum Academy Bootcamp Tour (use BRIAN25 to save!): https://granum.com/academy-bootcamp/  GROW 2026 - February 10-12 Dallas, TX: https://hubs.li/Q03Ybxs10 LMN & Coffee - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89495679453?pwd=m0wKa6prJWrARKClJKolBaJjl00OYn.1 Coast Pay Fuel Card: www.CoastPay.com/Brian

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of the Building Your Money Machine Show! Today, I'm shining a spotlight on a reality most people don't want to talk about: the fact that earning more money doesn't automatically make you feel rich or free. In fact, more than half of households making over $100,000 a year are still living paycheck to paycheck. If you've ever wondered why hitting a higher income doesn't bring lasting peace or satisfaction—and sometimes even leads to more anxiety—this episode is for you.I share why the feeling of being rich is rarely about the numbers in your bank account, but much more about psychology, behavior, and clarity. Drawing from my decades as a CPA, entrepreneur, and money mentor, I walk you through the science of happiness and the “hedonic treadmill,” how our brains adapt to new income levels, and why most financial struggles are rooted in emotions—not math.We'll get real about lifestyle creep, emotional spending, and the sneaky ways comparison culture fuels our financial stress. I lay out actionable steps to help you break out of the “never enough” cycle, define your own finish line, and create a results-driven plan that aligns with your values.Today's episode isn't just about theory—it's about empowerment. My hope is that you'll walk away ready to live a life by choice, not by default.IN TODAY'S EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why more income alone won't make you feel rich—and the surprising data behind itThe “hedonic treadmill” and how your brain turns financial breakthroughs into baselinesLifestyle creep: how subtle upgrades can silently steal your raisesThe power of emotional spending—stress, reward, comparison, and moreHow social comparison and the hunt for external validation undermine your financial well-beingActionable steps to track the real triggers behind your spendingWhy “future you” won't magically fix your money habits, and the myth of “I'll save more when I earn more”The importance of defining what “enough” means to you—in dollars and in lifeHow to pivot from a demand-driven to a choice-driven life with a real financial planWhy money is a tool—not the source—of fulfillment and peaceRECOMMENDED EPISODES FOR YOUIf you liked this episode, click here to enjoy these and more:https://melabraham.com/show/9 Subtle Behaviors That Quietly Signal You're Upper ClassThe Psychology of People Who Have $1M Net WorthThe Silent Rules of the Financial System That Keep You Poor7 Assets Rich People Never Buy And The Poor Always DoHow Much Money Do You Actually Need to Be Rich in 2026RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU If you liked this video, you'll love these ones:9 Subtle Behaviors That Quietly Signal You're Upper Class: https://youtu.be/dbdUDwElYY0The Psychology of People Who Have $1M Net Worth: https://youtu.be/-65r-OsaHMEThe Silent Rules of the Financial System That Keep You Poor: https://youtu.be/akr5474dwps7 Assets Rich People Never Buy And The Poor Always Do: https://youtu.be/A9f-IgNKU8wORDER MY NEW USA TODAY BESTSELLING BOOK:Building Your Money Machine: How to Get Your Money to Work Harder For You Than You Did For It!The key to building the life you desire and deserve is to build your Money Machine—a powerful system designed to generate income that's no longer tied to your work or efforts. This step-by-step guide goes beyond the general idea of personal finance and wealth creation and reveals the holistic appr

This episode breaks down why so many women entrepreneurs are walking away from old CPA relationships and finally getting the tax savings they deserve. You'll learn the three toxic traits that hold business owners back: gaslighting, poor communication, and bad tax advice. We talk about why these issues cost real money and how the right tax strategies can change everything. You'll also hear stories from women who made the switch and saved thousands by choosing a partner who listens and gives real finance advice. If you want more confidence, better tax planning, and real control over your money decisions, this episode shows you what's possible. Listen now to see how much you could be keeping.   Next Steps:

Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by our friends at Podium. The Monday Minute is your weekly reset to help you lead better, think clearer, and build your dealership with intention.Choosing the right business structure for your car dealership is one of the most important foundational decisions you'll make as an independent dealer. In this episode, we break down Sole Proprietor, Partnership, and LLC structures—and help you choose the right one for your dealership.WHAT WE COVER:Sole Proprietor structure and pass-through incomePartnership agreements (and why documentation is critical)LLC benefits: personal protection and flexibilityS-Corp vs C-Corp tax filing strategiesAligning your business structure with your dealership goalsACTION STEPS THIS WEEK:Get clear on your dealership goals - staying small or scaling up?Compare risk tolerance and tax implications of each structureConsult with a CPA and business attorney before decidingThis isn't about choosing the "best" business entity—it's about choosing the RIGHT one for how you want to operate and grow your car dealership. Build your foundation correctly, and everything else stands together.Be sure to review this week's Sunday newsletter at https://www.theindependentdealer.com where the full theme and exercises are laid out to help you work through this with your team. If you're not subscribed yet, sign up now.Let's build this together.SPONSORED BY PODIUM: https://www.podium.com

