Perennial Pride

Hosted by Tom Suvansri

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198

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Tom Suvansri is passionate about protecting and growing his family's wealth and he shares how you can do it too. In this show, you will learn strategies that leverage economic principles in order to achieve increased financial control, cash flow, and tax advantages that last generations. It's time to eliminate uncertainty and create wealth strategies to build a family legacy.

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October 22, 2026Episode 19820 min

Proactive Tax Planning: You Can't Control the Tax Code, But You Can Control This

Tax season just wrapped, and the next one is closer than most of us want to admit. In this Perennial Pride Podcast episode, I borrow a simple idea from Stoic philosophy, focus on what you can control and let go of what you can't, and apply it to your tax situation. There's still time before the year ends to change what your next tax bill looks like. Key Takeaways Let go of the tax code, law changes, tax rates, and markets, because worrying about them costs you energy and changes nothing. Put your attention on the levers you own: income timing, deductions, entity structure, retirement plans, charitable gifting, and record keeping. Build a well-rounded team of tax, financial, and legal advisors so every decision gets more than one perspective. Make sure every strategy has a business or investment reason first, so the tax tail never wags the dog. Draw a line down a sheet of paper, sort what you can and can't control, and act on one or two items before year-end. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Obstacle+Is+the+Way+Ryan+Holiday Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, financial freedom, wealth strategy, proactive financial planning, alternative investing, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, Virtual Family Office, take control of your finances, proactive tax planning, year-end tax planning, tax strategy for business owners, high income tax planning, tax mitigation, Stoic philosophy and money, what you can control with taxes, entity structure, cash balance plan, charitable giving appreciated assets Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:01:59] Tom thanks the tax professionals and filers who just closed out a long tax season. [00:02:00 - 00:03:29] He hopes next year's tax bill is no surprise, or at least a pleasant one. [00:03:30 - 00:04:29] Tom introduces two Stoic ideas: focus on what you control and prepare your response. [00:04:30 - 00:05:29] He admits more things sit outside our control than inside it. [00:05:30 - 00:06:29] Choice, effort, judgment, and response are the things that are truly yours. [00:06:30 - 00:07:29] Tom warns how much energy gets wasted on outside noise and things we can't change. [00:07:30 - 00:08:44] The tax code, law changes, tax rates, markets, and inflation are outside your control. [00:08:45 - 00:09:29] Resigning yourself or chasing the latest fad are both poor responses. [00:09:30 - 00:10:14] You can influence the type and timing of income and the deductions you explore. [00:10:15 - 00:10:39] Entity structure and what you pay yourself are real levers for business owners. [00:10:40 - 00:11:24] Retirement options like cash balance plans let you direct more money than the basics. [00:11:25 - 00:11:49] Donating appreciated assets can let you forego capital gains. [00:11:50 - 00:12:14] Strong record keeping gives you protection if you're ever audited. [00:12:15 - 00:12:59] A well-rounded team of tax, financial, and legal advisors is an underrated lever. [00:13:00 - 00:14:29] Tom compares thinking through your response to running fire drills. [00:14:30 - 00:15:59] The Obstacle Is the Way: challenges can point you in the right direction. [00:16:00 - 00:17:09] A law change or a liquidity event is the moment to revisit your plan. [00:17:10 - 00:18:09] A big tax bill is often a sign of success and may point to opportunities. [00:18:10 - 00:19:39] Letting the tax tail wag the dog leads to purchases you never needed. [00:19:40 - 00:20:44] Tom walks through the two-column exercise on a single sheet of paper. [00:20:45 - 00:21:44] Release the left column, then act on one or two items on the right before year-end. [00:21:45 - 00:22:40] Tom closes by asking you to pick one thing this year that can snowball into 2027.

October 8, 2026Episode 19743 min

"The Other Side of the Table": What the Person Raising the Money Wishes You'd Ask

