In this episode of The PETE Podcast, I'm joined by Melanie Sikma, co-founder and CEO of One Stop Tax Strategists, for a deep dive into proactive tax planning that helps entrepreneurs and investors keep more of what they earn. We explore powerful, little-known strategies that go beyond simple deductions—ways to restructure your business, your family involvement, and even your travel plans to create lasting financial advantages.

Melanie breaks down her "Live More" tax strategy framework, an actionable system designed to maximize permanent tax savings and enable you to reinvest in your business and life. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or a newer entrepreneur, this episode will help you think differently about your tax approach—and may just save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] - Meet Melanie Sikma and the family-led foundation behind One Stop Tax Strategists

[2:13] - Why hating taxes became Melanie's strength—and how she connects with clients through that

[3:43] - Busting common tax myths and why not everything in your life is a deduction

[5:10] - The high cost of cheap bookkeeping: how one client nearly overpaid by $90K

[7:14] - What makes a proactive CPA or bookkeeper—and how to spot one

[10:21] - Fixing poor books and the ripple effect on tax planning accuracy

[11:09] - Services offered at One Stop: tax prep, planning, payroll, and bookkeeping

[13:13] - Educating clients with tax "translations" and ongoing support

[14:30] - Real estate investors and multi-state tax strategies—what you need to know

[17:42] - A walk-through of the "Live More" tax strategy framework

[20:02] - The Augusta strategy, employing your kids, and shifting income within family

[23:15] - Deferred tax strategies to fuel business reinvestment

[28:00] - Reducing capital gains tax from millions to hundreds of thousands

[30:43] - "Engage the savings" – how to invest your tax wins to live more

[33:28] - Free resources: tax strategy booklet and complimentary tax assessment

[35:01] - Final thoughts on why second opinions on taxes matter

Links & Resources

• Live More, Pay Less Booklet – Text booklet to (209) 924-4606
• Free Tax Assessment – Text save to (209) 924-4606
• One Stop Tax Strategists – https://www.onestoptaxstrategists.com/

Closing Remark

If you got value from this episode, don't forget to rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. Every little bit helps us reach more people who can benefit from these game-changing strategies. Until next time, keep pushing forward and planning smarter.