The everyday American’s blueprint to pay zero taxes

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law in 2017, people had opinions. Some called it a “tax break for the rich,” others said it helped the middle class. Me? I just smiled and said, “Thank you very much.”

Because whether you loved Trump or couldn’t stand the sight of his tweets, the TCJA cracked the door wide open for all Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. It didn’t come with a how-to guide for retiring early or legally avoiding taxes, but fortunately, I wrote one. It’s called Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes, and it’s for people like you—the hardworking American who’s tired of overpaying and ready to break free.

Let’s face it: taxes are confusing. And that’s by design. But hidden inside the TCJA were some powerful changes—lower tax brackets for all of us, a nearly doubled standard deduction, and a much bigger Child Tax Credit. Basically, the IRS started handing out cash just for surviving snack crumbs in your car and toddler tantrums at bedtime.

But the real magic? The part most people missed? The TCJA made one powerful strategy even more effective. It’s the same playbook the wealthy have used for generations, and I’ve made it my mission to bring it to regular folks. It’s called Buy, Borrow, Die—and it’s the ultimate cheat code to tax freedom.

If you’ve never heard of it, here’s how it works in plain English.

First, you buy an asset—some Apple stock, a rental property, or even a little crypto. Over time, it grows in value. But instead of selling it (and paying taxes on the gains), you borrow against it. Because here’s the secret: loans aren’t income. Loans aren’t taxed. You just tap your portfolio like a private ATM—no selling, no taxes. You can send the money straight to your checking account and do whatever you want with it. Want a beach vacation? A home renovation? A new iPhone? Boom. Tax-free.

Then someday—hopefully far in the future—you pass that asset on to your kids. And they don’t pay taxes on all that growth. Thanks to something called a “step-up in basis,” the tax bill disappears. The result? A clean slate and a pile of wealth that gets passed down without the IRS taking a cut. You tell the kids, “Skip the retirement account—learn Buy, Borrow, Die and retire. At any age.” Then you drop the mic.

And no, this isn’t just for billionaires. You can start with $100. That’s not a typo. One. Hundred. Bucks. I’ve taught this strategy to friends, clients, Uber drivers—even the guy who built my deck. Eventually, I wrote it all down in Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes. It’s a blueprint for building a tax-free life.

You don’t need a private banker or a million-dollar portfolio. You just need a brokerage account. Once it grows to a few thousand dollars, you can start borrowing against it—buy more assets or send yourself some spending money. It’s that simple. No selling. No taxes. No age limits. No 401(k) handcuffs.

Here’s a real story. Joe—a regular guy—started with $1,000 in Apple stock. He added $500 a month and never sold. Over time, he contributed about $120,000 total. Ten years later, his account had grown to $500,000. Still, he didn’t sell. He borrowed monthly to buy more shares of Microsoft. A decade after that, Joe had over $6 million in assets. And he’d only paid about $33,600 in taxes—the amount he owed on the original $120,000 he earned and invested. Why so little? Because he never sold. He just pressed the Borrow button.

This strategy gave Joe something no job ever could: freedom. Freedom to work if he wants to, not because he has to. Freedom to travel, help family, enjoy life—and build wealth that lasts for generations.

So let me ask you, which sounds harder — working for 40 years, battling inflation and taxes every step of the way? Or learning how to build a tax-free life using a strategy the wealthy have quietly used for decades?

Most people are told to dump their money into a 401(k), cross their fingers, and hope they can retire at 65. I say—why wait? Why not build a plan that lets you retire at 55? Or 45? Or 35?

It all comes down to owning the right kinds of assets. In my book, I talk about the Five Pillars of Wealth: stocks and ETFs, real estate, life insurance, cryptocurrency, and precious metals. The key? Only buy assets you can borrow against. That’s how you dodge taxes and keep your wealth working 24/7.

Let’s say you want a new car. Most people work overtime, get taxed on that extra income, then buy the car. But what if you just borrowed the money—tax-free—from your growing investment account? Same car, less stress, and no IRS in your rearview mirror.

Even Social Security can be tax-free—if you keep your taxable income low and live off loans. That’s more money for grandkids, more travel, more freedom. That’s the life I want people to picture. One where you’re not just surviving—you’re living. And passing that lifestyle on to your kids.

No, you don’t need to be a financial genius. You just need to learn the rules of the game. Most advisors will tell you to max out a Roth IRA, which is fine. But I teach people how to borrow from their brokerage account to fund that Roth. That’s money that was never taxed, funding an account that grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free and is tax-free when you die. That’s quadruple tax-free.

People ask me, “Isn’t this too good to be true?” I get it. But here’s the thing: I didn’t write the tax code—I just learned how to read it, and teach it to the Average Joes (and Janes) of the world. And if you’re waiting for the IRS to send you a letter explaining how to legally pay less, you’ll be waiting forever. But if you underpay? You’ll get a friendly reminder in the mail.

The wealthy aren’t waiting. They’re already doing this. They’ve built systems to eliminate taxes—not just for themselves, but for their kids and grandkids too.

So don’t wait for Congress to pass some “Big, Beautiful Bill” that changes your life. Build your own. Right now. You don’t need a lobbyist—just a little knowledge and the will to act.

I call it being S.M.A.R.T.—using Strategies to Maximize Assets and Reduce Taxes. And I’ve seen it work for teachers, plumbers, tech workers, and yes—even CPAs.

Still on the fence?

Then ask yourself the same question that changed everything for me: Who do you trust more with your money—you, or Uncle Sam?

You can keep grinding, hoping for tax breaks and refunds. Or you can learn to win a game that’s already rigged in your favor. Pay zero taxes. Build wealth. And never sell anything.

That’s what Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes is all about. That’s how you build your own Big, Beautiful Bill.

Mark Quann is the author of Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes, founder of The Perfect Portfolio, and a #1 best-selling financial educator. Learn more at www.ThePerfectPortfolio.com

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