I recently sat down with Peter Holtz, a CPA and former CFO who has spent more than 20 years helping business owners legally reduce their tax burden and keep more of what they earn.
Peter has built a multi eight figure accounting firm focused on one core idea that most people never hear from their accountant. Taxes should not be something you think about once a year in April. They should be part of your strategy year round.
That idea alone is where most people lose money.
Many traders, entrepreneurs, and investors assume that if they have a CPA and their taxes are filed on time, everything is fine. But Peter explained something that many people do not realize. By the time your accountant is preparing your return in April, the opportunity to lower your tax bill has already passed.
Most tax savings come from planning decisions made throughout the year.
Why Most CPAs Cannot Help You Reduce Your Taxes
Peter explained that the traditional accounting model is built around compliance, not strategy.
Most accountants focus on filing returns, documenting income, and making sure everything is reported correctly. That is important, but it does not help clients proactively reduce their taxes.
The real opportunity comes from planning.
When business owners, traders, and investors structure income, expenses, and assets properly before the year ends, they can significantly change how much money ultimately goes to the IRS.
Without that planning, people often end up paying far more than they should.
Why This Matters for Traders and Investors
For many people in the Marathon Money community, this conversation becomes even more important.
Active traders, people with large brokerage accounts, and investors with multiple income streams often have more tax complexity than they realize.
Peter explained that depending on how accounts are structured and how trading activity is reported, there may be opportunities to reduce tax exposure, offset gains, and keep more capital working inside your portfolio.
The problem is that many traders never explore these options because their accountant only looks backward at the end of the year.
That is not how real tax strategy works.
The Biggest Mistake Business Owners Make
Peter said one of the most common mistakes he sees is business owners assuming their accountant is automatically helping them optimize their taxes.
In reality, most accountants are simply reporting what already happened.
True tax strategy happens before income is earned and before expenses are recorded. It involves structuring businesses correctly, managing deductions properly, and making decisions throughout the year that change the final outcome when tax season arrives.
Without that proactive planning, many entrepreneurs unknowingly leave significant money on the table.
The Goal: Keeping More Capital Working for You
At the end of the day, taxes are one of the largest expenses most business owners and investors will ever face.
Reducing that burden legally can have a major impact on long term wealth building.
Every dollar that stays in your business or investment portfolio is a dollar that can continue compounding.
Peter’s entire philosophy centers around one principle. Your accountant should not simply file your taxes. They should help you keep more of the money you worked to earn.
For traders, entrepreneurs, and investors focused on building long term wealth, that is a conversation worth paying attention to.
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