Strategies to Reduce Taxes, Avoid Estate Taxes and Probate, Reduce Insurance Costs, and Enhance Investments.

A few years back, a major financial publication ran a series of advertisements that showed twin brothers living a similar lifestyle. They had similar homes, similar cars, even similar wives and kids.

Then at the end of the commercial, we looked at how the 2 brothers had done 5 years later.

One brother, as a result of reading this particular financial publication, had a huge house with a pool and a butler, multiple sports cars, nice clothes and somehow, remarkably, his family had even become SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive.

The other brother who'd spent that last 5 years reading fishing magazines still had the same house, the same old car with a lot more miles on it, and his wife and kids looked the same as they had 5 years prior, only a bit more depressed.

The conclusion you were supposed to draw from this little 30 second story is that acting on the right financial information (like the kind this publication delivered) could make a big difference in how you did financially.

While the ad was exaggerated, (and thoroughly entertaining) it did make a valid point - acting on the right information may make a significant difference in someone's financial situation.

Why Many Taxpayers Are Overpaying on Taxes and Other Financial Expenses Without Knowing It.

The fact is that many taxpayers are overpaying on taxes and other financial expenses- often without knowing it.

Why?

Simply put, finances and taxes have never been as complicated as they are today.

Take the Internal Revenue Code for example, the 'rules' that the tax game is played by. According to the Heritage Foundation, this mammoth document is made up of over 9700 code sections and over 10,000 pages, making the Internal Revenue Code over 7 times longer than the Holy Bible.

Hardly even makes it small enough for a BIG coffee table book.

When discussing the tax code and the U.S. tax system, Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandies observed;

"I live in Alexandria, Virginia. Near the Supreme Court chambers is a toll bridge across the Potomac River. When in a rush, I pay the dollar toll and get home early. However, I usually drive outside the downtown section of the city and cross the Potomac on a free bridge. This bridge was placed outside the downtown DC area to serve a useful social service, getting drivers to drive the extra mile and help alleviate congestion during rush hour.

If I went over the toll bridge and through the barrier without paying the toll, I would be committing tax evasion. If, however, I drive the extra mile and drive outside the City to the free bridge, I am using a legitimate, logical, and suitable method of tax avoidance, and I am performing a useful social service by doing so."

These 'financial free bridges' exist not only in the tax code as Justice Brandeis observed, but in many other areas of personal finance.

However, the more complex our financial lives become, it often becomes more difficult to be able to identify and take advantage of these financial free bridges, and as a result many taxpayers are spending a lot of money that they wouldn't have to.

I outline many of the more common tax saving mistakes and financial free bridges in a FREE "Tax Strategy Awareness Guide." The more you know about these tax strategies today, the more you'll benefit both now and down the road.

If you would like to meet either in person or by telephone (or simply would like to receive the "Tax Strategy Guide"), please use the CONTACT US link and let me know.

I look forward to meeting you!