Right About Now - Legendary Business Advice - Small Business Tax Tips To grow & Keep Wealth in 2025 with Mark J. Kohler

Episode Date: January 21, 2025

Right About Now with Ryan AlfordJoin media personality and marketing expert Ryan Alford as he dives into dynamic conversations with top entrepreneurs, marketers, and influencers. "Right About Now" brings you actionable insights on business, marketing, and personal branding, helping you stay ahead in today's fast-paced digital world. Whether it's exploring how character and charisma can make millions or unveiling the strategies behind viral success, Ryan delivers a fresh perspective with every episode. Perfect for anyone looking to elevate their business game and unlock their full potential.Resources:Right About Now NewsletterFree Podcast Monetization CourseJoin The NetworkFollow Us On InstagramSubscribe To Our Youtube ChannelVibe Science MediaSUMMARY In this episode of "Right About Now," hosted by Ryan Alford, tax attorney Mark J. Kohler, known as the "Main Street Tax Attorney," shares actionable advice for small business owners and individuals to improve their financial situations through effective tax strategies. Kohler emphasizes the importance of understanding tax laws, treating side hustles as legitimate businesses, and taking an active role in tax planning. He discusses practical tips like documenting expenses, involving family in business activities, and leveraging tax benefits for children. The episode aims to empower listeners with knowledge to maximize financial growth and navigate tax complexities.TAKEAWAYS Importance of small businesses in the U.S. economy Understanding tax laws and their implications for financial success Common tax-related challenges faced by small business owners The rise of side hustles and their potential for tax savings Tax strategies for maximizing financial benefits for small businesses Differentiating between tax brackets and effective tax rates Learning from wealthy individuals about tax engagement The necessity of a proactive mindset in managing tax responsibilities Practical advice for treating side hustles as legitimate businesses The significance of documentation and record-keeping for tax planning If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, join Ryan’s newsletter https://ryanalford.com/newsletter/ to get Ferrari level advice daily for FREE.  Learn how to build a 7 figure business from your personal brand by signing up for a FREE introduction to personal branding https://ryanalford.com/personalbranding.  Learn more by visiting our website at www.ryanisright.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel  www.youtube.com/@RightAboutNowwithRyanAlford. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's not about getting rich quick. It's not getting rich slow. I want to get rich slow. This is Right About Now with Ryan Alford, a Radcast Network production. We are the number one business show on the planet with over one million downloads a month. Taking the BS out of business for over six years and over 400 episodes. You ready to start snapping next and cash and checks? Well, it starts right about now.

What's up guys? Welcome to Write About Now. We're always talking about how to get right and what's working now. I can tell you about what the future is. I can tell you about the past is, but we want to tell you how to get ahead now. We're going deep today in business. We're going to tell you. And we're dealing with a one percenter.

I'm telling you. So we got both a rare breed and we got the main street coming right to you. It is Mark J. Kohler. He is a tax attorney. He is the main street tax attorney. and he's going to tell us today how to get it all right because look we've got to put more money in your pocket baby that's what we're here to do what's up mark hey thanks for having me ryan this is awesome and uh love that your focus is on this so important yeah man look we want to give actionable

advice ultimately we have a lot of people on and our focus this year in 2025 is how to get ahead in all things and look small business is the fabric of the U.S. You know, we can talk to the high end, we can talk to the low, all this, but we're talking, like, that is what drives America, is small business.

And I love what you're doing, Mark. I love the mainstream approach, podcasting, author. We're going to have all the links to Mark stuff. He's got more shit going on than you would believe, but it's all about helping the main street. So, Mark, set the table for us, man.

I mean, how the hell does you get to 1%? Lawyer and a tax guy, all I want. It seems like the perfect combo, though. Like when I started reading your stuff and talking to your people, I was like, this is a rare breed here, you know, but it makes sense. Yeah. Well, that's what the ladies say, you know. Spotter white leopard.

Well, I was always an entrepreneur. I was the kid with the lemonade stand. I had a small business in high school and hiring my brother's friends and screwing things up. And I mean, it was Tom Sawyer painting white fences, whatever it was. I just loved entrepreneurship. And when I went on to school, I went into business. And then I thought, hey, this accounting thing, no offense to anyone out there. I mean, marketing class, finance is tough, sure, but I don't want to work for Wall Street.

