PODCAST

The IRS Dirty Dozen: How to Spot Dangerous Tax Schemes and What Real Tax Planning Looks Like

In this episode of the Perennial Pride ...

In this episode of the Perennial Pride Podcast, Tom Suvansri dives into the realities of tax season and the growing risks taxpayers face from fraudulent schemes. Using the IRS “Dirty ...Dozen” list as a foundation, Tom breaks down common tax scams—from phishing attempts to misleading social media advice—and explains how easily individuals can fall into costly traps.

More importantly, he shifts the conversation toward what good tax planning actually looks like. By focusing on economic substance, legal grounding, and proper implementation, Tom outlines how individuals and business owners can approach taxes strategically and ethically. From real estate depreciation to charitable giving and business structuring, this episode offers practical insights to help listeners reduce taxes the right way—while staying compliant and aligned with long-term financial goals.

Links & Resources

https://perennialpride.com

Keywords

Tax Planning
IRS Dirty Dozen
Tax Scams
Phishing
Social Media Tax Advice
Ghost Tax Preparers
Tax Credits
Charitable Giving
Real Estate Depreciation
Cost Segregation
Bonus Depreciation
S-Corp Strategy
Business Structuring
Economic Substance
Tax Compliance

Episode Highlights

00:00–00:40 - Introduction and the chaos of tax season
00:40–01:21 - Why tax season is a great time to start planning
01:21–02:10 - Overview of the IRS Dirty Dozen tax scams
02:10–03:06 - Difference between tax planning and tax fraud
03:06–04:16 - IRS impersonation scams and phishing tactics
04:16–06:03 - How the IRS actually communicates with taxpayers
06:03–07:11 - Dangers of social media tax advice and misinformation
07:11–08:09 - Misuse of self-employment tax credits
08:09–09:12 - Risks of ghost tax preparers and unlicensed advisors
09:12–10:36 - Improper use of tax credits like fuel tax credits
10:36–12:09 - Inflated charitable deductions and appraisal manipulation
12:09–13:46 - Why tax planning is encouraged when done correctly
13:46–15:13 - Three pillars of good tax strategy: substance, law, execution
15:13–17:07 - Real estate depreciation and cost segregation explained
17:07–18:39 - Bonus depreciation and accelerating tax benefits
18:39–20:10 - Charitable giving strategies and donor-advised funds
20:10–21:20 - Business structure strategies like S-Corp elections
21:20–22:52 - Retirement plans and income/expense timing strategies
22:52–24:24 - Questions to ask before implementing any tax strategy
24:24–25:42 - Importance of a team: CPA, attorney, and advisor
25:42–26:43 - Final thoughts on aligning tax strategy with life goalsShow More

Real Estate Investing: Flipping vs. Lending for Smarter Returns

Real estate investing often seems ...

Real estate investing often seems complicated for those who are busy running businesses or managing their careers. In this episode, host Tom sits down with Neil Timmins, founder of Little ...Guy Loans, to unpack two major paths into real estate: becoming an operator (fixing and flipping properties) or becoming the lender behind those deals.

Neil shares insights from more than 20 years in the industry, including experience as a real estate agent, investor, flipper, landlord, and now private lender. The conversation explores how investors can get started, what separates successful operators from struggling ones, and why buying the property right is the most important decision in a fix-and-flip deal.

The episode also dives into the often overlooked role of private lending in real estate. Neil explains how lenders structure deals, manage risk, and protect their capital through underwriting and loan-to-value ratios. He also explains how investors can participate in private credit opportunities and what they should evaluate before allocating capital to real estate lending.

Whether you're considering active real estate investing or looking for alternative investment strategies beyond traditional markets, this episode offers a practical look at how both sides of the real estate equation work—and how to determine which path might be right for you.

Links & Resources

neil@littleguyloans.com
perennialpride.com

Keywords

Real estate investing
Fix and flip strategy
Private lending
Real estate lenders
Loan to value
Real estate underwriting
Property flipping
Private credit investing
Alternative investments
Passive income real estate
Real estate capital
Property rehab investing
Real estate deal analysis
Investor risk management
Real estate financing

Episode Highlights

00:00–00:36 - Introduction to the episode and the topic of getting started in real estate investing
00:36–01:15 - Meet Neil Timmins and his experience in real estate and lending
01:15–02:26 - Neil’s career path from banking to real estate agent and investor
02:26–03:18 - Launching Little Guy Loans and the philosophy behind supporting Main Street investors
03:18–05:18 - Comparing risk between flipping properties and lending on real estate deals
05:18–07:30 - Why successful flippers focus heavily on buying the property correctly
07:30–09:14 - The importance of project management, contractors, and sticking to a renovation plan
09:14–10:50 - How lenders evaluate deals and ensure borrowers have realistic projections
10:50–12:02 - Why lenders must avoid setting borrowers up for failure
12:02–14:22 - Common mistakes flippers make and how they lose money on deals
14:22–15:30 - Treating real estate investing like a business rather than chasing big wins
15:30–17:04 - Understanding how private lending works in real estate transactions
17:04–18:42 - What it means for lenders to hold first position on a property
18:42–20:22 - How loan-to-value ratios create protection for lenders
20:22–21:36 - Structuring deals to reduce risk in real estate lending
21:36–23:01 - How private lenders move faster than traditional banks
23:01–24:47 - Who is best suited for active investing vs. lending capital
24:47–26:24 - How investors can participate as private lenders without managing properties
26:24–27:33 - Where private credit fits inside a diversified investment portfolio
27:33–29:00 - Risks investors must understand before lending privately
29:00–30:17 - Liquidity considerations when investing in private real estate deals
30:17–31:19 - The importance of knowing the operators behind private investments
31:19–33:20 - Final thoughts and where listeners can learn more about Little Guy LoansShow More