In Part 1, I walked you through how I evaluated a multifamily syndication from the investor's chair. This time I sat down with Jeremy Dyer, VP of Capital Formation at Rise48 Equity, who's been on both sides of the table, to talk about what operators wish more investors would ask. If you're weighing a private real estate deal, this conversation gives you the questions, the red flags, and the honest fit check to work through first. Key Takeaways Bet on the jockey, not the horse, and study how the operator performed through headwinds as well as tailwinds. Pressure test every deal against three risks: operational, execution, and market. Treat an operator who only reports good news as a red flag, and expect the same transparency the senior lender gets. Ask about acquisitions made at the market peak and about future supply in the submarket, the questions most investors skip. Confirm you have the education, liquidity, and CPA conversation in place before committing to an illiquid two to five year hold. Links & Resources Rise48 Equity (Website): http://rise48equity.com/ Rise48 Equity (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/rise48equity/ Rise48 Equity (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@rise48equity Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, Jeremy Dyer, Rise48 Equity, real estate syndication, questions to ask a syndication sponsor, how to evaluate a real estate operator, multifamily syndication, passive real estate investing, alternative investing, real estate operators, limited partner, Regulation D 506(b), cost segregation, bonus depreciation, K-1 tax planning, wealth strategy, financial freedom, Wealth Beyond the Numbers Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:00:59] Tom opens Part 2 of the series and introduces Jeremy Dyer of Rise48 Equity. [00:01:00 - 00:01:59] Jeremy started as a passive limited partner before joining an operations team. [00:02:00 - 00:02:59] Tom discloses he's invested with Jeremy's team and notes this isn't investment advice. [00:03:00 - 00:03:59] Jeremy suggests Wall Street, not real estate, might be the true alternative investment. [00:04:00 - 00:04:59] Rise48 has 350+ employees and buys fewer than 3% of the deals it underwrites. [00:05:00 - 00:05:59] Most of Jeremy's investors are individuals writing checks of $50,000 to $100,000. [00:06:00 - 00:06:59] Regulation D 506(b) means no advertising, so most investors arrive by referral. [00:07:00 - 00:08:29] Tom explains why meeting the team in person made his decision feel solid. [00:08:30 - 00:09:59] Local market tours let investors talk directly with the on-site staff running the plan. [00:10:00 - 00:11:29] You're investing in the jockey, not the horse, so study the operator's track record. [00:11:30 - 00:13:44] Jeremy breaks down operational, execution, and market risk. [00:13:45 - 00:14:59] Tom asks how an operator keeps investors informed when curveballs hit. [00:15:00 - 00:15:59] Monthly reporting shows actuals versus budget and pro forma, plus submarket conditions. [00:16:00 - 00:17:14] Yield on cost decides when to accelerate renovation spending and when to pump the brakes. [00:17:15 - 00:18:44] An operator who only shares good news is a red flag. [00:18:45 - 00:19:44] During COVID, even bad operators looked brilliant until rates and new supply hit. [00:19:45 - 00:20:59] An operator's own portfolio data can be more reliable than CoStar, RealPage, or Yardi. [00:21:00 - 00:21:59] Investors should get the same level of detail the senior lender requires. [00:22:00 - 00:23:59] Jeremy's advice: invest in yourself first, starting with education. [00:24:00 - 00:24:59] Jeremy learned by investing with a dozen operators across a dozen asset classes. [00:25:00 - 00:25:59] Analysis paralysis and FOMO are both emotional traps to avoid. [00:26:00 - 00:27:44] Ask the operator about acquisitions made at the market peak that haven't sold yet. [00:27:45 - 00:28:59] Pressure test occupancy, property taxes, insurance, and concessions in the underwriting. [00:29:00 - 00:30:29] Future supply in the submarket over three to five years tells you where a deal is headed. [00:30:30 - 00:32:14] Buy at a strong basis, execute on time and on budget, and know when to sell. [00:32:15 - 00:33:44] These deals aren't a fit without education, the $50,000 minimum, or enough liquidity. [00:33:45 - 00:34:59] Investors are owners in an illiquid asset with a typical two to five year hold. [00:35:00 - 00:36:14] Tom stresses knowing where an investment fits in your broader financial plan. [00:36:15 - 00:37:59] Most investors want passive diversification from Wall Street into Main Street real estate. [00:38:00 - 00:40:14] Jeremy explains cost segregation, 100% bonus depreciation, and passive losses on the K-1. [00:40:15 - 00:41:14] Tom urges listeners to bring their CPA in early to avoid surprises at tax time. [00:41:15 - 00:41:59] Where to connect with Jeremy and learn more about Rise48 Equity. [00:42:00 - 00:43:10] Tom closes with where to find more content and Wealth Beyond the Numbers.