So marketing, man, I'm going to go accounting because I can stand out there. If I can just get a C in accounting, all the other A, you know, hire all the other A accountants. And so sure enough, I stood out in the accounting group as the party planner. It was super fun. And then I had this teacher who. was a lawyer and an accountant. And I was like, holy crap, this guy can take over the world. So you had all the benefits of understanding the numbers sitting at the table in business. And then I could freaking file a lawsuit, fight the IRS, do whatever. And so I was like, I want to be that guy.

So I went on to law school, come to found out of a hundred lawyers. One of them has any tax background. And I freaking said, I'm going to Main Street, screw Wall Street. And here I am. Hey, man, I love it. Because you know what, Mark? And we talked a little pre-up said this, but you know how many times I've asked a question of my accountant. You'd have to consult your lawyer on that. Because look, I like to push the limit. I can admit it. It doesn't take long to figure that out about me. But I want to do it legally. I want to get all I can get out of it. And so the moment you said that, I was like, I have heard that a thousand times, you know, consult your lawyer on that, Ryan. Is it true?

Yeah, it's maddening. And the hard thing is, is taxes are law. I mean, it's tax law, you know, and understanding it. And only the big dogs or big companies have been able to afford taxlers. So I've worked really hard over the last 25 years building a model based on volume and a boutique where we can help clients around the country and been doing that. But the important thing here is the number one cost in our lives are taxes. And people don't want to talk about it. It's too boring. It's too complex. What the hell do I do? Well, we're going to freaking demystify that.

That's my whole career is to say it's not that hard. And you're the captain in your ship. Quit looking for an accountant to do it all for you. You can freaking run the ship here. Hire the first mate and you can control your destiny. What's the most common thing you deal with, Mark? You know, working with Main Street, working with small businesses. like what are those commonalities, you know, business to business? I think, because I always think there's knowledge in trends and numbers. And so when you get asked a lot of the same questions, when you deal with a lot of the same challenges,

I tend to think that brings knowledge to our listeners. What are some of those key things that you're always sort of tackling or working with clients on? Well, what's great question. And what's interesting is since COVID, we've had the great formation. We now have almost, we're pushing up to almost 45% of working Americans have a side hustle. And people, that's a small business. That's a gateway drug. It's not a burden. We should look at as an opportunity to use those funds to get out of debt, build wealth, create assets. And one in five Americans own a rental property in some form or fashion. So if I've got a rental property and a little small business, people, you're not quitting your day job. Let's just tap into that.

And so a common, common theme and what we do every day is meet with that, that community, those people that are the backbone of this country that are starving for simple answers to get their kids on payroll, save some taxes right off their auto, but, you know, whatever it is. And I love that bread and butter stuff. And so it's just there's no mystery. It's not like there's this secret thing. Mark, how do I save tax? It's just doing the basics and knowing it, understanding it, owning it. And that's, so there's no sexy secret there except that you really can build a wealth

that you maybe maybe never imagined with just those simple base hits. It's not about getting rich quick. It's not getting rich slow. I want to get rich slow. Yeah, adding them on and saving the most with that extra time, right? If you're going to moonlight over and above the day, the daytime job, it's keeping as much of that as possible, correct? Oh, yeah. See, you give me a day, you know, and there's nothing wrong with that W2 day job,

work corporate America, that's cool, because it's great. Let's go to your taxes, bend over. I can't do anything. I mean, you're screwed. But if you've got that small business, ho-ho-ho, now that little 1099 some of you were getting, that's like, that's a golden ticket. Now I'm riding off home office.

auto, dining, computers, electronics, your cell phone, family members. I'm funding a Roth IRA. You can set up your own damn 401k. Now we're going to take all that money and start deploying it, and we're going to be efficient. We're going to be lean and mean. And that I can, you can pay 30% less than taxes on that money than your day job. Your day job, you're screwed. Let's go get this other money that's a lot cheaper to get. Everybody wants to talk about making money. Why don't we talk about saving money? It's easier to save money than make money. Yeah, it is. That's true. It's a very simple statement, but it's very Trump's in here.

