Episode Summary: In this revealing interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with elite CPA Eric Aragon 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/

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.

Episode Summary: In this engaging interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with elite CPA Laura Dohanes 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/

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.

Episode Summary: In this interview, Due Diligence Project founder Alex Sonkin speaks with CPA Josh Dixon 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/

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.