The Due Diligence Project™ Podcast

From Tax Preparer to Elite Tax Strategist - Jeremy Lederer

In this episode of The Due Diligence Project podcast, founder Alex Sonkin interviews elite CPA Jeremy Lederer about his journey from recognizing the inefficiencies in tax dollars to becoming a leading tax strategist. Jeremy shares how he transformed his practice to focus on legally eliminating taxes for seven and eight-figure entrepreneurs, and discusses his new book "The Zero Tax Strategy." Key Topics Covered: Career Journey: Jeremy's path from witnessing his entrepreneur father's tax struggles to becoming an elite tax strategist, including his pivotal moment when a managing partner rejected his $100,000 tax-saving idea for a client Practice Philosophy: The fundamental difference between tax preparers and tax strategists, and why reinvesting dollars in local communities multiplies value by 10x versus the 60% efficiency rate of federal tax dollars Due Diligence Project Impact: How joining the DDP community of nearly 1,000 CPA firms transformed Jeremy's capabilities through peer review, collective expertise, and access to vetted strategies The Zero Tax Strategy Book: Jeremy's mission to share transformational tax planning strategies with entrepreneurs, evolving from a technical textbook to an accessible guide with stories and diagrams Implementation Focus: Why proper execution and documentation are critical for converting potential tax savings into realized savings while maintaining audit defense readiness Featured Quotes: "Every dollar that goes into Washington DC, only 60 cents makes it out. They literally destroy dollars. Whereas a dollar reinvested in one's local community can multiply by 10." - Jeremy Lederer "There's a huge difference between a tax preparer and a tax strategist... that was the light bulb moment for me." - Jeremy Lederer "If you don't know how many pages are in the tax code, then you don't know how many strategies are in the tax code." - Alex Sonkin "Zero tax is possible, it's legal and implementation is the key." - Jeremy Lederer Resources Mentioned: * The Zero Tax Strategy Book by Jeremy Lederer * XIT CPA (Jeremy's firm), visit www.xitcpa.com [http://www.xitcpa.com/] to learn more, or book a consultation * The Due Diligence Project Summit * Website: www.duediligenceproject.com [http://www.duediligenceproject.com] This episode highlights how elite tax professionals can save entrepreneurs millions in taxes through proper strategy and implementation, while emphasizing the importance of working with experienced CPAs who have deep knowledge of the tax code and access to peer-reviewed strategies.

023: Creating Exceptional Client Value and ROI - Eric Aragon

Episode Summary: In this revealing interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with elite CPA Eric Aragon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aragoneric/] about his journey from Deloitte to running his own successful tax planning practice. Eric shares insights on how he transitioned from compliance work to high-value tax planning, saving clients tens of millions of dollars while maintaining a focus on risk management and due diligence. Key Topics Covered: * Career Evolution: Eric's path from aspiring doctor to Deloitte professional to independent tax planning specialist * Planning vs. Compliance: How shifting focus from tax preparation to proactive planning transformed Eric's practice and client relationships * Client Value Creation: The exceptional ROI (10-20x) that strategic tax planning delivers compared to other financial services * Risk Management: The importance of thorough due diligence in delivering tax savings without exposing clients to audit risk * Community Approach: How the collective expertise of hundreds of tax professionals creates confidence in implementing sophisticated strategies * Practice Growth: Using tax planning as a differentiator to attract and retain high-value clients * Business Philosophy: Why focusing on client value first naturally leads to practice success Featured Quotes: "We're in the tens of millions, maybe at least tens of millions of dollars. I can say that conservatively, without doing my audit, that we're in the tens of millions of dollars." - Eric Aragon "Create value first. The money will come later. It just comes up automatically." - Alex Sonkin Resources: * https://duediligenceproject.com/ [https://duediligenceproject.com/] This episode provides insights into how tax professionals can transition from compliance-focused work to high-value planning services that deliver exceptional ROI to clients while managing risk through collective expertise.