October 1, 2026Episode 19629 min

Real Estate Syndication Due Diligence: How I Actually Decided to Invest, Start to Finish (Part 1)

I get asked "where should I invest?" all the time, and I can't answer that without knowing your situation. What I can do is walk you through how I actually decided on a real estate syndication, from the introduction to the site visit to the call with my CPA. The numbers matter, but the people behind the deal are what I'm really underwriting. Key Takeaways A referral from someone you trust is where due diligence starts, not where it ends. Ask people who know the space what red flags to watch for, not whether the deal is good. Talk directly to prior investors and ask how communication held up a year or two in, especially when things went wrong. Spend your time with the operator on the downside, because how a team handles adversity matters more than the projections. Loop in your CPA before you invest, so the K-1 and any tax planning opportunity don't surprise anyone in March. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, real estate syndication, syndication due diligence, how to evaluate a syndication sponsor, alternative investing, alternative investments, private equity real estate, multifamily investing, real estate operators, limited partner, K-1 tax planning, investor due diligence checklist, wealth strategy, financial freedom, take control of your finances, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, Virtual Family Office, financial planning for business owners Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:00:59] Tom opens Part 1 by explaining why "where should I invest?" has no one-size answer. [00:01:00 - 00:01:59] His process comes from real mistakes, and good investing takes the courage to accept some. [00:02:00 - 00:02:59] Private deals and syndications let you get close to the people running your money. [00:03:00 - 00:03:59] Tom flew out with his decision made, going for the 10% he couldn't get any other way. [00:04:00 - 00:05:59] A diverse network of people who share your values is how good deals find you. [00:06:00 - 00:06:59] In the past, Tom trusted referrals too much and skipped his own homework. [00:07:00 - 00:07:59] AI and online searches help surface lawsuits and issues, but only as a first pass. [00:09:00 - 00:10:59] Tom asks trusted people what red flags to watch for, not whether the deal is good. [00:11:00 - 00:11:59] Advisors and prior investors who've worked with the operator give you surround sound. [00:12:00 - 00:13:59] Ask past investors what surprised them and how communication held up a year later. [00:14:00 - 00:14:59] A strong track record helps, but a three to five year deal can face very different markets. [00:15:00 - 00:15:59] Tom has seen struggling operators pile on debt and go quiet, and others over-communicate. [00:16:00 - 00:16:59] What matters most is whether the team shows up when things hit the fan. [00:17:00 - 00:18:59] Tom spends his operator conversations on the downside, not the rosy projections. [00:19:00 - 00:21:59] The site visit let Tom see the multifamily property and meet managers and leadership. [00:22:00 - 00:22:59] You can't read integrity and values off a spreadsheet, so the human connection matters. [00:23:00 - 00:23:59] How the team organized the trip and treated guests said a lot about how they run the company. [00:24:00 - 00:25:29] Tom brought his college-age son to see due diligence up close and build his own lens. [00:25:30 - 00:26:59] Meeting investors from across the country added angles Tom hadn't considered. [00:28:00 - 00:29:59] Give your CPA a heads-up early, including the K-1 you'll receive as a limited partner. [00:30:00 - 00:31:29] Tom recaps the full process, from introduction to confident decision. [00:31:30 - 00:32:59] Six questions to pressure test any new investment before you commit. [00:33:00 - 00:34:29] Numbers matter, but you're investing in people, so don't make these decisions alone. [00:34:30 - 00:36:10] Part 2 preview with an operator's perspective, plus where to find the book.