"Does your behavior match your stated objectives? If you claim you want to scale the business but you have no framework or capacity building plan in place, there's a disconnect." - Chris Papin. What if your business struggles aren't about working harder—but about whether your daily actions actually match what you say you want to achieve? In this conversation, Bradley sits down with Chris Papin, attorney and CPA, to explore the critical gap between stated objectives and actual behavior in business. Chris shares his framework for thinking about business decisions through three lenses: personal, community, and client impact. He unpacks why most business owners don't truly understand their financials (and why that's costing them), the business judgment rule that separates smart decisions from lucky ones, and why Tom Brady's success on offense came from his defensive genius. If you've ever felt out of alignment with your own goals or wondered why your numbers don't reflect your stated priorities, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on getting above your business. What Working Above the Business Means to Chris: "It's gonna shift during where I am in the life cycle of my business. But what it means to me is I go back to the original vision. I have kind of three components that are in my vision: There's a personal piece, there's a community piece, and then there's a client-side piece. The personal piece is the internal me, my team, the objectives there. The community is elevating others. Obviously we want to take care of our clients. If I focus on those three pieces and really recognize what's at stake and work my business to achieving those objectives, I'm above the business doing the right things I need to do as a business owner to steer people to those objectives. Fully knowing that I am also the licensed professional where I have to be in my business from time to time to do that too. I'm okay with that because that's what I signed up for, but that distinction matters because I do have to step out of my technician's role to get up into that entrepreneurial role." This episode of Above the Business is for business owners who are ready to stop reacting and start leading with clarity, intention, and alignment between what they say they want and what they actually do. Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll...

Dave McGarel highlights why sky-high valuations in 2026 are like lingering too long at the summit of Mount Everest oxygen is thin and small mistakes can lead to dire consequences.  He explains the key risks ahead and points to where he sees more attractive, lower altitude opportunities for equity investors.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe Here to the ROI Podcast & other First Trust Market News Website: First Trust PortfoliosConnect with us on LinkedIn: First Trust LinkedInFollow us on X: First Trust on XSubscribe to the First Trust YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the ROI Podcast YouTube Channel

On this episode of CFO at Home, Vince's guest is Albert Butler, CPA, MBA, and author of 'Life:, Truth, Love, Loss, Success, and Failure·. Albert and Vince discuss his inspiration and journey writing the book, and explore the impact of values, purpose, and transparency on shaping family financial decisions. Life:, Truth, Love, Loss, Success, and Failure is available now on Amazon. 01:55 The Inspiration Behind the Book 02:48 The Journey of Writing the Book 05:05 The Importance of Accounting in Personal Finance 09:21 The 50-Year Mortgage Debate 17:53 Purpose and Money Management 22:43 Family Values and Financial Transparency 28:29 Reflecting on a Memorable Christmas Key Links LIFE: Truth, Love, Loss, Success, & Failure @albertbutlercpa - Facebook @albertbutlercpa - Intagram @albertbutlercpa - YouTube Contact the Host - vince@thecfoathome.com Want to be a guest on CFO at Home? Send Vince a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628643039567x840793309030672500  

Ready for a fresh take on career transitions in finance? Tune into this engaging conversation with Steve McNally, a seasoned CFO and former global chair, as he sits down with Adam Larson to share real-world insights on what it takes to navigate change and earn your seat at the table. From jumping between Fortune 500 giants and small businesses to adapting to new roles and industries, Steve brings practical advice and lively stories—think learning operations on the factory floor and being the right-hand to the CEO. Discover why being inquisitive, building strong relationships, and developing real business acumen are essential for success. Plus, hear how staying curious and learning continuously keeps leaders ahead in a fast-moving world. Whether you're thinking about your next move or just want to hear what it's really like behind the scenes, this episode packs in thoughtful tips and inspiration for every finance professional. Don't miss it! ___________________________________________________________BILL is a leading financial operations platform for startups to established brands. Headquartered in San Jose, California, we're a trusted partner of leading US financial institutions, accounting firms, and accounting software providers. We empower business owners, CFOs, controllers, and accountants to save time and take control of their payables, receivables, spend, and expense management. For more information, visit bill.com.

John Casmon interviews Reed Goossens, who reflects on more than a decade in multifamily investing and how market cycles, technology, and investor behavior have reshaped the business. Reid explains how the long stretch of cheap debt and rapid appreciation masked operational risk, and why today's environment demands far greater discipline around underwriting, expense control, and asset management. The conversation dives into rising operating costs, insurance inflation, labor challenges, and why the idea of “set it and forget it” investing no longer applies. Reid shares how increased competition and tighter margins have pushed his firm to underwrite significantly more deals while becoming more selective in what they buy. He emphasizes that staying active in the market and deeply familiar with real operating data is now essential to avoiding mispriced risk. Reid also discusses expanding beyond multifamily into acquiring CPA and accounting firms, explaining how private-equity fundamentals like KPIs, systems, culture, and cash flow translate across industries. This matters because transaction-driven income has become less reliable, and operators increasingly need complementary cash-flow businesses to stabilize their platforms while continuing to invest in real estate. Reed GoossensCurrent role: Founder, RSN Property GroupBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at:https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens | https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens/ Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apply to Work With Tier 11: https://www.tiereleven.com/apply-nowAre you still pausing “winning” ads because Meta tells you the CPA is broken? In this episode, we break down the next layer of our three-part series on why turning off Meta's conversion obsession is the smartest move you can make right now.John Moran walks us through a real case study where individual category campaigns, feeder strategy, and engagement metrics drove an 80% lift in new customers. We unpack why hook rate, CTR, and directional signals matter more than platform-reported conversions, and how Shopify and blended nCAC become the real source of truth.We also connect the dots between Meta and Google in a way most marketers completely miss. You'll hear how improved Meta creative reduced Google spend by 20% while increasing total new customers by 37%. And if you want proof that Meta is a top-of-funnel growth engine and not an attribution tool, this episode lays it out step by step.In This Episode:- Why should not pause winning ads- Hook rate & outbound CTR benchmarks- Example of benchmarking with nCAC- Amazon, Google, and Meta sales overlap- Case study: Meta's impact on Google resultsMentioned in the Episode:Previous Episodes On Why You Should Not Pause Ads: https://www.youtube.com/@perpetual_trafficTier 11's nCAC: https://www.tiereleven.com/ncacTier 11's Data Suite: https://www.tiereleven.com/what-we-do/data-suiteListen to This Episode on Your Favorite Podcast Channel:Follow and listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perpetual-traffic/id1022441491Follow and listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/59lhtIWHw1XXsRmT5HBAuKSubscribe and watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@perpetual_traffic?sub_confirmation=1We Appreciate Your Support!Visit our website: https://perpetualtraffic.com/Follow us on X: https://x.com/perpetualtrafConnect with John Moran:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmorangadsConnect with Ralph Burns: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphburnsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ralphhburns/Hire Tier11 - https://www.tiereleven.com/apply-nowConnect with Lauren Petrullo:Instagram -