Choose Hard Now, Live Free Later

In this reflective episode of Perennial ...

In this reflective episode of Perennial Pride, Tom Suvansri shares lessons sparked by a college visit trip with his son — and how that experience became a powerful metaphor for ...life, finances, and long-term fulfillment.

Tom explores the idea that life is a compounding journey shaped by daily decisions. Whether in finances, health, relationships, or personal growth, the choices we make today determine whether life becomes easier or harder tomorrow. The episode challenges listeners to rethink comfort, discipline, and planning by asking a simple question:

Are you choosing easy now — or freedom later?

Through practical examples and personal stories, Tom explains why discipline, planning, education, and intentional discomfort are essential tools for building resilience, wealth, and meaningful success over time.

Ultimately, this episode is about embracing the right kind of hard — the kind that compounds into freedom, confidence, and fulfillment in the future.

00:00–01:25 - A college visit sparks reflections on life transitions and growth
01:25–02:45 - Life as a compounding journey rather than an overnight destination
02:45–03:39 - Easy choices today vs hard consequences tomorrow
03:39–04:33 - Studying, training, and saving as examples of compounding effort
04:33–05:37 - Planning versus reacting in financial and personal decisions
05:37–06:33 - Discipline as the foundation of freedom and resilience
06:33–07:20 - The hidden cost of being “cheap” in life and finances
07:20–08:22 - When short-term savings create long-term expenses
08:22–09:12 - Paying for expertise, planning, and guidance as investments
09:12–10:22 - Education and coaching as lifelong growth tools
10:22–11:14 - Applying compounding principles to health and relationships
11:14–12:25 - Avoiding hard conversations and long-term relational costs
12:25–13:13 - Why humans naturally choose comfort and ease
13:13–14:13 - Fear, unfamiliarity, and financial avoidance
14:13–15:15 - Ego as a barrier to learning and growth
15:15–16:11 - Growth requires discomfort and effort
16:11–17:19 - Practical decision filter: choose the harder path intentionally
17:19–18:29 - Thinking about future costs before making decisions
18:29–19:34 - Getting comfortable being uncomfortable
19:34–20:22 - Building mental resilience through small challenges
20:22–21:08 - Designing decisions around long-term vision
21:08–22:03 - Discipline vs regret: both are hard — choose wisely

🔗 Links and Resources
perennialpride.comShow More

Building Financial Freedom Through Real Estate

In this episode, host Tom Suvansri sits ...

In this episode, host Tom Suvansri sits down with Josh Gilmore, SVP at SDIRA Wealth, to explore how real estate investing can serve as a long-term pathway toward financial independence. ...Drawing from personal experience and over a decade working with investors, Josh explains how direct ownership of rental properties can create predictable income, tax efficiency, and protection against market volatility.

The conversation moves beyond traditional retirement planning and reframes wealth as the ability to work by choice rather than necessity. Together, they discuss why single-family rental properties remain attractive in today’s economic environment, how investors can leverage financing strategically, and why market selection matters more than timing the market itself.

Listeners will gain insight into cost segregation and tax advantages, the realities of building generational wealth, and how full-service real estate investing models help busy professionals participate in real estate without managing day-to-day operations. Ultimately, the episode highlights education, intentional planning, and long-term thinking as the foundation for sustainable financial freedom.

00:00–01:35 - Introduction and purpose of financial education beyond money
01:35–02:40 - Josh Gilmore’s journey into real estate after the financial crisis
02:40–04:32 - Evolution of SDIRA Wealth and adapting through market cycles
04:32–06:06 - Defining financial freedom through income replacement
06:06–07:39 - Moving beyond job-based income toward asset ownership
07:39–09:24 - Why direct ownership differs from stocks and syndications
09:24–11:59 - Benefits of new construction properties and reduced maintenance risk
11:59–13:49 - Real estate as a long-term and generational wealth strategy
13:49–16:12 - Market selection and evaluating economic resilience
16:12–18:41 - Choosing stable markets and avoiding volatility traps
18:41–21:04 - The full-service investment model explained
21:04–23:28 - Ownership control and investor peace of mind
23:28–25:13 - Tax advantages and cost segregation strategies
25:13–28:05 - The rise of a renter nation and housing affordability trends
28:05–30:23 - Institutional investors and future housing dynamics
30:23–31:47 - Who real estate investing is best suited for
31:47–33:31 - Education-first approach to investor decision making
33:31–35:57 - Final advice: take action through learning and informed decisions

🔗 Links and Resources
perennialpride.comShow More

Proactive Tax Planning: How to Keep More of Your Wealth

Taxes are not a once-a-year ...