September 10, 2026Episode 19530 min

"I Want to Pay Less Taxes": Turning That One Statement Into a Full Wealth Plan

When someone tells Tom they want to pay less in taxes, he's learned that's rarely the real question. In this episode, he breaks down what's actually going on beneath that statement, and why the strategies that move the needle, like entity structuring, Roth conversion timing, and cash balance plans, take years of lead time to set up. The real shift is trading a number-focused mindset for a plan-focused one. Key Takeaways Earning less money is technically the only guaranteed way to pay less tax. Since nobody wants that, "I want to reduce my taxes" is usually asking a different question. Most people are already doing the basics: retirement contributions, charitable giving, paying their kids, legitimate deductions. That's a good foundation, but it's not enough when a big income spike or gain shows up unexpectedly. The strategies with real impact, entity structuring before a sale, Roth conversion timing, cash balance plans, take multiple years of lead time. You can't set them up in March before you file. Don't optimize for the tax number. Optimize for the life you're building, and ask what the money saved is actually going to do for you. Tom's test: would you still do this if the tax break disappeared? If the honest answer is no, that's usually a sign you're headed somewhere you shouldn't. CPAs and tax professionals play a bigger role than compliance. Bringing them into the conversation outside of filing season is where the real planning happens. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, tax planning, proactive tax planning, reduce taxes, tax strategy, Roth conversion, entity structuring, cash balance plan, capital gains planning, tax efficient investing, business owner tax planning, wealth strategy, financial freedom, take control of your finances, legacy planning, CPA planning, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, high income tax planning Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:00:59] Tom opens by noting more people are asking about reducing taxes as the year winds down. [00:01:00 - 00:01:59] The only guaranteed way to pay less tax is to earn less money, and nobody wants that. [00:02:00 - 00:02:59] When someone says they want to reduce taxes, they usually haven't put words to what they actually want. [00:03:00 - 00:03:59] Tom reminds listeners this is education, not tax or financial advice. [00:04:00 - 00:04:59] Most people are already doing good foundational things like retirement contributions and charitable giving. [00:05:00 - 00:05:59] Big, unexpected income or gains are trickier because they require planning most people haven't done. [00:06:00 - 00:07:59] Getting ahead of tax planning is like buying an umbrella before it starts raining. [00:08:00 - 00:08:59] The most impactful planning zooms out beyond a single year to retirement and beyond. [00:09:00 - 00:10:59] The real question isn't how to save on taxes, it's what the money is for. [00:11:00 - 00:12:59] Cash balance plans, Roth conversion timing, and entity structuring all carry a tax dimension. [00:13:00 - 00:14:59] Every financial decision comes with trade-offs, from liquidity to audit risk. [00:15:00 - 00:16:59] No financial plan plays out exactly as designed, and that's something to accept, not fight. [00:17:00 - 00:18:59] Tom compares tax planning to pouring a foundation. You need to know what you're building first. [00:19:00 - 00:19:59] The number is easier to chase than the purpose, but purpose is what actually matters. [00:20:00 - 00:21:59] Tom's test: would you still do this if the tax break disappeared? [00:22:00 - 00:22:59] Chasing tax savings alone is how people end up in schemes that get them into trouble. [00:23:00 - 00:25:59] Tom makes the case for CPAs to move from compliance into proactive planning conversations. [00:26:00 - 00:28:59] Tom leaves listeners with reflection questions to bring to their own advisors. [00:29:00 - 00:29:30] Closing message and where to find more from Tom and Perennial Pride.

September 3, 2026Episode 19424 min

Charitable Giving Strategies: DAFs and Charitable Trusts Explained

Charitable giving sounds simple until you get into the details, and most people never make it past the first question: where do I even start? In this episode, Tom walks through the giving landscape from cash donations and donor-advised funds to charitable trusts and leveraged giving, and why the reason behind your giving has to come before the structure. He also covers where the IRS has tightened the rules and what to watch for when an appraisal starts doing more work than the deduction should. Key Takeaways Start with your why before choosing a giving vehicle. Deduction-first thinking is where charitable planning gets people into trouble. A donor-advised fund lets you take the deduction now and decide where the money goes later, useful when you know you want to give but haven't picked the cause yet. A charitable remainder trust can sell an appreciated asset without triggering the gain, pay you income while you're living, and leave the remainder to charity. A charitable lead trust reverses that order. Charitable trusts are irrevocable, so loop in your CPA and estate attorney before you commit, not after. If a donation's value depends heavily on an appraisal, make sure it's independent and defensible. The IRS has tightened rules on structures like conservation easements for exactly this reason. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, charitable giving, donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust, CRAT, CRUT, CLT, estate planning, legacy planning, tax planning, appreciated assets, conservation easements, wealth strategy, financial freedom, proactive tax planning, take control of your finances, Wealth Beyond the Numbers Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:00:59] Tom introduces charitable giving and why it's a common source of confusion. [00:01:00 - 00:02:37] Most hesitation comes from not knowing where to donate or what the tax implications are. [00:02:38 - 00:02:59] Tom reminds listeners this is education, not tax or financial advice. [00:03:00 - 00:03:59] Cash donations are the simplest starting point for charitable giving. [00:04:00 - 00:04:59] Donor-advised funds let you donate appreciated stock, take the deduction now, and decide the causes later. [00:05:00 - 00:05:59] A DAF buys you time and can be a way to involve family in giving decisions. [00:06:00 - 00:07:59] Charitable trusts let you donate an appreciated asset and avoid the gain when it's sold. [00:08:00 - 00:08:51] The first decision is whether you need income now or want to build a legacy later. [00:08:52 - 00:09:51] A charitable remainder trust pays you income while you're living, with the remainder going to charity. [00:09:52 - 00:10:51] CRATs pay a fixed amount, CRUTs pay a percentage and can accept more contributions over time. [00:10:52 - 00:11:59] A charitable lead trust reverses the order: charity gets income first, beneficiaries later. [00:12:00 - 00:13:23] Both trust structures are irrevocable, so the decision has to be made carefully up front. [00:13:24 - 00:14:46] Leveraged giving lets you deduct an asset's fair market value, not just its cost. [00:14:47 - 00:15:43] Corporations have long used this with discounted inventory donated at fair market value. [00:15:44 - 00:17:02] Newer businesses are using leveraged giving to get their products exposure while supporting a cause. [00:17:03 - 00:18:33] Tom warns that if the deduction is the main focus, that's where problems start. [00:18:34 - 00:19:46] Conservation easement abuse led the IRS to cap deductions at two to two and a half times cost. [00:19:47 - 00:20:11] A legitimate appraisal has to be independent and observable in the market, not a guess. [00:20:12 - 00:21:59] Tom stresses checking whether the charity genuinely needs and benefits from the donation. [00:22:00 - 00:23:59] It comes down to two things: knowing your purpose and having the right advisors at the table. [00:24:00 - 00:24:56] Closing message and where to find more from Tom and Perennial Pride.