Personal update, Adobe Acrobat issue, Outlook issue, CPA office stories from the trenches

Most dentists assume that paying massive tax bills is just part of success — but that belief could be costing you millions. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with tax strategist Rachel Michaelov, Founder and CEO of Practice Wealth Partners, to uncover the most common (and costly) tax mistakes dentists make — and how proactive planning can legally reduce tax liability, sometimes all the way to zero. If you've ever written a painful check to the IRS and wondered if there's a better way, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why most dental CPAs are reactive — not strategic The dangers of disconnected bookkeeping, payroll, and tax prep How improper entity structure and payroll decisions raise audit risk Why buying equipment last-minute isn't real tax strategy How quarterly tax planning can dramatically reduce liability Common myths around audits, R&D credits, and tax strategies What dentists should demand from their accounting professionals   Key Takeaways 01:55 Top Tax Mistakes Dentists Are Making 03:00 Why Dentists Overpay Even With a CPA 03:40 The Cost of Disconnected Financial Teams 04:40 Enrolled Agent vs CPA: What's the Difference? 12:10 Why Retirement Plans Alone Aren't Enough 14:40 Buying Equipment vs Strategic Tax Planning 15:58 Choosing the Right Business Entity 20:05 Cost Segregation, R&D, and Advanced Strategies 24:40 How to Challenge Your CPA (Without Fear) 28:35 Do Tax Strategies Increase Audit Risk? 32:34 The Biggest Tax Myths Dentists Believe 34:00 Lightning Round with Rachel Michaelov   — Connect with Rachel

In this special remembrance episode of the Healthcare Facilities Network Podcast, we honor the life and legacy of Ruben Garcia.Ruben's son, Nathan Garcia, along with Jackie Marroquin, TJ Johnson, and Jesse Flores, share personal memories of Ruben as a father, a friend, and a respected leader in healthcare facilities. Through their reflections, we remember the impact Ruben had on those around him and the community he was part of.Ruben tragically passed on December 22. This episode is dedicated to celebrating his life and honoring his memory.To support Ruben's family, please visit the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-ruben-garcias-family?lang=en_US

In this episode, host April Walker, CPA, CGMA, Senior Manager — AICPA & CIMA, is joined by Edward Jenkins, CPA, CGMA, Professor of Practice in Accounting — Penn State University, to discuss name, image and likeness (NIL) taxation issues for student athletes. Together they unpack common misconceptions, emerging revenue streams, unresolved classification issues and the growing complexity of state taxation. Highlights include key considerations — and opportunities — for CPAs advising clients in this rapidly changing area.   What you'll learn from this episode:  Understand how NIL income is taxed — and why student athletes are often surprised at filing time Learn where the biggest compliance risks and reporting pitfalls are for student athletes Explore the unresolved questions around worker classification and self‑employment (SE) tax Hear why state tax, dependency and multi‑state issues make NIL especially complex Resources ·       State and Local Tax (SALT) Resource Center ·       Student Athlete Income Recognition: State and Federal Tax Care Required   Keep your finger on the pulse of the dynamic and evolving tax landscape with insights from tax thought leaders in the AICPA Tax Section. The Tax Section Odyssey podcast includes a digest of tax developments, trending issues and practice management tips that you need to be aware of to elevate your professional development and your firm practices. This resource is part of the robust tax resource library available from the AICPA Tax Section. The Tax Section is your go-to home base for staying up to date on the latest tax developments and providing the edge you need for upskilling your professional development. If you're not already a member, consider joining this prestigious community of your tax peers. You'll get free CPE, access to rich technical content such as our Annual Tax Compliance Kit, a weekly member newsletter and a digital subscription to The Tax Adviser.