Yeah, that's true. It's because it's not always easy to make it. Let me talk to you about this, Mark. You know, they talk about tax brackets, right? I think some of this terminology, you know, W-2's in X bracket. If you're self-employed and small business owner, like, that's the lead. And there's always the talk, you know, like, especially like three or four years ago, about like Trump pays like an effective 8% tax trader like or whatever it was you know but but for the

average small business guy and even the wc because we have people that are both they're listening our show that are small business owners and that maybe our w2 thinking going small business what what's the least you could truly get away with like legally you know doing it the right way but like what kind of tax brackets should the average small business guy be in well very a very perceptive question, and I'm going to try to answer this simply. So everybody, there's seven tax brackets out there, and the highest being 37 and a half. Okay, cool. No one pays in total 37.5% in federal taxes because it's graduated. So when we have brackets, that's our bracket on the next dollar after a certain limit. So once everybody kind of gets that, that this is a

graduated bracket, that's point number one. So, then what we want to look at is what is your effective tax rate? So like after we take all the killer rightoffs we can think of, lots of options, what's that effective rate? And for some people, it could be zero. For others, it could be 35%. Now, it is generally true. The more money you make, the more tax rate you're going to pay, a larger percentage of your income in taxes. But then we've got strategies and tools. For example, why Trump was such an anomaly, and he really wasn't, it's just the Wall Street Journal wanted to point this out, is that he is a real estate professional. I've got his tax return here on my laptop. I got Joe Biden's and his from 2016.

He was a real estate professional. Now, you talk about it here on your show all the time. If you want to invest in short-term rentals, long-term rentals, do real estate and deploy money in real estate. It's not for everybody, but we have depreciation strategies and investment strategies that can offset my income over here. Trump had so much in depreciation from his hotels and real estate investments. He was able to wipe out his income from the apprentice and his retail. So his effective rate at the end of the day was very low. Now, someone else who just works a day job, has no write-offs,

makes $500 grand a year at Verizon as a VP. Okay, you're going to be paying 30% or more in an effective rate because you're not using the strategies to your, in the best way. And I'd like before we started the show, too, you were talking about, hey, don't hate the player. Just hate the game. Yeah. You know, if you don't like the Trump paid 6%, don't be pissed at Trump. Yeah, exactly. Just learn the rules. And so when you understand the rules, you're like, okay, I could invest in oil and gas. I can invest in a little solar. Oh, I'm going to build a Roth high rate. Peter Thiel's got a $5 billion Roth. It's a tax-free ATM.

Oh, I'm going to invest in my health savings account and never pay tax on health care again. And these little tools that are out there are amazing. and they're not complicated. Rich people, okay, there's the last point. Rich people geek out on tax strategies. If you want to be rich,

start geeking out on some of the stuff, and it'll blow your mind because this is where the rich get richer. Talk to Mark J. Culler. Main Streets. Tax lawyer. But look, Mark,

I'm serious. Like, here's what I don't like. And that's why I really love your energy and your passion around this, because it's so real and raw and true. Thanks. We sort of, like you said, the rich geek out on it, and everyone else almost criminalizes right-offs.

You notice that temperature, how that's changed, like, the last 10 years. Like, it's almost like people put it in this camp of like, and criminal might be strong, but like, you'll be talking to someone, unethical. Exactly. That's the better word. And why the hell does that proliferated? I think, okay, this is hard hitting. People that don't make a lot of money don't want to look in the mirror and own that,

whether it's lack of determination, laziness, or just knowledge. They'd rather blame or put this wealthy person in a box and say, oh, they're unethical and bad. Rather than look in the mirror and go, you know what, I could learn a few things. I can freaking, maybe I'm not going to watch TV every night for three hours and I'm going to learn how to digitally market online. Or I'm going to this weekend, I'm going to drive Uber for seven to eight hours and take that money and go buy a rental property next year. I mean, can we get off our ass and do something rather than blame the rich for being determined? I led the witness.

