You’ll encounter many information sources as you begin the retirement planning process, including various books showing you how to minimize your expenses. “Tax-Free Wealth,” by Tom Wheelwright, is one such resource that provides tips on using the country’s tax code to your advantage, reducing the amount you owe the government annually.
This information is valuable as you approach retirement age because you’ll want to retain as much of your hard-earned income as possible. The book examines ways to take control of your tax situation and use the tax code to benefit your financial situation.
Generating tax-free wealth could be vital to your retirement plans by providing you with more money to spend and pass on to your heirs. This guide examines some of the critical points in “Tax-Free Wealth,” by Tom Wheelwright, and look at ways to lower your future tax bills.
A Glance at the Cashflow Quadrant
One central theme in “Tax-Free Wealth” is the Cashflow Quadrant, a chart showing the four ways you can earn during your moneymaking years. Understanding the Cashflow Quadrant puts you on the path to reducing your taxes by teaching you where to find tax advantages. The four quadrants on this chart are:
Employee
An employee has a job working for someone else. Having a job means giving your time, skills, and energy to an employer in exchange for a paycheck and benefits, and you’ll pay taxes on those wages. Employees lack control over their income because they rely on employers and pay regular income tax on their earnings.
Self-Employee
Self-employees work for themselves instead of an employer. Some examples of self-employed individuals include realtors, insurance agents, contractors, and doctors, many of whom earn significant incomes. You still have a job when self-employed but don’t have to work for a boss and could realize tax savings.
Business Owner
Business owners are similar to self-employed individuals, except they hire others to handle many tasks. The owner creates a system and leads people, and many businesses can operate without the owner’s involvement. Becoming a business owner could create passive income as the company grows and comes with tax benefits, too.
Investor
Investors purchase assets that produce passive income. Many investors accumulate funds while working and use that money to buy real estate, stocks, and other assets that help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. Tax breaks are available to investors who structure their finances correctly, as well.
The Cashflow Quadrant is a good starting point for understanding the ideas in “Tax-Free Wealth” because it explains where your earnings could come from. You can then dig into the U.S. tax code and look for ways to reduce the amount you pay every year.
Five Ideas in “Tax-Free Wealth”
This book provides an in-depth overview of the U.S. tax code by explaining how it works. It also examines ways to use these laws to your advantage for legal tax savings. Some key points this book uncovers include the following:
1. Tax Laws Encourage Business and Investment
One vital piece of information in this book is the idea that our current tax laws are in place to stimulate the economy by encouraging citizens to start businesses or invest their money.
This point makes sense because the tax code provides significant tax breaks to individuals who take those steps. You can save money and pay less to the government annually by utilizing one of these methods.
2. Real Estate Is a Massive Tax Shelter
Wheelwright dives into the idea that real estate is perhaps the country’s most significant legal tax shelter. You can gain various tax breaks by putting your money into real estate because there’s depreciation of the asset, and you’ll pay capital gains tax instead of regular income tax when you sell it, lowering your overall bill.
You can also earn passive income on any rental properties you own, which is taxed at a lower rate than income.
3. Most of the Tax Code Stimulates Growth
Current tax laws act as an incentive for entrepreneurs and investors because they encourage people to start businesses or invest their money. Economic growth results because motivated individuals can save on taxes by taking these steps.
About 95% of the tax code is meant to stimulate economic growth, but only a small percentage of the population takes advantage of it.
4. How to Re-Evaluate Your Retirement With Taxes in Mind
This book suggests re-evaluating your retirement strategy while focusing on investment and ways to reduce your taxes. You’ll pay significant taxes on your retirement income, but you can reduce your liabilities by moving away from traditional retirement income methods and developing a unique strategy that meets your needs.
You’ll want to focus on after-tax income and establish a long-term plan for saving money.
5. The Benefits of Using a Retirement and Tax-Planning Professional
“Tax-Free Wealth” recognizes the value of using a financial advisor to help create a tax preparation, optimization, and planning strategy. You can also use an advisor to assist with your investment management, retirement planning, and real estate investment needs.
Having an expert on your side ensures you’re following the tax code and staying on the right side of the law as you use its rules to your advantage.
Reading “Tax-Free Wealth” could be a good starting point as you look for ways to save money on your taxes and create financial independence. Meeting with a financial advisor is still advisable because you’ll want to ensure you optimize your taxes and develop a strategy that meets your long-term goals.
Key Takeaways
- Maximize tax-advantaged retirement accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and HSAs. Contribute as much as you can afford.
- Invest in tax-advantaged assets like municipal bonds, REITs, growth stocks and tax-exempt assets.
- Consider strategies like tax-loss harvesting and tax-gain deferral to minimize taxes on investment returns.
- Hold investments in the appropriate type of account based on tax implications. For example, hold tax-efficient investments in taxable accounts.
- Take advantage of tax breaks for charitable donations, health savings and homeownership.
- Manage income and expenses strategically to qualify for tax deductions and credits.
- Use strategies to minimize or eliminate estate and inheritance taxes, like gifting, trusts and life insurance.
Meet With a Financial Advisor
The ideas presented in “Tax-Free Wealth” can be complicated, especially if you don’t have in-depth knowledge of the IRS tax code. Experienced financial advisors already know and understand the information presented in this book and can help create a tax-free strategy for you and your family.
Bogart Wealth offers financial and tax-planning services in Northern Virginia and Houston, Texas. We can assist with tax optimization, retirement planning, and real estate investment, too, ensuring your tax situation is as advantageous as possible.
Contact Bogart Wealth to speak with an expert about your tax optimization concerns.