Today, Matthew Brickman is joined by Ryan Finley. Ryan is the Founder of Freedom Financial Services Group, a divorce finance advisory firm helping families, attorneys, and courts navigate the financial complexities of divorce. With more than twenty years of executive leadership in finance and forensic accounting, Ryan has guided hundreds of families nationwide toward financial clarity and confidence. As a CPA, CDFA, CVA, and court-approved mediator, Ryan brings both technical precision and empathy to the table—bridging the gap between financial analysis and human understanding. His ability to simplify complex financial issues and foster productive dialogue makes him a trusted resource for attorneys and clients alike.Website: https://www.freedomfsg.com/----If you have a matter, disagreement, or dispute you need professional help with then visit iMediate.com - Email mbrickman@ichatmediation or Call (877) 822-1479Matthew Brickman is a Florida Supreme Court certified family and appellate mediator who has worked in the 15th and 19th Judicial Circuit Courts since 2009 and 2006 respectively. But what makes him qualified to speak on the subject of conflict resolution is his own personal experience with divorce.Download Matthew's book on iTunes for FREE:You're Not the Only One - The Agony of Divorce: The Joy of Peaceful ResolutionMatthew Brickman President iMediate Inc. Mediator 20836CFAiMediateInc.comSCHEDULE YOUR MEDIATION: https://ichatmediation.com/calendar/OFFICIAL BLOG: https://ichatmediation.com/podcastOFFICIAL YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/ichatmediationOFFICIAL LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ichat-mediation/ABOUT MATTHEW BRICKMAN:Matthew Brickman is a Supreme Court of Florida certified county civil family mediator who has worked in the 15th and 19th Judicial Circuit Courts since 2009 and 2006 respectively. He is also an appellate certified mediator who mediates a variety of small claims, civil, and family cases. Mr. Brickman recently graduated both the Harvard Business School Negotiation Mastery Program and the Negotiation Master Class at Harvard Law School.

Are you tired of feeling trapped in the chaos of scaling, with too many projects and not enough clarity on what actually drives growth? In this episode, host Cameron Herold sits down with Josh Post, COO of Cabochon Group and longtime COO Alliance member, for an emotionally raw, practical conversation about breaking out of operational overwhelm.Josh reveals how he went from reluctant family business leader to proven integrator, leading turnarounds, managing conflict, and creating systems real teams can actually use. From delegating all the right things to mastering financial fluency, you'll get the strategies and truth bombs most COOs wish they had known at the start.If you're hungry to escape burnout and unlock your next level as a second-in-command, listen now to avoid the expensive mistakes nearly everyone makes while scaling. This episode delivers unfiltered wisdom you won't find anywhere else, and the urgency to take action before chaos catches up with you.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why most owners don't know how their business really makes money (and what to do about it)[03:25] – The journey from accidental entrepreneur to turning around failing operations[06:00] – Exclusive lessons learned surviving and thriving inside – a family business[10:19] – How Josh navigated a tense partner buyout and instantly simplified everything[13:46] – Choosing the right leadership roles: birth order, strengths, and painful missteps[16:09] – The only books and frameworks that actually moved the needle (and why “just-in-time learning” beats old-school reading habits)[20:22] – From swinging hammers to overseeing finance – demystifying numbers when you're not a CPA[26:42] – Weekly pulse meetings, candid conflict, and the real CEO-COO dance[29:04] – How fractional COO work revealed the true bottlenecks in small business growth[33:13] – The most costly mistake COOs make (and how Josh trains owners to finally be “all in”)About the GuestJosh Post is an industry-recognized Business Turnaround Expert and Fractional Chief Operating Officer who specializes in business recovery, optimization, and rapid growth. Between his position as a COO with The Cabochon Group of Companies and his work as an Independent Expert, he manages a diverse portfolio of over $57 Million spanning several industries.From streamlining operations and accounting to marketing and even acquisition, The Cabochon Group of Companies is the ultimate business support hub where businesses can access a unified strategy from a single source of seasoned professionals that provide a comprehensive, integrated experience.As a Fractional COO and Business Advisor Josh leverages his expertise to provide businesses with targeted, one-on-one guidance on the critical challenges threatening operations. Through resources like his signature business assessment, the Business MRI, he's able to hone in on the root issues, tailoring strategies that work.He credits the COO Alliance for helping him to overcome imposter syndrome, teaching him how to harness his strengths as a Galvanizer and Enabler to drive execution and momentum at scale.