That was hard. I led the witness. I led the witness, Mark. I tend to do that like you went right where I wanted you to go because it's the truth. And the truth hurts sometimes. It's like, but I do think that's what's happened is it's been criminalized or, you know, bad mouth or what, oh, right? You know, he just writes all things or he's cheating the system or whatever. And it's like, there's a difference between cheating this system, which is why I love that you're a log or two.

Cheating the system, because we got talking about these things and I know that a lawyer is going to tell me, you know, what's legal, what's not legal, is cheating the system and using the system. them. Yes, dude, you just hit the word I wanted to say, I got to dive in here because this is exactly the word you say. The tax code, people, everybody, this is so, so important. You want to get theoretical. The tax code is built to motivate people to do things. Get married, pay less tax. A married couple will pay less tax than a single or married filing separate. Go put handicap access in your business, get a tax credit. Go buy a solar water here. this whatever, or efficient water heater at Home Depot, get a tax credit. Go buy an electric vehicle, get a tax credit. Go buy real estate and help others have affordable housing take

depreciation. Go do this. Go do that. The tax code, all you're doing is using it to help America get better and we'll give you a tax break. You get a tax break for doing good things to help the economy. And that's the mind shift. They're not, the rich. The rich, figuring out, hold it, I can make money doing this, save tax, and make Main Street America better. Holy shit, sign me up. When, when, when. That's the whole thing. It's not what we've been conditioned by media or whatever else, which is when for me, lose for the government, you know, breaking law, pushing the limit.

No, like you said, it's set up because people smarter than me. knew that we needed actions to make this country run. Because everything that you named Mark actually drives an action that keeps the economy and everything else moving, doesn't it? Yes. It's crazy. Yeah, there's another classic one right now. It's the oil and gas tax credit and there's depletion credits and all this.

If you want to go drop at any income level, you don't have to be materially participating. You don't have to be, quit your day job. There's funds you can invest in for oil and gas royalties, depletion, exploration, and invest 100 grand and probably get a $90,000 tax write-off, make cash flow and resell it for 150 grand four years from now. The government needs drillers to go get natural gas and oil in the United States on U.S. oil, and we'll give you a tax credit and all of a sudden your effective tax rate goes from 25% down to 10%. You're making money. You're helping America be self-reliant on natural resources and everybody wins.

And you're the bad guy because you found this kick-ass tax strategy, you know? Yeah. But it's right. I'm right. I'm not crazy, right? Like I'm, that the proliferation of the, you know, the wealthy getting ahead or all that. That's a real thing.

And that drives me crazy. Dude, you're a lion. You're not a sheep. You're lying. That's it. I love it. So let's talk about, I'm going to ask you two questions. Our listeners, and we're going to count this as small business owners or soon to be after this episode, small business owners.

One thing they should stop doing. and one thing they should start doing. If I'm a small, they likely aren't. I know, look, we got, you know, 800,000 downloads a month on this show. Like, so we got a lot of people, probably a lot of different things that they may or man I be doing that you don't know, but they come to you. What's the one thing you tell people to stop doing the most? Okay, stop his first.

Yeah. So what do we not, what do we need to stop doing if I'm a small business owner? Yep, yep, from an accountant. Stop thinking. Okay, here it is. It's a mindset thing. It's going to be easy. I got a few others, but stop thinking you're going to find an accountant to do all

of this for you. Stop thinking that, oh, yeah, as soon as I find that accountant, I don't have to worry about this anymore. I'm going to find that perfect account that speaks Mark Kohler. By the way, I got a network of a thousand accounts around the country and growing that speak Mark Kohler. But you're not going to find someone that's going to care as much about your finances and future than you.

Now, you need a good accountant. They're your first mate. But where are you steering the ship? Are you do understand what strategies they're doing? Are you understanding what structure you are and why? You don't have to know how to do an effing tax return people, but you need to know what numbers are on it and how to read it. A rich person knows their tax return. So you just start doing what rich people do.

It's super easy. And they work with their advisor. They don't have an account that just plugs all that crap in and you pick it up two months later. They have meetings with their accountant throughout the year. at least quarterly and going, hey, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that. I'm going to start that. I'm going to sell this.