August 6, 2026Episode 19321 min

Cash Balance Plans: Beyond the 401(k) for Business Owners

Executive Summary If you're a business owner maxing out your 401(k), SEP, or IRA and still facing a growing tax bill, there's a whole category of retirement planning you're probably not hearing about. In this episode, Tom breaks down cash balance and defined benefit plans, tools originally built for large corporations that business owners can now design, own, and control for themselves. It's not a full technical deep dive, it's a lens to help you ask better questions of your current advisors. Key Takeaways If you've maxed out your 401(k), SEP, or IRA, ask your advisor whether a cash balance or defined benefit plan could let you defer three to five times more each year. Treat any new deferral strategy as exactly that, a deferral, and start planning now for how you'll draw those dollars out tax-efficiently down the road. Loop in your CPA, investment advisor, and attorney together before adopting a cash balance plan so it's coordinated with your broader tax and income picture, not built in isolation. Business owners with inconsistent revenue should ask specifically about flexible plan designs built for variable income. Attorneys, physicians, and anyone running a side business should not assume these strategies are off limits, they can apply to you too. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, cash balance plan, defined benefit plan, retirement planning for business owners, financial freedom, wealth strategy, proactive financial planning, alternative investing, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, tax strategy for business owners, high income tax planning, proactive tax planning, tax mitigation, retirement income planning, coordinated wealth strategy, deductions vs reductions, take control of your finances, pension plan for small business Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:01:22] Tom introduces retirement and transition planning for business owners and successful professionals. [00:01:23 - 00:02:59] Most retirement advice is structured for W2 workers, not business owners. [00:03:00 - 00:04:13] Business owners maxing out a 401(k), SEP, or IRA still hit a ceiling. [00:04:14 - 00:05:51] Tom explains what cash balance and defined benefit plans are and where they came from. [00:05:52 - 00:07:02] Business owners could defer three to five times more than a SEP allows, depending on age. [00:07:03 - 00:07:51] Plans can be designed around future healthcare costs and to hold assets like life insurance. [00:07:52 - 00:09:06] A cash balance plan has to be coordinated with the rest of your financial picture. [00:09:07 - 00:09:51] These deferrals aren't permanent, taxes are owed when the money is eventually used. [00:09:52 - 00:10:37] Tom debunks the myth that pension-style plans only exist for big corporations. [00:10:38 - 00:11:24] Business owners can take the deduction while owning and controlling their own plan. [00:11:25 - 00:12:46] Why coordinating your CPA, investment advisor, and attorney matters here. [00:12:47 - 00:13:39] How consistent versus inconsistent business income affects plan flexibility. [00:13:40 - 00:14:46] Retirement income planning means coordinating taxable and tax-free assets together. [00:14:47 - 00:16:02] Attorneys, physicians, and side business owners may be eligible too. [00:16:03 - 00:17:21] Why many CPAs never raise this option with their clients. [00:17:22 - 00:18:56] Tom reframes the strategy as simpler than it sounds once you ask the right questions. [00:18:57 - 00:20:02] Tom invites listeners to explore further and reach out to the Perennial Pride team. [00:20:03 - 00:21:12] Closing message and where to find more from Tom and Perennial Pride.