If you're looking for help with crypto taxes, Crypto Tax Girl is offering $100 off for Unchained listeners. They provide personalized crypto tax reports and tax returns, and availability before April 15 is limited. Go to http://cryptotaxgirl.com/unchained to save $100! --- Thank you to our sponsor, Adaptive Security! As AI makes deception easier, security gets harder. Adaptive runs deepfake and phishing simulations so your team can train for real-world threats. Explore more: http://adaptivesecurity.com --- Worried about your 2025 taxes? Don't fret, Unchained has you covered! In this episode, Crypto Tax Girl founder Laura Walter joins to unpack new crypto tax developments such as the 1099-DA, offering strategies to navigate what she calls a tricky year for crypto taxation. The key takeaway: “Don't freak out.” Whether you only use stablecoins, are a heavy DeFi user, are a miner or staker, or even just a prediction market trader, you don't want to miss this episode! Guest: Laura Walter, Founder and CPA of Crypto Tax Girl Links: White House Considers Bid to Tax Crypto Held in Foreign Accounts Roger Ver to Pay $48 Million in Tentative Settlement Deal With DOJ: Report Senator Lummis Pushes Making Small Crypto Transactions Tax-Free in ‘Big Beautiful Bill' Crypto's Black Friday Was Its Largest Liquidation Ever. What the Hell Happened? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Rebecca Kushner, a CPA and Fractional CFO who took the leap from a traditional corporate accounting and finance career to build a business on her own terms. Driven by a desire to marry her financial expertise with her personal values, Rebecca now helps holistic health practitioners and service providers navigate the "scary" side of their business with heart and humanity. Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own career pivot or need a roadmap for your business's financial health, Rebecca shares the substance of how she works. We dive into: Financial Empowerment: How she uses personalized financial strategy to help clients understand their numbers without the overwhelm. Pricing for Profit: Actionable insights on optimizing pricing and capacity so your business supports your life, not the other way around. The "Human" CFO: Why she believes financial decisions should be aligned with your values and long-term vision. The Career Leap: What it really takes to transition from a corporate role to a values-driven entrepreneur.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of the Building Your Money Machine Show. In this episode, I'm tackling one of the biggest misconceptions in personal finance: that net worth is the best predictor of wealth and financial freedom. Spoiler alert—it isn't. I'm breaking down why net worth alone is an incomplete metric, why so many people with high net worth still feel financially stressed, and, most importantly, the real number you need to focus on to create the life and freedom you truly desire.Through my decades as a CPA, entrepreneur, and money mentor, I've watched people chase ever-higher net worths, only to stay stuck on the financial hamster wheel. I've seen individuals who look wealthy on paper but feel just one bad month away from panic, while others with far less accumulated “net worth” live calm, and confident lives. The difference? It's all in what your money can actually do for you.I'll introduce you to key ratios and calculations that show exactly how close your assets are to buying your freedom—starting with your “cash flow coverage ratio.” IN TODAY'S EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why US household net worth is at an all-time high, but financial stress is everywhereThe dangerous illusion of traditional net worthThe assets you must exclude when planning for lifestyle supportWhy the “cash flow coverage ratio” is the true metric for financial freedomHow to assess which of your assets are “teammates” supporting your lifeMy three-bucket system for structuring your moneyStep-by-step action planRECOMMENDED EPISODES FOR YOUIf you liked this episode, click here to enjoy these and more:https://melabraham.com/show/9 Subtle Behaviors That Quietly Signal You're Upper ClassThe Psychology of People Who Have $1M Net WorthThe Silent Rules of the Financial System That Keep You Poor7 Assets Rich People Never Buy And The Poor Always DoHow Much Money Do You Actually Need to Be Rich in 2026RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU If you liked this video, you'll love these ones:9 Subtle Behaviors That Quietly Signal You're Upper Class: https://youtu.be/dbdUDwElYY0The Psychology of People Who Have $1M Net Worth: https://youtu.be/-65r-OsaHMEThe Silent Rules of the Financial System That Keep You Poor: https://youtu.be/akr5474dwps7 Assets Rich People Never Buy And The Poor Always Do: https://youtu.be/A9f-IgNKU8wORDER MY NEW USA TODAY BESTSELLING BOOK:Building Your Money Machine: How to Get Your Money to Work Harder For You Than You Did For It!The key to building the life you desire and deserve is to build your Money Machine—a powerful system designed to generate income that's no longer tied to your work or efforts. This step-by-step guide goes beyond the general idea of personal finance and wealth creation and reveals the holistic approach to transforming your relationship with money to allow you to enjoy financial freedom and peace of mind.Part money philosophy, part money mindset, part strategy, and part tactical action, these powerful frameworks will show you how to build your money machine.When you do you'll also get over $1100 in wealth resources & bonuses for FREE! TAKE THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM QUIZ:Take this free quiz to see where you are on the path to financial freedom and what your next steps are to move you to a new financial destiny at http://www.YourFinancialFreedomQuiz.com

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friends and financial experts Brent Saunier and Chris Sands of Profi2020 to unpack some of the most overlooked yet critical financial decisions dentists face. From the often misunderstood process of switching CPA firms and the emotional roadblocks that come with onboarding, to the dangers of outgrowing your entity structure without knowing it, this episode is packed with practical advice and real client stories.   The trio dives into why clarity around your finances is essential for long-term success, how to vet a great CPA, and why early education for newer practice owners is now more accessible than ever. Whether you're a new owner or a seasoned practitioner, this conversation will help you assess your financial infrastructure and avoid common mistakes that cost dental entrepreneurs time and money. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.profi2020.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

The Lowest 7-Figure S-Corp Salary I've Ever Seen! If you want more profit in your law firm with less chaos, grab my Law Firm Profit Playbook - https://bigbirdaccounting.com/playbook.