And it's synergistic. So stop thinking you're going to hire someone to take all of this off your plate. You're taking the number one thing you should be doing and thinking you're going to delegate it. It doesn't work. I'm going to boil that down, Mark. That's what I do a marketer. You need to be the CEO of your tax team that you start building today. And so your accountant is on the team.

but you're the CFO C.F or CFO. Both. Yeah, both. Both of the team. And you have to think about it that way because you cannot dealt, just like your own business. I've got, look,

I'm after your own five companies now. I've gone down this road. I try to delegate the business away, you know, doesn't work. Good luck. No. It doesn't.

Yeah, right? You know, that's what you get in trouble. Yeah, it's what gets, I've been in, got all the scars, you know. I've done it.

You cannot delegate. And the taxes, you need to be the CEO of your own tax team. And it might be a two-person team, three-person team, but that's what I just heard you say. And I think we try to delegate the taxes away. Yep, I love it. And you lead right into my second point, and it's so easy people, this mind shift change.

So number one, you're not going to delegate away this tax and legal topic, although you're going to build a team. So I love the way you said that, CEO of that team. What you are going to do, that's a little different, though, is I need you to treat your side hustle, your business like a business. We've got to start knowing there's a set of books. There's a methodology here. I've got to put in tax deposits. I've got to be engaged in the process.

So many people that have a side hustle, they get this mysterious 1099 from selling something on, you know, they got a 1090 from at, or eBay or whatever, they're getting a little 10 on an end for side hustle somewhere. And they see it as a burden. No, no, no, no. That's a business. Treat it like that. Treat your rental property like a business. When you start to treat your operation like a business, it now starts to work for you.

And the profit from it can be redeployed into assets that work for you while you're asleep. And that money can be used to expand and scale. But if you don't treat your business like a business, it does you know good. It's just a noose around your neck. Anyway. So we've got to start owning and being involved and being the CEO of your tax team.

You don't have to do it all. CEOs don't do it all, but you've got to be involved. And you've got to because ultimately, this is what it crystallized for me. And I've gone through this myself is like thinking through. The opportunities for the right-offs, other things, there's just things that the accountant's not going to know. They're not in your business every day. They don't know how this was used or that was used and a receipt's not going to tell

them that. And so, yeah, you have to be involved. And let me, no, totally. And you said this at the very beginning of your show. You want to give actionable items. Okay, let me give you some actionable. All of you at the very least should have a spreadsheet where you track all of your expenses. Number two, use a credit card or debit card exclusively for your business. If you've got an Amex, use it for business. Use your visa for personal. Try to start separating your accounting. If you're using QuickBooks Online or some of the easy software platforms, great.

But just start tracking your expenses. You don't know if they're a write-off or not, but if you don't track them, you can't meet with your accountant at the end of the process and carve out the ones that are really work for you. Bad bookkeeping loses money. So start with some decent bookkeeping. Next, actionable. Get a podcast or some good blogs that you like or,

video that you follow on YouTube of tax tips. I've got a 30 ultimate tax guy this and I have a podcast or every week we could talk about different tax tips and all that. If you don't like Mark Kohler, it's fine. But you've got to have someone that you're following say, okay, can I write up, what am I doing right now with health care? January 15th, that was a big day. That's the last day to enroll for health care for 2025 and get a health savings account. What am I doing by April 15th? Am I putting You know, their college savings for my kids and an ESA? What is an ESA? Well, you know, kind of you tell me the difference between a Roth and an IRA.

So start getting educated on these things and just start kind of learning. And it's going to be hard. It's not going to be. Sometimes it's just like, oh, my gosh. But you're going to be the coolest person at the next dinner party. You're like, oh, check out what I learned. You know, and everybody's like, what? You know, I mean, it's just cool stuff.

Yep. I love that. That might fall on what they should start doing. Yes, yeah, exactly right. Some things to you do. Stop delegating. Start documenting. The D's.

Ooh, dude. I got to write that down. I got to write that down. Stop delegating. Start documenting. You know? Ooh, that's good. The interplay.

