Mark J. Kohler joins Ryan Alford on Right About Now for a blunt conversation about taxes, wealth, small business, and the strategies most entrepreneurs are missing. Mark breaks down why taxes are one of the biggest costs in your life and why business owners need to stop expecting an accountant to magically fix everything after the fact.

Ryan and Mark dig into side hustles, rental properties, write-offs, family payroll, Roth IRAs, home office deductions, bookkeeping, and why the tax code rewards people who understand how to use it legally. Mark also explains why rich people “geek out” on tax strategy, while many small business owners avoid the topic until it costs them money.

The conversation gets practical fast, covering how to treat your side hustle like a real business, why your kids may be able to work inside your business, and how family board meetings can create both structure and tax opportunities. Mark also touches on crypto, self-directed IRAs, and the difference between financial advice and investment advice.

If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, freelancer, side hustler, or anyone trying to keep more of what you make, this episode gives you a smarter way to think about taxes, wealth, and control.

*Topics Covered*

* Why taxes are one of the biggest costs in your life
* How rich people legally use the tax code
* Why your accountant should not be your whole tax strategy
* Side hustles, 1099 income, and small business write-offs
* Home office, auto, dining, cell phone, and family payroll deductions
* How to treat your business like a real business
* Putting your kids on payroll
* Family board meetings and family office strategy
* Roth IRAs, self-directed IRAs, and crypto tax strategy
* Ryan Alford and Mark J. Kohler on building wealth through smarter tax planning

Links
Right About Now / Ryan Alford
https://www.ryanisright.com/
https://www.ryanalford.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/

Mark J. Kohler
https://markjkohler.com/
https://www.instagram.com/markjkohler/
https://www.youtube.com/@markjkohler
https://mainstreetbusinesspodcast.com/
https://directedira.com/

Episode Timestamps

* *00:00* – Stop Blaming the Rich & Own Your Destiny
* *00:32* – Introduction: Welcome to Right About Now with Ryan Alford
* *00:53* – Introducing Main Street Tax Attorney Mark J. Kohler
* *01:31* – Mark's Journey from Lemonade Stands to the 1%
* *02:31* – Why Taxes Are Law (And Why the "Big Dogs" Afford It)
* *03:29* – The Side Hustle Revolution & Building Wealth
* *04:42* – The 1099 Golden Ticket: Write-Offs You're Missing
* *05:32* – Demystifying Tax Brackets & Effective Tax Rates
* *06:09* – Real Estate & Depreciation Strategies (The Trump Tax Anomaly)
* *07:29* – Tax Strategies the Rich Geek Out On (Roth IRAs & HSAs)
* *08:50* – Understanding the True Purpose of the Tax Code
* *09:58* – Oil & Gas Tax Credits Explained
* *11:17* – The #1 Thing Small Business Owners Must Stop Doing
* *12:35* – Being the CEO of Your Own Tax Team
* *13:05* – Treat Your Side Hustle Like a Real Business
* *14:07* – Tracking Expenses: Stop Delegating, Start Documenting
* *14:51* – Integrating Family: How to Form a Family Board & Family Office
* *16:17* – Putting Your Kids on the Payroll Tax-Free
* *18:44* – Why Your Current Accountant Might Fight New Tax Strategies
* *20:57* – Mark’s Take on the Crypto Bus & XRP
* *21:38* – The Difference Between a Financial Advisor and an Investment Advisor
* *23:32* – What Fuels Success & The Ultimate Goal of the American Dream
* *25:05* – Where to Find Mark J. Kohler's Resources & Network
* *26:17* – Closing Thoughts: Information Doesn't Change Lives, Execution Does