Alicia walks through her systematic approach to year-end cleanup, explaining why many business owners' books contain errors that go unnoticed until tax time. She covers the most common trouble spots—from duplicate revenue in undeposited funds to improperly categorized transactions—and demonstrates how to use QuickBooks' built-in tools like the Reclassify feature and Report Options to fix problems at their source rather than just making adjusting journal entries. The episode emphasizes why proper cleanup matters: automations and banking feeds learn from past behavior, so correcting the underlying transactions prevents the same mistakes from recurring year after year.Sponsors(00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast (00:25) - Year-End Cleanup for Tax Time (02:30) - Importance of Accurate Bookkeeping (04:32) - QuickBooks Tools for Cleanup (14:49) - Reconciling Accounts Properly (18:19) - Categorizing Transactions Correctly (20:51) - Adjusting Inventory and Equity (24:42) - Analyzing Reports for Anomalies (26:03) - Conclusion and Class Promotion Alicia's current classes: 1099s in QBO: http://royl.ws/QBO1099?affiliate=5393907, recording with CPEQBO Year-end Cleanup for Taxes: http://royl.ws/yearend?affiliate=5393907, recording with CPEProjects & Job Costing in QBO: http://royl.ws/ProjectCenter?affiliate=5393907, recording with CPESales Tax in QBO: http://royl.ws/SalesTax?affiliate=5393907, recording with CPEPayroll Perfection Bundles (4 QBO Payroll classes - 1099s, Running Payroll, Compliance, and QB Time), Live Feb 3-10: http://royl.ws/payroll-perfection?affiliate=5393907  We want to hear from you!Send your questions and comments to us at unofficialquickbookspodcast@gmail.com.Join our LinkedIn community at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14630719/Visit our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@UnofficialQuickBooksPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up to Earmark to earn free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/onboarding 

Tax season officially kicks off on January 26th, and if you're treating your filing as just a compliance chore, you're likely leaving money on the table. In this episode, Jarrod Bridgeman, Kevin Rhoton (MBA, CPA), and Brodie Hough (CPA) sit down to dissect the evolving tax landscape for dental practice owners.The guys start by debunking the "Tax Bracket Myth"—the common fear that earning more will lead to a lower take-home pay due to higher rates—and explain how this misunderstanding might be sabotaging your practice's growth.Whether you're looking to optimize your 2025 filings or set the stage for a more profitable 2026, this episode provides the roadmap to becoming a truly Millionaire Dentist.Upcoming Tour Dates: Go to our EVENTS page for infoFacebook: Four Quadrants AdvisoryInstagram: @fourquadrantsadvisoryLinkedIn: Four Quadrants Advisory

Paying yourself wrong can trigger IRS issues, messy books, and unexpected tax bills. In this episode, we break down exactly how LLC owners should pay themselves in 2026 based on their entity type and tax election.You'll learn the 3 primary ways business owners get paid: owner draws or distributions, payroll, and guaranteed payments. We explain which payment methods are legally allowed for single-member LLCs, partnerships, and S corporations, and why running payroll as an owner is prohibited unless you have an S corporation election.We walk through how each method is taxed, how it shows up in your financial statements, and why owner draws do not reduce business profit even though they reduce cash. 

Law firm owners - how to account for zelle payments If you want more profit in your law firm with less chaos, grab my Law Firm Profit Playbook - https://bigbirdaccounting.com/playbook.

There is still a lot more you should know about drastic price reductions on key brand name drugs.   The Manufacturer Fair Price (MFP) price reductions have now hit, but there are still things a pharmacy can do to mitigate gross profit loses.  Jay Blackburn, CEO of the Compliant Pharmacy Alliance (CPS) shares several tips, tactics and techniques that he suggests you understand.  It will pay for you to understand and act on now! More information can be had on the CPA website:  www.compliantrx.com 

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by the remarkable Stanley Bronstein, a CPA, life coach, attorney, and multi-book author. Stanley shares his transformative journey from struggling with obesity to becoming a beacon of hope for others seeking to unlock their full potential. He candidly recounts his past battles with weight, revealing how a pivotal moment at age 50 prompted him to make lasting lifestyle changes that have led to incredible success. Stanley discusses his commitment to sustainable weight loss through simple yet effective strategies, emphasizing the importance of mindset and daily actions. He introduces his innovative system, the Way of Excellence, designed to empower individuals to achieve their personal best without the need for drastic measures like surgery or drugs. Alongside practical tips for healthier living, Stanley also highlights his Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge, a free initiative aimed at helping thousands shed excess weight and improve their health. Tune in to discover how Stanley's journey can inspire you to embrace change and strive for excellence in your own life. Explore Stanley's resources and learn more at millionpoundweightlosschallenge.com and thewayofexcellence.com.Support the showSupport the show

In today's episode of the PT on ICE Podcast, ICE CEO Jeff Moore & Eger CPA CEO Jason Eger discuss the importance of financial planning for entrepreneurs, focusing on tax strategies, wealth management, and the significance of having a good CPA. Jasonemphasizes the need for regular consultations to maximize deductions and navigate the complexities of business structures and compliance. The conversation also touches on the benefits of investing in real estate and retirement accounts, as well as common financial mistakes to avoid. Jason shares insights on how Eager CPA can help business owners achieve their financial goals through proactive planning and personalized service. Take a listen to the episode or check out the full show notes on our blog at www.ptonice.com/blog Eger specializes in accounting for PT and OT practices and they have accumulated an impressive portfolio of companies coast to coast. Few things are as important in business than having your finances buttoned up, learn more and grab a free consultation call with Eger's team to see if working with them is as good a decision for you as it has been for us!