You know, I mean, can you hear me now? You know, like, this is what I do. Just write things, you know? I like it.

What else should we be doing, Mark, that, I mean, a lot of people, obviously documenting, taking control. What else?

What are things we need to start doing? Here's the, number one thing I've been talking about this last year and a half. It's just really evolved to something very special. And this is for you too, Ryan. Just everyone listening should be doing this. And that is integrating your family into this business. So let's assume you're stopped delegating, you're starting tracking, you're treating your business like a business. Understand your card table moment. When was that moment when I had that great idea? Every small, every big business, started out as a small business. And there's no such thing as a small business as big ideas.

And you've got this idea and you want to make it big and you've got this dream. That little nucleus, share it with your family. And how to do that is called the family board. I want you to have a family board and a family office. You don't have to be a billionaire to have a family office. Your family office is that third bedroom down the hall with a couch in it. That's your family office. Let's start writing off a retreat with our family at least once a year. We could be writing off dining as we go out as a family and talk about business. We can be paying for our kids' cell phones, whether at college or even in high school. Our kids are going to be helping with the business and social media or stuffing envelopes or cleaning rental properties.

This is family. I mean, do we have to watch the Godfather for crying out loud of people? Treat your business like family. And have a family board and a family meeting. It makes your LLC or corporation more legit because you're having annual board meetings like all of you know you should be. And you're writing off crap. your accountant doesn't even talk about. All of my kids, it was so funny, right?

At Christmas, my kids love it. They come down to the Christmas tree. All my kids are over 18 now. They come down to the Christmas tree. They go to their Christmas stocking. We still try to do that. It's fun. And they go in there,

and there's their 1099 for the year. It's just adorable. They love it. They get their 1099 for the year for all the money I gave them during the year because I'm taking a tax right off. They're in a lower bracket. They can pay tax on a lower bracket.

They're building their lives. You want money from me? You're getting a 1099. because you're on my board. I love that. I love that. Mark J. Kohler, he is Main Street's tax lawyer, tax advisor and lawyer and one. I don't want that to get confused.

You got to know that before you leave this episode. But Mark, I love that. I'm going to start giving my kid. I got four boys all under the age of 15. Oh my gosh, dude. Think about this. Your kids don't pay taxes this year on the first 14 grand and change, 15 grand change. The numbers just changed for inflation.

So your kids could earn. $14,000 a year at working at McDonald's and pay zero tax. No one in America pays tax on their first standard deduction of around 14 grand, let's say. Okay. So you've got four kids that could work anywhere under 14 grand. Why aren't they working for you? Yeah. You can pay your children under age 18.

You don't have to give them a W-2. There's no FICA. There's no FUDA. There's no workers comp. And it's outside labor and the right line item. I teach all that. We talk about it on our shows. It's in my books.

Blah, blah, blah. but your four kids, if depending on their age and what they're doing the business, let's say we're paying them five to 10 grand. Four kids average of seven. There's four times seven. We're at 28 grand. We just got a $28,000 tax write off. So you're going to be paying for school lunch, school, clothes, soccer, football, all that.

You're not paying for it anymore, Ryan. They pay for it. You're transferring money from your company into their bank account, and they pay for school, lunch, and sports. Now you just got a tax write-off for that. And you can even double down and form an IRA for each one of them. So now each of them have a Roth IRA of seven grand a pop, if you want. And now that can come out for college tax-free.

So I've got my Roth IRA going. My kids are on the payroll. We're having board meetings as a family, and I'm taking my four kids out, and I'm teaching them about business. They're selling books at my table. They're at the event checking people in. They're ushering people at the event. My kids learn that my life is business and my passion is going to be their passion.

if they want it to be. That's how succession happens. So many business owners think they're just going to plop a business on their kids when they're 28 years old and they're going to get it. They're not. They're not. And so you've got this incredible tax deduction right now while your kids are under age 18, the board meeting for better asset protection, more tax writeoffs, you're building wealth in their IRAs for them in college, and you're teaching them about your business. There's so many birds you're knocking out with one stone, I can't even count them all. I'm doing about one fifth of what you just said. I, uh, So notes taken. And I'm not the only one.

