Rob Cook | Strategic Tax Planning for Wealth Building
In this episode, I sit down with Rob Cook, CPA and CFP®, to break down the difference between tax preparation and true tax strategy. Rob reveals the most common mistakes high-income earners make with taxes and how to build wealth by structuring your income the smart way. If you’ve ever wondered how the wealthy pay so little in taxes legally — this is your episode.
Top 5 Takeaways From This Conversation:
- Tax planning is not tax preparation. Strategy starts long before April.
- Your CPA must work with your financial team. Silence between advisors leads to lost money.
- If you’re only a W-2 earner, you’re paying max tax. The IRS rewards investors and business owners.
- Wealth = What You Keep. Taxes are often the single biggest leak in your wealth bucket.
- High-net-worth clients don’t DIY. Rob’s most successful clients build a team of experts.
Here Are My Favorite Quotes:
- “Most people think tax strategy is just saving receipts. It’s not.” — Rob Cook
- “You shouldn’t be doing this alone. The wealthy never do.” — Krisstina Wise
- “You can’t invest what you give away to the IRS.” — Krisstina Wise
- “There’s a reason the wealthy use entities, trusts, and structures — it’s to legally keep more of their money.” — Rob Cook
- “The goal isn’t to pay zero in taxes. It’s to pay your minimum legal obligation.” — Rob Cook
Time Stamps:
- [00:00] — Intro to Rob Cook
- [03:45] — What most people get wrong about taxes
- [09:22] — Why W-2 income gets taxed the hardest
- [14:10] — The power of proactive planning
- [20:30] — What tax strategy actually looks like
- [27:40] — How the wealthy build teams to protect wealth
- [35:15] — Rob’s personal philosophies on money and success
- [43:00] — Final thoughts and resources
MYTH BUSTED:
Most people believe that tax strategy only matters in April — that once you hand everything off to your CPA, your job is done. Rob Cook challenges this myth head-on.
As a CPA and wealth strategist, Rob reveals that by the time tax season arrives, it’s already too late to make meaningful changes. The biggest tax-saving opportunities happen months — sometimes years — before returns are filed. From choosing the right entity structure to aligning with wealth-building goals, strategic tax planning is a year-round process.
Rob explains, “Tax prep is compliance. It’s looking backward. But tax strategy is proactive — it’s designing your life and income in a way that minimizes taxes and maximizes wealth.” Most W-2 earners, he notes, are unknowingly paying the highest effective tax rates simply because they never learned how to play the game.
His approach shifts the entire conversation: taxes aren’t a once-a-year burden — they’re a lifelong wealth lever. With the right knowledge and team, anyone can structure their income to keep more of what they earn, legally and confidently.
Resources Mentioned:
Rob Cook on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcookcpa
Bementon Company: https://www.bementon.com
Claim Your Complimentary Tax Strategy Session
- Click the link below to schedule your free 45-minute consultation with Rob Cook, CPA, CFP®. This is your chance to ask questions, get expert insights, and uncover tax strategies you might be missing.
- 👉 Click here to book your complimentary tax consult with Rob: https://forms.gle/DB19Cv8jLzeYDG44A
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