The Power of Tax Planning
Every year, thousands of business owners and professionals pay far more in taxes than they need to, often without realizing it. The reason? They rely solely on tax preparation instead of tax planning. While tax preparation focuses on filing what has already happened, tax planning is proactive. It helps you make strategic, legal decisions throughout the year to reduce what you owe.
In this episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm, host Roger Knecht sits down with Mark Meyers, founder and CEO of Tax Wise Partners, to unpack how you can legally cut your tax bill in half without changing CPAs or financial advisors.
Meet the Expert: Mark Meyers, Founder of Tax Wise Partners
“I didn’t start in accounting,” he admits. “My master’s degree is in sports management. But managing businesses taught me how to read the numbers—and that’s where my curiosity for tax efficiency began.”
After years of turning around underperforming fitness clubs, Mark discovered how much impact strategic financial planning could have. His curiosity led him into the world of insurance and estate planning, where he quickly saw the potential for tax savings.
“There are 75,000 pages in the tax code,” he says. “There’s a lot of ways to reduce your taxes if you know where the coupons are.”
Today, through Tax Wise Partners, Mark helps clients legally reduce their tax bills often by as much as 50% without altering their relationship with existing CPAs or advisors.
Tax Preparation vs. Tax Planning: The Crucial Difference
For many accountants, the difference between tax preparation and tax planning is what separates basic compliance from true advisory work. Tax preparation is backward-looking: once the year ends, it’s too late to change much. Tax planning, however, is forward-thinking.
As Roger explains, “Tax preparation is about what already happened. Tax planning is about what’s possible.”
Mark agrees. “Most professionals don’t have time to dig deep into strategy. They’re focused on filing returns. That’s where we come in to show what’s possible, not just what’s required.”
By approaching taxes as a strategic process, accountants and business owners can move from being reactive to proactive unlocking new opportunities for wealth preservation and growth.
Building a Profitable Tax Advisory Business Through Collaboration
One of Mark’s most powerful insights is that you don’t have to go directly to the end client to build a successful advisory business. His approach is built on collaboration, not competition.
Rather than trying to attract individual taxpayers, Mark partners with CPAs, enrolled agents, and financial advisors who already have established client relationships. Together, they identify opportunities for tax efficiency and share the resulting value.
“When you collaborate with other professionals instead of competing, everyone wins,” Mark says. “We expand their service offering without stepping on their toes.”
This B2B2C model allows CPAs to maintain control of their client relationships while offering advanced tax planning services that they might not have the time or expertise to handle in-house.
Pricing and Value: How to Charge for Tax Advisory Services
Unlike traditional tax preparation, advisory work should be priced based on value, not hours. Mark explains that his firm begins with a consulting agreement to assess each client’s situation and build a customized “tax savings blueprint.”
“We usually start with an analysis fee,” he says. “From there, we present our findings and guide clients through the implementation process.”
This flexible pricing structure allows accountants and advisors to expand their services profitably, positioning themselves as strategic partners rather than compliance processors.
Entrepreneurship, Freedom, and the Mindset for Success
Beyond tax strategy, Mark’s story is one of entrepreneurial grit and personal growth. Transitioning from a stable job to owning a business wasn’t easy.
“When you’re running someone else’s business, the responsibility stops at performance,” he reflects. “When it’s your business, you’re responsible for everything the bottom line, the marketing, the client experience.”
Like many entrepreneurs, Mark found that true freedom doesn’t mean working less it means working on your own terms. “You can work any sixteen hours of the day you want,” he laughs, “but the reward is knowing you’re building something of your own.”
He also credits his success to his family’s support: “There were times when we were thin, and my wife stood by me. She told me, ‘We’ll weather the storm.’ Without that, I might have gone back to a job.”
Smart Tax Tips: How to Save More Through Creative Planning
Mark’s expertise shines in his practical examples of tax efficiency. One standout tip from the episode focuses on charitable giving but with a twist.
“You don’t always have to donate cash,” he explains. “You can donate a non-cash asset, like appreciated stock or property. If you can buy that asset at a discount, the tax deduction on the appraised value can be significant.”
For example, purchasing a $1 asset for $0.25 and donating it at full appraised value could yield a deduction worth 37–50% of that dollar, depending on your tax bracket. It’s a powerful demonstration of how creativity and the right guidance can unlock major savings.
Key Takeaways: Building Trust, Collaboration, and Profit
This episode is more than a conversation about tax savings it’s a roadmap for how accountants can transform their services, deepen client trust, and grow their firms strategically.
By embracing proactive tax planning, forming collaborative partnerships, and focusing on value-based pricing, professionals can elevate their role from tax preparers to trusted advisors.
As Mark puts it, “It’s not about changing CPAs it’s about changing the approach.”
Listen to the Episode & Explore More
To hear the full conversation with Mark Meyers and explore how Tax Wise Partners helps businesses save more and grow smarter, listen to the complete episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm.
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