I'm doing it. They know daddy works. They're integrated. They come. I make it clear. They do things. They're doing a lot of what you said, but I'm not filing it the way you're describing. So Ryan Offord needs Mark caller on.

And I just want to say this for everybody. I know our time is almost up here. Yeah. What could happen? I want to warn everybody. Ryan could get off this podcast and go, I got to call my account. So he picks up his cell phone, calls his account, and go, hey, what the hell, Tom? Why am I not putting my kids on the payroll of my schedule C?

I got an S corp over here. I got a 1065 and an LLC over here. Why are my kids not on my payroll? Well, Ryan, you can't do that. Well, because it's high risk and because all right. You know what? Nine times out of 10, he's not going to jump on the bandwagon with you because it wasn't his idea. Oh, God.

And so he's going to be offensive. that you brought him a tax strategy. This is the problem with me trying to educate accountants because they are so scared that they're going to go, oh my gosh, I should have told Ryan that. That's what's going on in his head, but he can't say that.

So now he's going to poo-poo Mark Kohler, which is BS. I've got more credentials and more writings behind me than any other accountant in the country on this, and I'll stand behind it, and I teach other accounts this. They just got to own it. Go to their clients and go,

you know what? I've got to be a better advisor for you. We're going to put the kids on payroll in 2025. Let's do it. And Ryan's going to go. Great. You're not going to be mad at him. You're going to say, thanks for pulling your head out of your butt. Let's go. And so people, when you go to talk to your accountant, if they're going to poo-poo good strategy and make you feel like a child, which they can do, you say, bye, you're fired. I'm going to go Mark Kohler's network of Main Street tax pros around the country, interview one of those because they had to take 900 quiz questions, watch 75 videos, be in a training with Mark every day, and speak Mark Kohler so I can get a consistent effing answer between my lawyer and accountant.

that's where you go and you fire your dumbass accountant. Sorry, I got a little off the chart there. That's all right. I love it. I think I'd approach my accountant with, you know, why are you doing this?

I like to approach mine, you know, kind of like my wife. I like to come with sugar, not the salt. You know, like, hey, baby,

you know. So I'm going to, I'm going to go to him gently. You know, there you go. You say, go get certified with Mark Kuller. He'll bring your clients.

Yeah. No, you know what? I think Duo Lingo, you know, it's not Spanish, it's not French. We need Mark Kohler on the Duolingo. The newest language to learn. Thank you. Brought to you. Yeah.

Yes. I love it. Let me ask you one thing as we close out, Mark. Talk to me, because there's these fine lines between law and finance and tax and all that. And I know you're not a financial advisor. but something tells me a lot of these things are all tied together. Where do you fall on the crypto bus? Oh, wow.

Then you throw out crypto. Okay, I'll answer both those questions. First of all, I am a financial advisor. Everybody, your accountant should be a financial advisor. Exactly. But I'm not, but listen, I'm not an investment advisor. I don't tell you what to buy and sell. That's an investment advisor.

So, Ryan, the way I like to say, Yeah, I give damn great financial advice. Get out of debt, save more, get organized, and quit effing around on the weekends. That's great financial advice. There's no license for a financial advisor. There's a license for an investment advisor, which I am not. I'm not going to tell you what to buy or sell. So there's the distinct, and I think people should be asking their accountant for financial advice.

Holy shit. Tell me what I've done 10,000 consults. You kind of alluded to that at the beginning. You're saying, Mark, and 10,000 consults, what have? you learned? And I can share that financial wisdom. That's not a, yeah, I'm not, there's not a problem there. Anyway, crypto, freaking love it. I got some XRP that's kicking ass right now. I'll tell you that. Yeah, me too. I saw that today. It's up like 10%. I bought it like 60 cents like four months ago. So we've hosted now in the last four years,

three national crypto tax summits. For two days, I teach all the strategies for crypto mining, the metaverse, staking, uh, uh, uh, all the, um, all the, different strategies inside an IRA with crypto. And we have crypto IRAs at our directed IRA company. All of Mike XRP is in a Roth IRA. Tax free. And so we just love crypto. But I'm not telling everybody, don't go buy crypto. You're not making a specific. And that's what I didn't ask because I wanted you to, you know, we both like XRP, obviously. However, we're not saying go buy XRP. I mean, I'm asking you for exactly how you answered, which is more. how the tax world and setting it up properly and all that sort of thing,

which you kind of nailed. I mean, is it's obviously, that could be a whole show in itself. Maybe that would be part B. Yeah. Mark. Yeah.