022: The Art of Client Relationships and Business Exits - Laura Dohanes

Episode Summary: In this engaging interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with elite CPA Laura Dohanes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradohanes/] about her journey and approach to tax planning. Laura shares insights from her extensive audit experience and how she helps clients navigate complex tax scenarios, particularly during business exits. She reveals how her firm generated over $11.3 million in tax savings for clients in 2023 alone. Key Topics Covered: * Tax Planning Philosophy: How Laura developed a passion for tax strategy and her direct, transparent approach with clients * Business Exit Expertise: Why Laura considers business exits "the most beautiful dance between tax, legal and investments" * Client Relationships: The importance of building trust and understanding client goals before recommending tax strategies * Tax Savings Impact: How Laura delivered $11.375 million in tax savings to clients in 2023 * Due Diligence Approach: The value of collective expertise and peer review when vetting tax strategies * Virtual Family Office: How the right team of advisors can create substantial value, particularly during business exits * Elite Tax Advising: The significant difference between average and elite tax professionals in delivering client value Featured Quotes: "I think my life's journey is tied to the business owner and those are the people that I serve the most... Give yourself the benefit of the doubt, expand your mind just a little bit so you can have a basic understanding before you dismiss something." - Laura Dohanes "The difference between the top 0.01% of CPAs and the average CPA is the same difference as the top basketball players who are at the NBA all-star game than the guys you see at the pickup games at the YMCA." - Alex Sonkin Resource * https://duediligenceproject.com/ [https://duediligenceproject.com/] This episode highlights how experienced tax professionals can deliver extraordinary value by combining specialized knowledge with a relationship-focused approach, particularly for business owners preparing for major transactions.

021: Elite Tax Planning: Creating Extraordinary Client Value - Josh Dixon

Episode Summary: In this interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with CPA Josh Dixon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdixoncpa/] about his journey from traditional tax preparation to high-value tax planning. Josh shares how he transformed his practice to focus on strategies that deliver significant tax savings to clients while improving his own work-life balance and revenue. Key Topics Covered: * Career Evolution: Josh's path from aspiring stockbroker to owning a CPA firm and discovering his passion for proactive tax planning * Practice Transformation: How Josh transitioned from compliance-focused work to advisory services that deliver substantial client value * Client Success Stories: Examples of tax savings achieved, including reducing a client's tax bill from $300,000 to approximately $40,000 * ROI Comparison: Why tax planning can deliver returns that outperform traditional investment management * Due Diligence Approach: The importance of thoroughly vetting tax strategies through a community of experienced professionals * Work-Life Balance: How focusing on higher-value services has improved Josh's quality of life while increasing revenue * Implementation Tips: Josh's advice that CPAs only need to master a few high-impact strategies to transform their practice Featured Quotes: "I enjoy being more of a partner with them rather than just somebody who fills out their forms. I enjoy working with my clients throughout the year and being able to make more of an impact in their lives." - Josh Dixon "You save him $260,000 a year. Four years, that's over a million bucks. That's a million bucks. Whether you're Bill Gates or whether you're Joe Smith, a million bucks is a million bucks." - Alex Sonkin Resources  * https://duediligenceproject.com/ [https://duediligenceproject.com/] This episode provides insights into how tax professionals can shift from compliance work to advisory services that deliver significant value to clients while improving their own practice profitability and work-life balance.

020: Tax Strategy Secrets: The Due Diligence Project's State of the Union 2025

Episode Summary: In this March 2025 "State of the Union" address, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin joins host Paul G McManus [https://www.theshortbookformula.com/]to discuss the growth and achievements of their tax professional community. They explore how their network of 847 independent CPA firms collaborates to vet tax strategies for ultra-high-net-worth clients, delivering significant tax savings while maintaining compliance. Key Topics Covered: * Community Growth: How the DDP has built a nationwide network of experienced tax professionals who collectively review strategies * Member Success Stories: The financial gains reported by member CPAs, with some generating 7-figure additional fees * Investment Projects: Their involvement in film financing for movies featuring Sylvester Stallone and Mark Wahlberg * Charitable Impact: How tax savings have funded the Mitchell Thorpe Foundation, providing medical care for 200 families with sick children * AI and Tax Planning: Why human expertise still outperforms artificial intelligence in complex tax strategy development * Tax System Perspectives: Their views on IRS practices and media representation of tax strategies * Upcoming Events: Preview of the Due Diligence Project Summit on May 7, 2025 Featured Quotes: "For the last 30, 40 years, the computer geeks have ruled the world... The tax geeks are helping business owners eliminate costs, become more efficient, eliminate unnecessary tax, and then save that money to create more jobs." - Alex Sonkin "We're a community of accountants. These are risk-averse people. We are not here to break laws. We're here to stay within the black and white lines." - Alex Sonkin Resources Mentioned: * The Due Diligence Project Summit [https://encoursa.com/companies/the-due-diligence-project]: May 7, 2025 (9am PT/12pm ET) * The Due Diligence Project Book: [https://www.amazon.com/Due-Diligence-Project-Peer-Reviewed-Supercharging/dp/B09P6T4P75/] Featuring the "10 Pillars of Extraordinary Due Diligence" * Website: www.duediligenceproject.com [https://duediligenceproject.com/] This episode highlights the achievements of the Due Diligence Project community over the past year and provides insights into how their collective approach to tax strategy vetting continues to benefit wealthy clients and their communities.