July 30, 2026Episode 19218 min

Trusts Aren't Just for the Rich: What Business Owners Get Wrong About Estate Planning

Summary Tom opens this episode with a question most successful business owners avoid: what happens to everything you've built after you're no longer here to manage it. He explains that a trust isn't really a legal document, it's a structure, a set of intentional decisions about who receives your assets, when they receive them, and how much control they have. He breaks down the basic split between revocable and irrevocable trusts, the control-versus-protection trade-off that comes with each, and why one of the biggest myths, that trusts are only for the very wealthy, keeps people from planning years before they actually need to. He also digs into why estate plans so often go stale. People set up a will or trust once, life moves on, the business grows, the family grows, and the plan never gets revisited. Tom connects this to a deeper problem: estate planning, tax planning, and investment management typically happen in separate silos, with no one architecting how they work together. Using the analogy of building a home, where you wouldn't let the electrician, the plumber, and the HVAC crew all work without a blueprint, Tom makes the case for a coordinated approach, one that matters even more for business owners who also have succession and buy-sell decisions riding on the plan. Key Takeaways Review your estate plan now. It's not just for people who are older or wealthier, it's for anyone building toward something. Understand the trade-off between revocable and irrevocable trusts before choosing a structure with your attorney. Coordinate your estate attorney, CPA, and financial advisor together instead of letting them work independently. Business owners need succession and buy-sell planning years in advance, not after a crisis forces the issue. An outdated estate plan can be worse than no plan at all, because your life keeps changing and the documents don't. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, trusts, estate planning, revocable trust, irrevocable trust, wealth transfer, legacy planning, multi-generational wealth, tax strategy for business owners, business succession planning, buy-sell agreement, asset protection, financial freedom, wealth strategy, proactive financial planning, coordinated wealth strategy, take control of your finances, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, Virtual Family Office Episode Highlights [00:00:34 - 00:02:00] Tom explains why most people never stop to plan for what happens to their wealth after they're gone. [00:02:10 - 00:03:57] Disclaimer: this episode is educational, not legal, tax, or financial advice. [00:04:00 - 00:04:58] A trust isn't a legal document, it's a structure that decides how your wealth is used and protected. [00:05:00 - 00:05:59] Trusts touch investments, homes, businesses, retirement accounts, charitable goals, and future generations. [00:06:00 - 00:06:50] Planning ahead spares your family from having to make difficult decisions after you're gone. [00:06:50 - 00:07:59] Revocable trusts keep flexibility, irrevocable trusts trade control for stronger asset and tax protection. [00:08:00 - 00:08:59] The biggest myth: trusts are only useful for the very wealthy. [00:09:00 - 00:09:59] If you're still building wealth, the smart move is setting up the structure you're growing into. [00:10:00 - 00:10:59] Most estate plans get set once and never updated as life and assets grow more complex. [00:11:00 - 00:11:59] Tom's medical school example: a plan set at graduation rarely still fits twenty years later. [00:12:00 - 00:13:00] Estate planning and tax planning are usually handled separately, but they should go hand in hand. [00:13:00 - 00:14:00] Efficient wealth transfer means structuring your business, investments, and insurance together for tax efficiency. [00:14:00 - 00:15:00] Attorneys, CPAs, and advisors each do great work but rarely coordinate with each other. [00:15:00 - 00:16:00] Tom compares coordinated planning to building a home: every contractor needs to work off one blueprint. [00:16:00 - 00:17:00] Business owners carry more complexity: succession, partners, and buy-sell agreements all need a plan. [00:17:00 - 00:18:00] Getting ahead of succession planning by 10 to 15 years protects the business and everyone tied to it. [00:18:00 - 00:19:00] Tom's closing questions: when was your estate plan last reviewed, and has it kept up with your life? [00:19:00 - 00:20:04] Tom invites listeners with gaps in their estate, tax, or investment plan to reach out at perennialpride.com.