One of my trainings for our accountants in our program, they have a whole module on crypto so that they understand how it's taxed, how to transact with it, how to take crypto in your business. The IRS has task force on crypto. It's the blockchain people. It's public. There's prosecutions.

Now, more and more of people trying not to pay taxes on their crypto transactions. Don't go there. And by the way, everybody, there's no such thing as a crypto tax. There's freaking crypto, like the dollar. That's what it is. If you make money, you're going to pay tax. Deal with it. So I teach a lot on that.

We got a lot of podcasts on it too. Mark, what fuels you? Like, what, you know, like there's this abundance of energy, obviously, neither one of us are sheep. You know, so, but. But you know, you're obviously not watching Netflix reruns. But I always like when I see successful people, I end up asking this question. I've asked Grant Cardone.

I've asked a lot of people and everybody has a different spin on it. But what fuels you? What drives success for you? Well, it's the Rockstar Recovery Lemonade. It's hydration and energy boost all in one, zero carbs, zero sugar. I love this. And by the way, Rockstar sent me a whole box. Well, guess what?

Exponent is the, uh, sponsor of right about now. So, and they have no artificial flavors, no artificial, and it's a plant-based adaptogen. So I like that. I'll send you a case of this. I love it. I love it.

I love it. Yes. Well, what fuels me is I just, I just, there's something deep inside of me. I just love the American dream. I love people being able to be independent and take control of their own destiny. and if I can be a part of that magic and and helping them find their one thing. And I love that from city slickers with Billy Crystal when he went out to, you know, to move cattle and he's like, and Curley told him there's just one thing.

And he's like, well, what's the one thing? What's that one thing for you? And if you, and building a future and wealth, I hate to tell everybody, I'm sorry, we don't live in caves anymore. We've got to make it a priority. it's a huge issue with the quality of life and our relationships. And if I can find out that one thing I love to do, that passion, and I can help you take that to the next level and build it and make it self-sustaining and you can leave a legacy with your family.

I just love that. And so that's what I'm all about and helping people find their American dream and then live it. The devil's in the details. And Mark, you're on it. Hey, Mark, work everybody, keep up with what you're doing. Well, everybody, easiest place in the world, Mark J. Kohler.com, Mark Jays and Jolly, Kohler, K-O-H-L-E-R dot com. And if you're a tax advisor out there or want to be a tax advisor, holy crap, I'll equip you right now. Holy crap to go out and make money as the industry needs you.

The tax industry is on fire, Ryan. It's just really ugly right now. And people need good tax advisors. So we're out there. Business owners, my podcast is there, our law firm, you can get a consult with one of our lawyers right now to help build your plan. It's very affordable. We'd love to be a boutique for the small business owner across America.

Directed IRA. Anyway, all the resources are at Mark J.Kuller.com workshops, the social media. I'm just an honor to be here. Honor to be here, Brian. Thanks so much for having me. Hey, Mark. My pleasure, man. We'll do it again if you're up for it.

And we'll have show links to all of Mark stuff. Mark J. Culler. We need more marks. We appreciate your brother. Thank you, man. Hey, guys. You're going to find us.

Ryan is right.com. you'll find highlight clips, links to Mark stuff. Of course, social media. That's where we're growing. That's where we're blowing up. And check us out on YouTube. You've got to watch this episode. Mark looks so good.

We'll let them forgive the rock star. But we'll get them on the exponent. We'll get them switched. But we appreciate Mark for bringing it from Main Street to your home. We got you next time. Ety time right here on Right About Now. This has been Right About Now with Ryan Alford, a Radcast Network production. Visit Ryanisright.com for full audio and video versions of the show or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.

Thanks for listening.