Tax season is a different beast under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), and it's time to see if your strategy holds up. This week, we're joined by Ryan Flanigan, CPA, to break down the legislative shifts and what they mean for your bottom line. From permanent bonus depreciation to the new incentive structures, we're cutting through the noise to make sure you're prepared for the "Big Beautiful Bill" you'll face in April.Send us a textSend your questions for upcoming show to checkyourbalances@outlook.com @checkyourbalances on Instagram

About the guest: Dr. Alexa D'Agostino is a “doctor of marketing” and founder/operator who's built and scaled multiple businesses. She's known for blending sharp performance marketing thinking with operational reality, systems, metrics, team structure, and the mindset required to scale without breaking. She also runs an invite-only mastermind built around proximity to high-level operators and coaches.About the episode: Most leaders say they want growth, more revenue, more clients, more recognition but Dr. Alexa D'Agostino calls out the uncomfortable truth: many businesses aren't growth ready… they're chaos ready. In this conversation, Steve and Alexa unpack what “growth ready” really means when pressure hits: clean systems, clear roles, scalable offers, and metrics that matter.Key topics:“Growth ready” vs. “chaos ready” (and why most businesses are the latter)Why scaling exposes problems instead of fixing themThe non-negotiables: systems, lanes, people, and a scalable offerMetrics that matter (CPA, LTV) vs. vanity metrics (likes/followers)Delegation, automation, and building a machine that works without youFailure: not the fear of it, but the avoidance of what you already know must changeCuriosity as interrogation: using fear as dataMindset as an operating system and why it must be upgradedThe role of environment: outgrowing people, protecting energy, and choosing alignmentIntegrity under pressure: the gap between stated values and calendar realityLinks and resources mentionedDr. Alexa D'Agostino: https://alexadagostino.com/Social handle mentioned: “Dr. Alexa D'Agostino” (on most platforms)Send us a textSupport the showConnect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163 Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor Official Website - https://growthready.com/ ---- This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

Why do some recruiters stay stuck on contingent work while others shift a large portion of their business to retained without pitching harder or sounding salesy? James Cairns found the answer the hard way. James is a CPA who left a stable corporate finance career to start a boutique search firm with no agency experience, no local network, and just $30,000 in savings. His first year was brutal. Three placements. Borrowed money. Serious doubts about whether he'd made a huge mistake. Then one summer night, sitting on his back porch, James made a decision that changed everything. He eliminated Plan B. From that point on, momentum followed. Today, James runs The CSP Group, a highly respected finance and accounting search firm in St. Louis. He regularly beats national firms, fills senior roles up to CFO level, and now operates with roughly 40% of his work on retained or contained terms. In this episode, James breaks down what actually drove that shift. Not better sales tactics, scripts, or pressure. But commitment, process, and the confidence to walk away from the wrong work. This conversation offers a clear look at what changes when a recruiter stops competing on volume and starts choosing the right work. In this episode, you'll learn: Why eliminating "Plan B" unlocked consistent momentum How James moved from 3 placements to 40% retained work The candidate profiling system that generates a third of his placements Why being local and specialized beats national firms How to position retained search without pitching or pressure Why walkaway power matters more than persuasion Episode highlights: [3:44] Why a CPA with zero agency experience started a search firm [6:31] Quitting with $30K, a pregnant wife, and no local network [8:46] First-year reality: three placements and borrowed money [10:04] The back porch moment that eliminated Plan B [18:41] The candidate process that transformed responsiveness [21:51] Talent profiles and how they drive a third of placements [38:02] Why local specialization beats national firms [43:27] The CFO placement that changed everything [50:04] "This is how we work": James's retained positioning [59:06] Why walkaway power leads to more retained work James's story is proof that retained success isn't about being louder or more persuasive. It's about clarity, commitment, and choosing the right work. Guest Bio: James Cairns is the founder of The CSP Group, a boutique executive search firm specializing in finance and accounting talent in the St. Louis market. James earned his CPA license and began his career at PwC in Big Four audit before moving into corporate finance roles. He started The CSP Group in 2014 with $30,000 in savings, a one-year-old at home, another child on the way, and no local business network. After a difficult first year, James committed fully to making the business work - a decision that changed everything. Today, the CSP Group places senior-level finance professionals up to the CFO level, with approximately 40% of search assignments on retained or contained terms. Connect with James: James on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cairns-062a5b7/ The CSP Group website - https://thecspgroup.com/ Connect with Mark: Get your free 30-minute strategy session: recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session Mark on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwhitby/?originalSubdomain=uk Follow on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach This episode is brought to you by Recruiterflow. Recruiterflow is an AI-first ATS and CRM built to help recruitment businesses run and scale more efficiently. With built-in sequencing, data enrichment, marketing automation, and AI agents, it's trusted by many leaders in our coaching community. Learn more or request a demo at https://recruitmentcoach.com/recruiterflow

Ever catch yourself comparing your firm to someone else's after picture and wondering what you're doing wrong?Here's a different perspective – you're not behind, you're just still in it.This Work in Progress episode is for anyone mid-messy change, not standing at the finish line.You'll hear what it sounds like to raise prices, disengage legacy clients (including ones you paid for!), test tiered pricing, and still question the hours while it's happening.No tidy ending, no highlight reel – just the normal, uncomfortable middle.Listen to feel less alone, see what “working on it” actually looks like, and borrow some camaraderie from a peer doing the hard work alongside you.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/382…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it's not because of the work – it's how you've priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It's free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn't want to do it alone. You'll make progress faster and with more confidence. …