Taxes are not a once-a-year inconvenience.

They are a system that quietly influences nearly every financial decision you make — how you earn, how you save, how you invest, how you ...use your money, and how you transfer wealth to the next generation.
In this episode, we break down the five stages of wealth where taxes play a critical role:

- How you earn
- How you save
- How you invest
- How you distribute income
- How you transfer wealth

Most people approach taxes reactively — filing returns in April and moving on. But the tax code is not broken. It simply rewards those who understand it and plan accordingly.

From W2 income and business ownership… to retirement distributions, Roth conversions, Medicare coordination, estate planning, and even the “buy, borrow, die” strategy — this episode provides a high-level roadmap for thinking more strategically about taxation across your lifetime.
Because keeping more of what you earn legally is not about avoiding taxes.
It’s about designing your financial life intentionally.

00:00–01:10 - Tax season reminder: why taxes feel seasonal but impact you year-round
01:10–02:19 - Taxes influence every financial decision you make
02:19–03:30 - The tax code as a behavioral incentive system
03:30–04:38 - W2 income and why employees are taxed first
04:38–06:19 - Why business owners often have structural tax advantages
06:19–07:24 - The difference between gross taxation and net taxation
07:24–08:49 - Saving money: why bank interest is taxed again
08:49–10:10 - Cash value life insurance as an alternative storage vehicle
10:10–11:48 - Investing: 401(k)s, mutual funds, and tax deferral tradeoffs
11:48–13:20 - Capital gains advantages and market inefficiencies
13:20–15:08 - Government-incentivized investments: real estate, energy, Opportunity Zones
15:08–16:22 - After-tax returns vs headline returns
16:22–17:40 - Retirement distributions and tax deferred account traps
17:40–19:07 - Social Security and Medicare coordination risks
19:07–20:32 - Roth conversion strategies before retirement
20:32–21:24 - Required minimum distributions and forced withdrawals
21:24–22:43 - Estate taxes vs probate costs
22:43–23:50 - Taxation of inherited retirement accounts
23:50–25:25 - The “buy, borrow, die” strategy explained
25:25–27:00 - Why proactive tax coordination requires a team approach
27:00–29:11 - Taxes reward planners, not procrastinators

🔗 Links and Resources
perennialpride.comShow More

Designing Wealth for a 100-Year Life

In this reflective and forward-looking ...

In this reflective and forward-looking episode, the host explores a question most people avoid:

What if you live to 95… or even 100?

After celebrating a 65th birthday and anticipating a 90th ...birthday in the family, he reflects on how quickly life moves — and how dramatically longevity is changing financial realities. With people living longer, traditional retirement models may leave individuals exposed, underprepared, and overly dependent on outdated financial advice.

This episode challenges the average-life-expectancy mindset and instead encourages listeners to build wealth plans that account for longer runways, rising healthcare costs, tax exposure, and economic volatility.
But the conversation goes deeper than money.

The host introduces the concept of four forms of capital — financial, health, relationship, and purpose capital — arguing that true wealth requires balance across all four. Money alone does not equal wealth. Freedom, flexibility, optionality, and contribution define it more accurately.

This episode is a call to rethink not just retirement… but the entire philosophy of wealth building.

00:00–01:00 - Reflecting on longevity: 65th and 90th birthdays spark perspective
01:00–02:10 - What if you live to 95 or 100? The planning gap most ignore
02:10–03:40 - The problem with using average life expectancy in financial plans
03:40–04:29 - Retirement could last longer than your working years
04:29–05:47 - Rethinking “retirement” as transition, not withdrawal from service
05:47–07:08 - Living longer means healthcare costs become a major threat
07:08–08:27 - Why planning for worst-case scenarios creates peace
08:27–09:37 - Traditional Wall Street retirement advice and its limitations
09:37–10:56 - Sequence of return risk, volatility, and taxation exposure
10:56–11:28 - Why building cash flow now creates optionality later
11:28–12:32 - Tax efficiency as the largest wealth lever most ignore
12:32–13:42 - Flexibility through multiple income streams
13:42–14:24 - Optionality: escaping the “stuck in a job” trap
14:24–15:07 - Introducing the Four Forms of Capital
15:07–15:52 - Financial capital: assets that produce income today
15:52–16:29 - Health capital: investing in your body like a portfolio
16:29–17:10 - Relationship capital: family, friends, and meaningful connection
17:10–17:48 - Purpose capital: meaningful work and contribution
17:48–18:53 - Money alone does not equal wealth
18:53–20:23 - Questions to evaluate your long-term wealth plan

🔗 Links and Resources
perennialpride.comShow More