July 23, 2026Episode 19123 min

Selling a Business? The Tax Moves That Decide What You Keep

Summary For most business owners, the company they built is their biggest asset, yet so few of them spend real time thinking about how they'll eventually exit it. In this episode, I walk through why taxes are often the largest cost of a sale, and why planning ahead, sometimes five to ten years ahead, can be the difference between keeping the bulk of what you built or losing a significant chunk of it to an unplanned exit. I break the conversation into three levers business owners can pull: timing the sale around your full financial picture, structuring the deal (asset versus equity, earn-outs, installment payments) to fit what matters most to you, and using advanced tax strategies like qualified small business stock and qualified opportunity zones to protect more of the gain. I close with a reminder that the real work doesn't end at the closing table. It's about designing what comes next. Key Takeaways Start planning your exit years before you're ready to sell. Half of all business sales are forced, not chosen. Structure the deal, not just the price. Asset sales, equity sales, earn-outs, and installment payments can all change what you actually keep. Look into qualified small business stock and qualified opportunity zones early. Both require years of lead time to pay off. Factor your full financial picture, your spouse's income, your investments, your other assets, into the timing of your sale. Build your advisor team, CPA, business attorney, estate planner, financial advisor, before you need them, not after. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, financial freedom, wealth strategy, proactive financial planning, alternative investing, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, Virtual Family Office, take control of your finances, selling a business, business exit planning, exit planning for business owners, qualified small business stock, QSBS tax strategy, qualified opportunity zone, capital gains tax planning, tax strategy for business owners, business sale structure, succession planning Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:02:10] Tom explains why exit planning matters for business owners and side-hustlers alike, well before anyone is ready to sell. [00:03:35 - 00:04:35] Tom paints the picture of a 20-year business owner who has never stopped to imagine what the exit actually looks like. [00:04:35 - 00:07:05] Your business is likely your biggest asset, and taxes will be the biggest expense you face when you sell it. [00:07:35 - 00:09:05] Lever one is timing: factor in your spouse's income, your investments, and your full financial picture before you sell. [00:09:35 - 00:11:05] Installment sales let you spread the sale, and the tax hit, over several years instead of one. [00:11:05 - 00:12:05] Half of all business sales are forced, not planned, which is exactly why pre-planning matters. [00:12:05 - 00:14:00] Selling while exhausted almost always means accepting a lower valuation than you could have gotten with a plan. [00:14:20 - 00:16:35] Lever two is structure: sophisticated owners negotiate the deal structure, not just the price, and it changes what they keep. [00:16:35 - 00:18:20] Earn-outs tie part of the sale price to future performance and can keep the business, and its clients, on track. [00:18:20 - 00:20:35] Owner financing and installment payments can smooth out both the buyer's risk and the seller's tax bill. [00:22:20 - 00:24:20] Qualified small business stock can exclude millions in capital gains, but it requires a C corp and a five-year hold. [00:25:05 - 00:27:00] Qualified opportunity zones let you defer, and potentially eliminate, tax on gains you reinvest in underserved areas. [00:30:20 - 00:32:05] Tom stresses building a full advisor team, CPA, attorney, estate planner, financial advisor, before you're ready to sell. [00:32:05 - 00:33:15] The biggest question after a sale isn't the size of the check. It's what your next chapter looks like.

July 16, 2026Episode 19017 min

The Tax Drag Nobody Talks About

Summary Most of the financial world is obsessed with investment alpha, chasing better returns, better allocations, better timing. Tom argues there's a bigger, quieter opportunity sitting right next to it: tax alpha. Taxes are the number one expense most successful business owners and professionals face, and a huge amount of that expense happens invisibly, through withholding you never see land in your account. Left unaddressed, that tax drag can compound into a massive, multi-million dollar cost over a lifetime, and most people never stop to measure it. Tom walks through why tax deferral, the default strategy most people rely on through a 401(k) or IRA, is only half the picture. Deferring taxes means growing a tax bill alongside your account balance, and you don't control what the rate will be when you finally access it. He runs a real example: someone earning $500,000 might pay over $100,000 in federal taxes alone with no planning. Save just 15% of that bill, about $15,000 a year, and compound it at 7% for 30 years, and you're looking at more than $1.4 million. That's the power of proactive tax planning, and why mid-year, not December, is the time to start. Key Takeaways Calculate what you actually keep after tax on your investment returns, not just the headline number, because the after-tax figure is what actually compounds. Diversify the tax treatment of your accounts, not just your investments, so your wealth isn't sitting entirely in tax-deferred vehicles. Ask your CPA directly whether they do proactive tax planning or only compliance reporting, since most only handle the latter. Use mid-year as your planning window instead of waiting until December, when rushed decisions rarely produce the best outcome. Connect every tax-saving strategy back to what it lets you build in your life, not just to the dollar amount saved. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords tax alpha, tax drag, proactive tax planning, tax strategy for business owners, wealth strategy, financial freedom, Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, tax mitigation, tax efficient investing, high income tax planning, deductions vs reductions, take control of your finances, alternative investing, Virtual Family Office, coordinated wealth strategy, offense vs defense finances, capital efficiency Episode Highlights [00:00:19 - 00:01:00] Tom introduces tax alpha as the overlooked counterpart to investment alpha. [00:01:19 - 00:02:00] Taxes are called out as the single biggest expense most successful people face. [00:02:00 - 00:03:00] Withholding hides tax drag because you never see the money before it's gone. [00:04:19 - 00:05:00] Tom explains why 401(k) and IRA deferral is only a partial strategy. [00:05:19 - 00:06:00] Deferred accounts put you in a tax partnership with the IRS at an unknown future rate. [00:07:41 - 00:08:41] Tom runs the numbers on a $500,000 earner's federal tax bill. [00:08:19 - 00:09:00] Saving 15% of a $100,000 tax bill compounds to over $1.4 million in 30 years. [00:11:00 - 00:12:00] Tom explains why most CPAs report on the past instead of planning for the future. [00:12:19 - 00:13:00] Tax planning is framed as following the tax code's built-in incentive structure, not bending the rules. [00:14:00 - 00:14:41] Tom makes the case for planning mid-year instead of scrambling in December. [00:15:00 - 00:16:00] Tax savings are tied back to building the life you actually want, not just a bigger number.

July 9, 2026Episode 18914 min

From Tax Compliance to Tax Strategy: Why Your CPA Should Be Building Your Wealth

Summary I recently talked with someone who'd just finished their tax return and found out they owed over sixty thousand dollars they hadn't planned for. Not their total tax bill, just what wasn't withheld, plus penalties on top of it. When I asked when their CPA knew about this, the answer was simple: when they did the return. That's the moment I want every Perennial Pride listener to avoid, and it comes down to one distinction. Compliance asks what happened. Strategy asks what should we do before the year is up. One reports history. The other designs your future. In this episode, I break down why mid-year, right now, is the best time to start assessing where you stand in 2026 and get your tax professional working on strategy instead of just paperwork. I talk through the life events that require planning months in advance, what the modern CPA is starting to ask their clients, and why I think of myself, and the people I work with, as wealth architects coordinating a team on your behalf. Because the goal was never a better tax return. It's a better financial life, with fewer surprises and a lot more control. Key Takeaways Start tax planning conversations with your CPA at mid-year, not in February when most of your options have already closed. Understand the real difference between compliance, which reports what already happened, and strategy, which designs what happens next. Flag big life events early. New jobs, windfalls, real estate sales, and business sales all need tax planning months before they happen. Look for a CPA or enrolled agent who asks what you're building toward, not just one who asks for your documents in January. Build a coordinated team of advisors, tax, investment, and legal, so no single person is working from half the picture. Links & Resources Perennial Pride (Website): https://perennialpride.com/ Wealth Beyond the Numbers by Tom Suvansri: https://perennialpride.com/ Keywords Perennial Pride, Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri, financial freedom, wealth strategy, proactive financial planning, alternative investing, Wealth Beyond the Numbers, Virtual Family Office, take control of your finances, proactive tax planning, tax strategy for business owners, tax mitigation, tax code incentives, high income tax planning, tax efficient investing, deductions vs reductions, coordinated wealth strategy, financial mindset, wealth strategy for entrepreneurs Episode Highlights [00:00:48 - 00:01:14] A client's CPA had no idea about a $60,000 tax bill until the return was already filed. [00:02:33 - 00:03:14] Compliance answers "what happened." Strategy answers "what should we do before the year ends." [00:03:36 - 00:04:11] Contributing to your 401(k) is a deferral, not a full tax strategy. [00:04:34 - 00:05:04] By the time tax season starts, most of your planning options have already closed. [00:05:24 - 00:06:06] New jobs, windfalls, real estate sales, and business sales all need tax planning months in advance. [00:07:00 - 00:07:25] The modern CPA asks what you're building, not just for your documents. [00:08:13 - 00:08:43] Most advisors work in silos instead of coordinating on a client's behalf. [00:10:45 - 00:11:06] The goal was never a better tax return. It's a better financial life.