In the 1970s, two lifelong friends set out to disrupt the computer leasing industry.SponsorsUNC - http://ohmyfraud.promo/uncTake our survey: https://forms.gle/mRrR7FPCZs8eWnog8Get NASBA Approved CPE or IRS Approved CELaunch the course on EarmarkCPE to get free CPE/CEDownload the app:Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appQuestions? Need help? Email support@earmarkcpe.com.CONNECT WITH CALEBLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebnewquist/Sources:O.P.M. BANKRUPTCY: QUESTIONS ABOUND [NYT]The Bubble Bursts Following O.P.M.'s Overnight Success [Washington Post]GUILTY PLEAS IN O.P.M. FRAUD CASE [NYT]TWO GET PRISON IN COMPUTER CASE [NYT]SEC News Digest, January 11, 1983 [SEC]ETHICS AND THE LAW: A CASE HISTORY [NYT Magazine]S.E.C. FILES SUIT AGAINST FOX & CO. [NYT]

Welcome back! It's January, which means tax season is officially upon us—so today I'm sitting down with CPA Charles Harris to kick things off. We're covering the basics—who needs to file, what to know about quarterly payments, and a few key deadlines—so you can feel clear on your next step. And quick note: registration is open for our free Self-Employment Tax Crash Course webinar coming up on February 5. You can find all the details for that at musicstudiostartup.com/tax.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode178   Resources MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers   MSS Tax Podcast Episodes:  162 – Business Travel and Conference Deductions for Music Teachers with Charles Harris, CPA 159 – Tax Prep Service for Music Teachers – Q&A with Charles and Andrea 158 – Charles Harris, CPA on Tax Prep Tips and FAQs for 2025   Tax-related Blog Resources:  Music Teacher Income + Tax Calculator Lowering Taxes with Business Expenses 3 Ways to Track Your Mileage for Tax Purposes 4 Music Teacher Tax Myths 7 Smart Ways to Use a Tax Refund

Apply to Work With Tier 11: https://www.tiereleven.com/apply-now CPAs look awful, so you pause the ads, and then revenue drops across channels. That's not you. That's the new reality of Meta Andromeda and the GEM-style ecosystem where “underperformers” can be the very ads feeding your whole business.John Moran is back to help us break down why cost per result and conversion columns can completely derail your decision-making. We walk through a real example where shifting spend away from a core set of ads didn't just hurt Meta; it dragged down Amazon, Google, and everything else. Stick around to learn how we analyze ads by spend, identify themes the market is responding to, and only layer in conversion data after we've found the real winners.In This Episode:- Why you should stop pausing “underperforming” ads- Case study: Analyzing active ads differently- How spending shifts affect performance across channels- Using ad spend instead of conversions to find winning ads- Real-life example of using spend to analyze ads- CPA and conversion data challengesMentioned in the Episode:Previous Episode On Why Meta Is The Best Ad Platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRnglXjlwMo Partner With Our Meta Ads Experts: https://www.tiereleven.com/apply Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Podcast Channel:Follow and listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perpetual-traffic/id1022441491 Follow and listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/59lhtIWHw1XXsRmT5HBAuK Subscribe and watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@perpetual_traffic?sub_confirmation=1We Appreciate Your Support!Visit our website: https://perpetualtraffic.com/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/perpetualtraf Connect with John Moran:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmorangadsConnect with Ralph Burns: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphburns Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ralphhburns/ Hire Tier11 - https://www.tiereleven.com/apply-now Connect with Lauren Petrullo:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenepetrullo/LinkedIn -

"Mr and Mrs Smith" have nearly $850,000 saved at age 43, but they're very concerned about retirement. "Lucy and Desi" are 58 and 64 with nearly $7 million saved, but they still lie awake wondering if it's enough for their high-expense life. "Tony and Carmela" are in a similar boat with millions saved at 61 and 59, but they're worried their asset allocation won't get them through their retirement. No matter the numbers, the fears sound exactly the same: will you run out of money in retirement? Turns out overcoming that fear is not about hitting a magic number. We'll find out what it's all about today on Your Money, Your Wealth podcast number 566 with Joe Anderson, CFP®, and Big Al Clopine, CPA. The fellas also spitball Roth conversions, long/short direct indexing capital gains tax strategies for "Juicy Squeeze", working after retirement for Wendi, and how one confusing word can completely change a retirement timing decision for "Jacques and Johana." Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-566 (full show notes & episode transcript) Withdrawal Strategy Guide - free download Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) WATCH 6 Signs You Truly Have "Enough" For Retirement on YMYW TV REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:01 - 43 With $850K. Am I Too Late to Build Enough Roth Money? (Mr & Mrs Smith, Dallas, TX) 11:29 - Nearly $7M Saved at 58 and 64. Do We Have Enough for a High-Spend Retirement? (Lucy & Desi, Jersey Shore, NJ) 23:38 - 61 and 59 With $4.5M Saved. Can I Retire Now With a 50/50 Portfolio? (Tony & Carmela, San Ramon, CA) 32:09 - Mid-50s with $685K Saved. Can One Spouse Retire While the Other Works? (Jacques & Johana, Florida) 38:53 - Are Long-Short Direct Indexing Tax Strategies Worth the Fees? (Juicy Squeeze) 47:04 - Should I Work as an Employee or Contractor After 70 on Social Security? (Wendi) 52:04 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast